Got podcast love, a plot twist, or a lost-and-found tale? Send fan mail here. Bonus points for wit.Have you ever wondered what leadership looks like when there's nowhere to hide? Rob Powell takes us on a gripping journey through the rugged terrain of adventure hospitality, revealing profound leadership lessons that emerge when the trail literally disappears beneath your feet.Drawing from his experiences guiding expeditions through remote Patagonian trails and teaching at the University of Arkansas Hospitality Management Program, Powell articulates a refreshing leadership philosophy born from necessity rather than theory. When you're responsible for eight guests from four countries with a disgruntled guide and impending weather nicknamed "the wall of sadness," leadership transforms from abstract concept to survival skill.The podcast brilliantly contrasts traditional hospitality environments with adventure settings where leaders have "no backstage" and remain constantly visible to both guests and team. Powell unpacks how decisiveness trumps certainty when faced with ambiguity, and why emotional intelligence precedes operational excellence when managing frightened, fatigued, or humbled clients in challenging conditions. His candid stories – from multimillionaires breaking down over wet boots to executives humbled by altitude – illustrate how wilderness strips away pretense and reveals authentic leadership capabilities.Most compelling is Powell's translation of these wilderness principles to everyday business settings. He reframes leadership as guiding rather than bossing, emphasizing how great leaders instinctively know when to lead from the front, walk beside struggling team members, or support from behind. His insights on preparation as respect, details as culture-setting, and purpose as motivation offer practical wisdom for leaders across industries. As the lines between recreation, luxury, and purpose continue to blur in hospitality, Powell's adventure-tested leadership framework provides exactly what the next generation of experience creators needs. Listen to transform your understanding of what truly matters in leadership when the comfortable path disappears.Support the show

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