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What do mountain climbing and the C-suite have in common? Plenty it turns out. We recently talked with professional alpinist , just days after a victorious ascent up the north face of the Eiger. He shared with us the keys to his success: a goal approach, teamwork, strategic risk management – and a Plan B.

At forty-four, Siegrist is at a phase in his life where he is both at the top of his game and preparing for an inevitable shift in focus. As a professional alpinist, husband and father, he knows a lot about managing risk and preparing for the future. Strategic planning (and the right demeanor) help him navigate a successful path, both on the mountain and off.

The trip to the summit

Like most successful projects, a triumphant climb starts with choosing the right goal. Siegrist notes, “It’s very important you have a strong affinity for your project. This gives you the motivation so that you spend the time needed to ensure safety and success.” Siegrist works with funders who allow him the freedom to choose projects, knowing that this creates a strong foundation.
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Key to a fruitful expedition is the right team. “Building a good team starts well before the climb. You need to make sure you share the same philosophy and that you have trust.” When climbing with rope, Siegrist always has at least one partner. “Two partners can mitigate risk better on certain projects,” he says, as was the case with his latest Eiger ascent.
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Of all the risks faced by Siegrist, perhaps the most obvious is the physical risk. He prepares for this risk long before the climb: “I get ready for the climb by looking at the mountain, sometimes for days. Just as a business person may analyze the markets in order to influence behavior, I study the mountain and the different conditions to inform my climbing strategy.”
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But in Siegrist’s line of work, extreme situations are inevitable: “What I learned over the years is that certain character traits are important. Staying calm in a difficult situation allows you to look for a solution rather than focus on the problem. To some extent you can’t learn this – you just are that way or not.” Siegrist has been fortunate to not have any fatalities during his expeditions: “We’ve had accidents, but they’ve all turned out okay, which gives you confidence for the next time.”
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Coping in extreme situations is only one part of managing risk. Picking the right project, building the right team and having the right strategy all play into it. Experience doesn’t hurt, either: “You can’t learn in school what the years climbing teaches you.”

Preparing for the rest of the journey

Siegrist doesn’t mince words about his age. “My time now is ‘valleyward.’ With any luck one can do this until fifty,” he says with a smile. But, he cautions, “You need to have a Plan B.”
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Having a Plan B is something Siegrist has been working at for years. He’s developed a variety of income streams not only because of the inevitability of age and the risk of accidents, but also because of the unpredictable nature of sponsorship. Ultimately, part of his success can be credited to being a savvy entrepreneur: “You have to build your own market. I’ve been a mountain guide for twenty-one years. I give speeches. And I take on projects with sponsors, but also have patrons.”
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He also credits his ability to deal with setbacks: “If you are unsuccessful you have to live with it and motivate yourself to keep going. That’s something that people face in all jobs. In the beginning this wasn’t easy. But it’s part of a profession to learn from those events and become stronger, ready for the next challenge.”