A lot of people ask me how I came to own a guide company.
I wasn't always an outdoorsy person. In fact I was very much a city boy.
You see, I was born and raised in Chicago, the youngest son of immigrant parents from Taiwan.
I went to business school at the University of Illinois. When I graduated, I got a job as a market regulator with the Chicago Board of Trade. But after years there, and after furthering my education with an MBA from Northwestern University, I yearned to get into the field of consulting. Specifically, litigation and dispute consulting. I began working for Deloitte - one of the world's largest accounting and professional services firms.
As a job function, I really enjoyed it. It was very challenging. Mental sparring at the highest level, with other very talented, intelligent and competitive people. The job was heavy on math, financial concepts, analytical ability, spreadsheet skills, and the ability to craft logical, credible arguments.
But you know what the job was also heavy on? Hours. Hours I spent in an office, typing away on a laptop. At 5pm from my window, I could see people headed home from work. But I was nowhere near done with mine. Often I'd have another 2-3 hours more ... Just to go home to eat, sleep and do it all again the following day.
Even though the job itself was mentally stimulating, the days felt mundane. And even though millions of client dollars were on the line for every project, to me, it still felt insignificant.
I started backpacking on weekends to get out into nature. I felt liberated and free when immersed in wild areas knowing I had everything I needed on my back. It was such a contrast from city life. I was in places that were beautiful, peaceful, and serene. After a couple of years hiking in the mostly flat Midwestern states, I yearned to expand my horizons. I had loftier ambitions.
I was drawn to Mount Kilimanjaro. A huge, ice-capped mountain in an unfamiliar, faraway place. I decided I had to climb it. I can still remember the feeling I had as I stood on the summit. There happened to be no other climbers around. Just me and my guide on a clear, calm, sunny day. That moment was literally life-changing.
The achievement was thrilling, challenging and immensely fulfilling. But what really stood out was that I’d accomplished something meaningful that wasn’t connected to academics or my corporate career. It flipped a switch inside of me. And I was inspired and empowered to do more in life. Much more.
Since then, I’ve pursued my passion for the outdoors, travel, and entrepreneurship. And I've never looked back. All of this happened - from one simple trip to the top of Kilimanjaro. I wondered, how many others are there, like me, who just needed a little spark to change the trajectory of their life? With the hope that I could affect other people’s lives in a similar way, I launched Ultimate Kilimanjaro® in 2007.
On behalf of the entire staff here at Ultimate Kilimanjaro®, I warmly welcome you to the Roof of Africa. For some, climbing Kilimanjaro is just a checkmark on a to-do list and that's totally fine.
But for others, it holds much more significance. I've read countless testimonials from our clients that express how much standing on the summit meant to them and how it's affected their life in a far-reaching way ever since.
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VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - Intro
0:19 - Childhood
1:04 - College
2:00 - Work Experience
4:20 - 1st Moment Career Doubts
5:09 - 2nd Moment Career Doubts
6:16 - 3rd Moment Career Doubts
7:23 - Backpacking
7:45 - My Kilimanjaro Experience
8:45 - Life After the Summit
9:26 - Launching the Company
10:16 - Welcome to Kilimanjaro
ABOUT ULTIMATE KILIMANJARO
Ultimate Kilimanjaro® is, quite simply, the #1 guide service on Mount Kilimanjaro.
With more than 15 years of experience, Ultimate Kilimanjaro® has a proven expertise on Mount Kilimanjaro. We lead over 150 climbs per year, with more than 1,000 adventurers climbing with us annually. Literally thousands of climbers have stood on the top of Kilimanjaro with us. Our clients have included celebrities, film makers, senators, ambassadors, authors, journalists, and even the world record holder for the oldest person to summit.
All agree, you won’t find a better Kilimanjaro outfitter.
Our expert guides, high quality standards, and focus on safety have made us the top choice for thousands of customers from all over the world. In short, we know what it takes to get you to the summit – in an safe, fun, and affordable way.
Thousands of people have stood on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with us.
Won’t you join us on the Roof of Africa?
Email us at: info@ultimatekilimanjaro.com
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