Antarctic Mike: What business leaders can learn from polar explorers

To Mike Pierce, or “Antarctic Mike,” the story of Ernest Shackleton and his 1914 expedition across Antarctic is not just an extraordinary tale of survival. It represents the principles of effective leadership.

While addressing more than 500 Vistage chairs at this year’s ChairWorld, Pierce explained that great business leaders, like Shackleton, take proactive measures to prepare for the elements, make sacrifices for the good of others, embrace difficulty and inspire people to push themselves beyond what they think is possible.

Pierce has experienced this personally. In 2006, in an effort to walk in his hero’s shoes, he became one of only nine people to run a marathon in the Antarctic. That experience helped form the basis of his leadership-training program, “Leading at 90 Below Zero.”

Check out Antarctic Mike’s inspirational talk below.

3583 views