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Life is extreme during a climbing expedition to 8,000 metres. Within the scope of a few months, you accumulate a wealth of impressions and experience. It is for this reason, and because there are so many similarities with daily life and work, that a mountaineering expedition is such a suitable topic for a captivating lecture.

Life during an expedition: sharpening the senses
During an expedition to 8,000 m you are not only challenged physically but you must also have mental resilience. You have to battle extreme weather conditions of minus 25° C, snow that buries your tent and storms that we in the Netherlands would never believe possible. You have to be able to persevere, but above all be able to wait patiently for the ideal moment to attempt the summit. Without any form of luxury, you are thrown at the mercy of nature, yourself and your teammates. There are risks like avalanches, invisible crevasses and falling rocks. The smallest mistake could be fatal. This realisation sharpens the senses and quickly draws you closer as team. And reveals whether the cooperation is good. Or actually very poor. But the ultimate goal is and remains: that the team reaches the summit. And that everyone returns home in good health, of course.

A top-notch achievement: reaching a top >8,000 m
The world has 14 mountain peaks higher than eight thousand metres. The successful scaling of one of these peaks is a true tour de force. Not only do you get to deal with extreme weather conditions, but the shortage of oxygen also makes things very difficult. Read more

 

 

Lectures by Katja Staartjes
Katja already has three summits above the 8,000-metre mark to her name: Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Mount Everest (8,848 m) and Gasherbrum 1 (8,068 m). During her lectures, Katja uses impressive images to transport you to these summits. She tells her story drawing comparisons with issues you will find familiar. What is your actual challenge? And what is your dream? When do you form a good team? How are errors and risks handled within your organisation? Are you able to cope with setbacks and daily distractions? What makes one person succeed and another fail when reaching for the top? Actually how important is the process, the road to the top? And finally: what lies beyond the top?

Tailor-made
The lecture can be adapted to your wishes regarding length and theme. Katja can talk about the Everest expedition as well as the more recent Gasherbrum climb in Pakistan (also see Expeditions). The themes of leadership and teamwork play a prominent role in her Gasherbrum lecture (entitled "Together to the top") since Katja also had the role of organiser and leader in this expedition. Her lectures usually last from 45 minutes to two hours.

Objectives
Katja: "I aim to tell an inspiring story, to make people think, to produce some effect on them. I want to touch my audience. But a client often wants more; there is a clear demand for something. A client might, for example, want to incorporate the lecture into a team day intended to encourage further dialogue about collaboration. In that case, l will make my lecture more interactive by posing more probing questions. I can also weave certain statements into my lecture to facilitate a discussion. I always aim for quality, also in my lectures. A more than satisfied client, this is my ultimate goal with each lecture."

A few sayings of Katja Staartjes

  • No risk means no summit.

  • Many organisations shy away from risk because of fear (of what actually?).

  • Taking risks responsibly, that is the trick.

  • The bottom line of collaboration is the question: do you complement each other and what are you willing to do for one another?

  • Don't just celebrate reaching the top; celebrate the milestones on your way there, too.

  • Outstanding achievements require a great deal, but the key word is always "inspiration".

  • Development is possible if you are open to change and have been able to learn from past experiences.

Also see the philosophy of Katja Staartjes.

Interested?
Send Katja Staartjes an e-mail at:

You can also give her a call on +31 6 21 27 42 82.

 

 


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