What Journeys and Change Teach Us About Leadership

I recently reunited in Paris with three crew members from the Clipper Race Scotland Leg 1, and  I was reminded that some experiences don’t end when the journey itself does. They continue to teach you long after.
An adventure like this is experienced differently by everyone. From preparation and training to the intensity of life at sea to not completing the full leg myself to reconnecting months later, I keep learning from it all. And that may be the point. If life—and leadership-aren’t about learning, then what are they about?
At the moment, Scotland is holding second place at Stage 10, resting in Seattle before heading toward the Panama Canal and Washington, DC. The race continues, just as our own journeys do.
Not for the Faint of Heart
One thing became very clear to me: this race is not for the faint of heart. My fellow crew members reminded me of that, and so did two falls and a broken toe along the way.
Two of my colleagues completed Leg 1, and another continued on through Cape Verde and all the way to Australia. Every single one of them described different challenges. For some, it was the physical endurance. For others, it was the human dynamics of living and working closely with eighteen people who barely knew one another before stepping onto the boat. Personalities, stress, fatigue, uncertainty, leadership styles—all of it became part of the experience.
It reminded me how difficult it is to predict what happens when people are placed together under pressure. And honestly, leadership is not for the faint of heart either.
Leadership Requires Constant Adjustment
In my work, I see leaders navigating mergers, acquisitions, organizational restructuring, CEO transitions, and shifting expectations inside companies. Like sailing, leadership requires continual adjustment.
Conditions change quickly. Plans have to change with them. Often, the hardest part is not the strategy itself, but the human dynamic underneath it. There is no perfect playbook for that, whether you are crossing an ocean or leading through uncertainty inside an organization.
This spring, while delivering workshops on change leadership, I found myself thinking again about how deeply change transforms us, not just professionally, but personally. The experiences that stretch us most often become the ones that reshape how we lead, relate to others, and understand ourselves.
The Next Adventure
This latest adventure certainly transformed me, and I suspect the learning is still unfolding.
So, what comes next?  I am considering becoming certified as a day captain in Greece through the Royal Yachting Association, inspired by one of my fellow crew members. Our small, international cohort from Brazil, France, Spain, the United States, and Canada is already talking about future sailing adventures: Patagonia, Galápagos, and perhaps even a reunion in Rio.
We will see where the next chapter leads. Because leadership, like sailing, is rarely about certainty. It is about continuing to step into experiences that stretch you, humble you, and expand your capacity to lead.
So, I’ll leave you with this: What experience in your own life or career has stretched you the most? And how did it change the way you lead?
​Feel free to reach out at [email protected].