Jeff Evans

Developing The Expeditionary Mindset takes the audience on a journey to high peaks and medical missions around the globe, detailing the exciting endeavors of mountaineer and adventurer Jeff Evans and providing meaningful lessons of teamwork, servant leadership, handling adversity, trust and communication. These experiences highlight the importance of adopting an Expeditionary Mindset necessary to succeed both professionally and personally in our current VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world, which often involves the ability to successfully evaluate and adjust the ever-changing route up the mountain, the tools in your pack and the trajectory of the team

Taking into account that each audience is unique, Jeff works with the leadership team to create a customized presentation for each organization. In-person keynotes are typically 60 minutes and include a Q&A session. Virtual keynotes can be live or prerecorded, typically lasting between 30 and 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A. Jeff also offers an option for a hybrid format (in-person and virtual simulcast). Approximately one month after the initial keynote, an optional “Phase 3” virtual call is offered to take a deeper dive into the keynote topics. This fully interactive call aids attendees in identifying specific strengths and weaknesses and methods for improvement, promoting idea sharing and improved communication.

Jeff uses several “cornerstone themes” throughout his keynote presentations. Based on pre-event conversations, conference themes and audience demographics, Jeff highlights the themes that will resonate the most with each individual group and emphasizes them throughout that particular event. Each cornerstone theme is conveyed via an adventure- based, humor-injected storyline.  Jeff uses a wide array of rich audiovisuals through still and video components.

Cornerstone Themes:

• Nurturing the Concept of Servant Leadership
  • • The “Sherpa Attitude” is a leadership model that is based on prioritizing the efforts and intentions of the team as a whole. By challenging and engaging each team member to consider the welfare of their fellow team members, we ascend the mountain with a more empowered and inclusive team. Jeff describes the selfless attitude of his Sherpa partners as well as his role as the chief medic in Everest Air to convey the true nature of a Servant Leader.
• Developing Compassionate and Meaningful Teamwork
  • • Jeff has led countless rope teams throughout his career and one thing always rings true…The Collective Power of One that comes from aligning with teammates can propel us forward. The Expeditionary Mindset teaches us to imagine being connected to our teammates by a virtual “rope” and realize that your team will succeed or fail together. Promoting positive rope team health requires attention and effort. Each member of the team should realize their importance and constantly assess how they are contributing to the overall trajectory and momentum of their team. Rope team leaders should focus on assembling the best teams for the task as well as pay close attention to the tension of the rope.
• Fostering Sincere Trust and Communication
  • • Trust and communication are synchronously intertwined in order for any relationship and team to flourish. Jeff reminds us that trust and communication are living, breathing organisms that require constant oxygen and nutrients to remain healthy. He will challenge audience members to evaluate their personal efforts in maintaining proactive lines of communication and reciprocal trust. Jeff shares multiple stories that showcase what high-level trust and communication look like as he has guided his blind climbing partner, Erik on the world’s biggest mountains and toughest adventure races.
• Effectively Managing Adversity in Challenging Landscapes
  • • Our professional and personal landscapes mirror the undulating and rugged terrain of the Himalaya. Deep valleys and high off summits require us to interpret and manage the constant flow of challenge and adversity effectively in order to maintain constant momentum. By using the VUCA acronym (Volatile Uncertain Complex Ambiguous) as a learning framework, Jeff reflects back on the numerous events that have threatened to derail the final objective and identifies the tools necessary to optimize our efforts in the face of adversity. Jeff’s new book, Climbing Through Storms: Managing Adversity in a VUCA World is a great tool in support of this theme.