26-30 March 2025
Leadership training
in nature,
by nature
A leadership training by
North of Impact & Gálav Ski Guides
Meet other highly experienced industry leaders and mountain enthusiasts in a collaborative touring summit. Together we will learn about relevant sustainability topics and co-create tomorrow’s solutions while touring the arctic mountains. No suits, highly straight-forward and off-the-record.
WHY? Our current leadership has created a world where we are separated from nature, and taken our most important decisions away from the very grounds we lead on. We argue that this has gotten us dangerously close to irreversible negative tipping points, which if passed will undermine the very enabling conditions for life on earth. We believe that the way forward is not to ignore the situation we are in but to focus on enacting the world we want to see by exploring how leadership in a transformative age can be, and co-develop this leadership on and off the Lofoten mountains. We will use our collective entrepreneurial drive and energy towards learning about and pushing for this new leadership, and together explore solutions that will allow all of us thrive within our planetary boundaries.
WHERE? We will stay at Kalle, a beautiful fisher village turned ski lodge in the eastern island of Lofoten. This will be a perfect basecamp for accessing the mountains. If you have a preference with whom to stay with, let us know. There are a few single rooms in case you really need your own space, but preferably we all share as it will contribute to building good team dynamics.
HOW? On March 26th-30th, we will skin-up and ski the Lofoten mountains after breakfast until about 15:00 each day. From 16:00 onwards, we will meet up for dialogue and reflection. The program will be determined and built collaboratively, as we believe that each one of you possesses extraordinary wisdom and insights to share. We will form two groups of skiers and snowboarders, and mix the groups every day. Each group will have its own guide.
Background
The world needs a different kind of leadership
Planetary boundary update by Stockholm Resilience Center 2022
2024 World Economic Forum Global Outlook Report
Preliminary program
This is how a typical day will look like:
07:00 Optional yoga & meditation
07:30 Breakfast at Kalle Lodge
08:30 Departure from the lodge
10:00 Ski touring on a touring objective that fits our ambitions and abilities. Leadership training and debrief as part of the ski tour.
16:00 Après-ski and experience sharing
18:30 Dinner at Kalle Lodge
20:00 Workshop session
We will adapt the program continuously to fit with the group’s skiing ambitions and the topics that we wish to discuss. By having two guides we can split into two separate groups, with touring objectives of different length and difficulty.
Each day will have a set of specific discussion topics, for example: Who are we, and why are we here?
The organizers and guides
Brita Staal is an experienced climate leader with a demonstrated history of change- and sustainability management successes working in the NGO and environmental services industry. She has created and monitored sustainability- and climate strategies for Nordic corporations and scaled and coordinated Protect our Winters to 10 nations across Europe. With strong founder and business development skills, and experiences from climate risk tech, and impact investment Brita look forward to facilitate meaningful discussions at our high camp.
Mikael af Ekenstam has been working professionally with sustainability issues for the last 20 years, together with ambitious clients in Norway and abroad. Mikael has skiing merits that include wins in both the Norwegian and Scandinavian Championships in free skiing as well as starring in several big ski movies. He’s also authored two guidebooks on ski touring in Northern Scandinavia, including the Narvik region. When ski guiding, he strives to facilitate strong and insightful nature experiences.
Josef Nyström Baksaas is responsible for collaborations and partnerships at Houdini, and is also an internationally certified mountain guide. He is advocating for a life where you can care for your family, their future and our nature – and that a life with less is a good life. Josef will share his passions for the moundain with us as a guide, as well as sharing how Houdini is reconnecting society to Nature and exploring regenerative lifestyles with a positive impact.
Practical information
WHAT DOES IT COST?
You will need to cover your travel expenses from and to Lofoten from wherever you are traveling from, as well as the cost for equipment that you might need to buy or rent. Otherwise, the price of 17 500 NOK covers all lodge, board, guiding and facilitation during the entire camp. You will share a room with other participants of the same sex. Let us know if you would prefer a room of your own (to an additional cost).
HOW DIFFICULT IS THE SKI TOURING?
In order to keep the High Camp enjoyable and safe for all, we expect that the participants have basic touring experience and skiing or splitboarding abilities so that you can manage different types of snow conditions in off-piste terrain. The physical condition of participants should be at a level where one can comfortably run for 5 km without stopping. But since we will have two guides we can split into two separate groupes and adapt the difficulty and length of the ski tours.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
— Boots and skis or split board for touring
— Clothing for ski touring
— Backpack of 35-50 liters
— Poles, ascension skins and ski crampons
— Shovel, probe, and transceiver
— Helmet and avalanche airbag if you wish
For those of you who need equipment, our partner for the CEO High Camp is https://retur.no/ – Please let us know your needs and we will help you organise.
The event is insured under the liability insurance of the organizer, but each participant is strongly encouraged to have a personal insurance/travel insurance to cover any damages or injuries that may happen.
TRAVEL INFO
Arrive at Kalle Resort by Wednesday evening the 26th of March. You can arrive at Narvik or Bodø train station, or EVE, SVJ, LKN airport and we will support you in the last miles to Kalle. We will have the welcome dinner and briefing at 20:30. Be ready to tour the next morning, on Thursday. Our last tour will find place Sunday 30th of March before departures after 13:00.