ALPS or jura, switzerland
EUROPE
 Day or multi-day

Shop talk

"All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking."
Friedrich Nietzsche

When I’m not hiking, I help organizations develop clear strategies and compelling narratives. My “Shop talk” trips combine my experience and passions for hiking and helping good organizations make good things actually happen.

Before founding Hike Here Now, I worked in politics, advocacy and international organizations, and no matter my role, top leadership consistently invited me into “the room where it happens” when making big decisions. A lot of what I brought to those meetings ended up shaping the direction of the organizations and earning good results.

[ You can learn more about my background and consulting services here and on my Linkedin profile. ]

These trips let you in on the secret–most of the best ideas come while playing outside, not at the office. Give it a shot.

Strategy comes naturally

Team building trips


Duration

Day or multi-day

Pricing

From CHF 1500

All year

Dates



Exertion

Relaxed


⤷ Let's talk shop!
hikers switzerland dusk alps
Ibex Alps hiking Switzerland bouquetin
“I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one can not walk away from it.”


Søren Kierkegaard 
hiker in the Swiss Alps smiling

Strategy comes naturally

Clear your mind and clarify your strategy

If you’re a leader of an organization or a team, and understanding your business, communications or fundraising strategy requires unearthing mind-numbing powerpoints buried somewhere in Sharepoint, or if your organization’s narrative is measured in pages not seconds, this trip is for you. 

For me, strategy comes naturally, as in, ideas flow and connections appear not while I’m staring at a screen, but while I’m outside breathing fresh air and moving blood though my veins and into my brain. Outdoors, I focus just enough on the trail ahead to keep my mind engaged while allowing the rest of it the freedom to be its best creative, problem-solving self.

The ideas I get outside sharpen into strategies when I can bounce them off someone who really knows strategy. My years of experience helping organizations play to win and not just survive gave me insights into the fundamentals of strategy that can be useful across sectors at all levels of engagement.

Strategy comes naturally trips provide both the fresh space and the experienced strategic sounding board to help you get to the core of knowing where you’re trying to go, how you’re going to get there, and why it’s going to work. 

Before you decide, I’m happy to give a free half-hour conversation to see how to make this as useful for you and your team as possible.

Let's get strategic!
  • I’ll cater the hikes to be sure we have time for consultation and reflection, and for clarifying, refining and packaging your ideas.

    You can send me some things in advance to frame your challenge, then we’ll talk shop while we walk. We’ll take some moments to reflect between vistas and end the trip with clear and memorable ideas for how your organization can move towards its goals.

    We won’t solve all the problems or end with a 37-point list you’ll never look back on, but you will get a fresh perspective in fresh air, fresh ideas about how to move forward on Monday and new approaches to thinking strategically that will serve you for years to come.

  • We’ll go somewhere in Switzerland or nearby France for these trips. Depending on your desire for the physical nature of the trip, the time of year, trail and weather conditions and your travel plans, we can find great hikes in the Jura or the Alps.

  • No previous hiking experience necessary, and we can accommodate any fitness level for these trips. We don’t have to go any harder or farther than it takes to get fresh air and steady blood flow to stimulate our brains. Walking is a requirement, but how far, how long and how fast is up to you.

  • Depending on where you are traveling from, it might make sense to arrive close to the trailhead the night before we start the trip. We can discuss options for that when you book. These accommodations would be your responsibility to reserve and are not included in the trip price.

  • Strategy comes naturally trips are great for individual CEOs and other leaders or teams from the C-suite, management, communications or fundraising. 

    These are private trips. We will not mix people from different organizations so we can stay focused on and free to discuss your organization’s needs.

  • CHF 1500 per day for up to 4 people. CHF 250 for each additional person per day. Suggested maximum of 6 people, but we can be flexible if necessary. Price includes hiking trip planning, leadership and safety, meals on the trail, strategy review in advance of the hike and strategic counsel during the hike.

Alpine valley Switzerland hiking hike

Team building trips

Adventure together, deliver together

Sharing time in nature is an excellent way to build camaraderie, motivation and trust that will pay big dividends when you’re back at the office.

On these trips, your team will not only have an amazing shared adventure, but we will also create opportunities and safe spaces to focus on strengthening the personal relationships that underpin our professional relationships.

As an experienced facilitator inside the office and outdoors, I’ll work with you in advance to identify your objectives and build a trip to reach them. We’ll adapt as needed throughout the trip to ensure your team comes away stronger, more cohesive and better prepared to collaborate and deliver. And if you need a specific type of coaching or facilitation, I have a network of professionals we can tap into, or we can work with someone your team already knows.

Let’s talk about how your team can benefit from getting outside, together.

  • On these trips, we’ll combine hiking with other activities to help your team break down barriers and build up rapport. We can go for a day or multiple days. We can move from one location to the next, or “base camp” at an appropriate accommodation in the mountains.

    You can send me some things in advance to frame your challenge, then we’ll develop a program to meet your needs. In certain cases, I may bring in specialists to help facilitate certain exercises or programs.

  • We’ll go somewhere in Switzerland or nearby France for these trips. We can find great places in the Jura or the Alps depending on your desire for the physical nature of the trip, a hiking-based or base camp style trip, the time of year, trail and weather conditions and your travel plans.

  • No previous hiking experience necessary, and we can accommodate any fitness level for these trips. We will incorporate time in nature, but we don’t have to go any harder or farther than it takes to get fresh air and steady blood flow to stimulate our brains. Walking is a requirement, but how far, how long and how fast is up to you.

  • For multi-day, base camp style trips, we will reserve space in a mountain hotel suitable to your needs. For day trips, it can be nice to stay near the trailhead if team members live farther away so we can get a reasonable start. I can provide options for those accommodations, but it will be the responsibility of those who choose to stay there to make and pay for the reservations.

  • Team building trips are great for teams from the C-suite, management, communications, fundraising or other teams in your organization. 

    These are private trips. We will not mix people from different organizations so we can stay focused on and free to discuss your organization’s needs.

  • Custom pricing to match your needs and budget. Prices include hiking trip and team building activity planning and leadership, meals on the trail or during the trip, advance preparation and accommodations during the trip.

Go team go!

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