Uphill
To say the last 12 months have been tough for the tech industry is an understatement – you know it, we know it. In boardrooms and meeting rooms across our industry, 2023 has been a year of hard decisions and these have impacted us in ways we probably don’t realise. Mental resilience to overcome such adversity and then continue to lead at the highest level was the theme and focus on this year's Summit. Along with Michael’s keynote about sustaining high performance, we heard about strategies for managing mental health and the role of leaders in setting the example, as well as practical sessions about working on boards and the current status of the debt funding market.
The centrepiece of the Summit was a day long hike. Blessed with incredible sunshine, our group assembled outside our chalets in the town of Argentière hiking up through small hamlet of Tré La Champ. The main push of the day was ascending through the forests to the ridgeline along a glacial moraine, ultimately reaching the summit of Aiguillettes des Possettes, 2,200m above sea level. It was a challenging route, designed to be a physical and metaphorical effort, but enlivened by the staggering natural beauty of the higher reaches of the Chamonix Valley. We shared lunch as we reached the summit, but not before taking away valuable lessons of the impact of Climate Change on alpine environments like the Glacier du Tour. The descent was no less tough that the ascent, taking its toll on body, mind and at least 4 pairs of hiking boots. Look for your own metaphor in this and you’ll find it!
