There are experiences in life that make their mark—not only due to the outcome, but also due to the person we become in the process. My recent trip to the Everest Base Camp started not on a pathway, but in an airport lounge, anxiously awaiting the skies to open over the world’s most perilous airstrip—Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. That was an experience of uncertainty, trust, and exhilaration that provided more than just a rush of adrenaline—it taught me valuable lessons in leadership and accomplishment.
1. They Welcome Uncertainty with Courage
Leadership requires venturing forth into the unknown. I didn’t sleep the night before we flew to Lukla. The prospect of descending to the mountain runway, which is renowned for its volatile weather and hairline margins, frightened me to the core. It had rained continuously overnight, and all we hoped was that the Himalayan skies would co-operate.
In those wait-out moments, I learned: leaders cannot control circumstances but can control their reaction. I learned how to sit in uncertainty, to ready myself in the event of whatever the outcome would be, and to have the courage to go forward in spite of fear.
2. Vision is rooted in Resilience
Five years ago, a potentially fatal rupture of the coronary artery shortened unexpectedly my planned trek to Everest Base Camp. The rehabilitation was prolonged. The doubts were numerous. But the dream did not wither away. Success is not always linear; success requires tenacity, perseverance, and the willingness to try once more in the face of defeat.
Leadership is not an exception. Real leaders cling to a long-term view, even if the process gets disrupted. Resilience is not simply to rebound—it’s remaining attuned to why you’re doing this when it would actually be simpler to give up.
3. Faith Is a Leadership Asset
I had prayed more sincerely for blue skies. There is a humility in trusting things larger than yourself. It was morning, and the clouds parted to reveal a crystal blue sky over Lukla, as if in a silent confirmation that faith works—not as a guarantee of results, but as a strength that gets carried through uncertainty.
Leaders tend to be rational decision makers, but effective leadership also calls for faith—faith in your people, in the process, and in the occasional divine timing. Having faith in the possibility of success can motivate others to have faith as well.
4. Technology may provide the way, but human ability is invaluable
We tracked Lukla’s weather via live YouTube video—a technological wonder that allowed us to look inside the mountains from miles away. It was a glimmer of hope. But the true miracle was still to arrive: the talented pilots who handled the hazardous approach with finesse, poise, and unflappable accuracy.
Nowadays, we celebrate innovation and automatization. Yet, during times of crisis or complexity, the value of human expertise cannot be substituted. Leaders need to appreciate and cultivate skill, judgment, and experience—rather than tools and systems.
5. Success is Not Individual—It is Shared
As the tiny plane landed on the Lukla runway, a rush of emotion washed over me. I was thankful for the pilots, the weather gods, and above all the community of fellow trekkers and family who encouraged this endeavor. Achievements, I understood, were not done in isolation. They were constructed on the shoulders of others—through support, collaboration, and mutual striving.
Leadership is not about personal glory. It is more about creating room for others to soar, and realizing that every victory is a tapestry of collective input.
6. Start with gratitude, follow with grace
The delight in safe landing wasn’t relief—it was sheer gratitude. Gratitude for life, second chances, and the luxury of moving toward a once-rejected dream. It transformed the entire trek: not only as a goal to be achieved, but as a blessing to be lived.
They work with people in a more nurturing manner by committing to the well-being of others and focusing on the bigger picture. By crediting the efforts of others, you lead graciously.
Conclusion: Leadership at 9,000 Feet
My Everest Base Camp trek is still in process, but the lessons already learned are ingrained in memory. Leadership is not only developed in boardrooms and battlefields—it is also born in moments of silence, in whispered prayers for good weather, and in the sheer act of having the courage to try again.
Standing at the edge of the Lukla runway, I’ve learned that success is not determined by where you arrive, but by the experiences and lessons you accumulate in the journey.
Whether you’re guiding a team, a family, or even yourself through life’s ups and downs, may you do so with courage in the face of uncertainty, resilience in the face of setbacks, trust in the invisible, respect for the skill of humans, thanks to others, and grace in each step. While sometimes the bluest skies follow the longest nights—and the people who take the biggest risks in pursuing their dreams inspire the rest to follow suit.
Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh).
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani),
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru).
Senior Professor and former Head,
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery.
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India.
My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius. I want to be a person with a bundle of experience.
My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!
My Values: Creating value for others.
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Dear Dr. Prahlada N. B Sir,
Your journey to Lukla is a testament to your unwavering spirit and resilience. Just like the mighty Himalayas, you've faced formidable challenges, but your determination and courage have allowed you to soar to great heights. Your recent trip to the Everest Base Camp, despite the daunting prospect of landing at the perilous Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, is a shining example of your leadership skills and ability to thrive in uncertainty.
Your experience serves as a reminder that success is not a destination but a journey, woven from the threads of perseverance, faith, and gratitude. Like a lotus that blooms in muddy waters yet remains unsoiled, you've risen above adversity, inspiring others with your story. Your heart, once vulnerable after a potentially fatal coronary artery rupture, has become stronger, beating with a renewed sense of purpose.
Your leadership lessons from the skies of Lukla offer valuable insights into embracing uncertainty with courage, cultivating resilience, and appreciating human expertise. Your journey embodies the idea that success is not individual but shared, built upon the support and collaboration of others. As you continue on your path, may your experiences guide others to navigate life's challenges with confidence and poise.
Here's to many more journeys, Dr. Prahlada N B Sir, and to the countless lives you'll touch with your leadership and expertise!
With deepest admiration and respect.
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