Rachel Colenso

If ever an event could be carried out with complete efficiency and perfection, then it has to be said the LSG Sky Chefs International Management Conference 2012 in Frankfurt would be a top contender. I was proud to be asked to be the speaker at this biannual large event with delegates from LSG Sky Chef's management team flying from across the globe from as far afield as Asia and South America to the 3 day function. The theme "Leading for Success" provided a great opportunity to utilise expertise from my world of wilderness and mountains within the corporate context. I always find these events teach me something back. You witness a surprising variety between corporations, how they function, the leadership steering the ship and management holding it all together. One of the most marked characteristics I observed at LSG Sky Chefs are their united effort to excel. I felt this was down to having a strong set of company values that are kept at the forefront of their actio

For the first half of this year, and leading up to the final quarter in October I was selected as the face of the "See No Boundaries" sales and marketing campaign for Momentum Wealth, a leading provider of insurance and asset management to the South African market. My journey has taken me across South Africa, speaking to a wonderful collection of people who all share a common zest for life, enthusiasm to succeed and dedication to excellence.... and the journey is not finished yet! I was also asked to provide monthly words of inspiration for the teams, a task which I really enjoyed. My book, "In a High and Desperate Place" also became a quarterly prize for groups of hardworking individuals. Having had this opportunity has provided a great chance to learn more about the inside workings of one of the big players in South Africa. The things which struck me most were the dedication to providing an excellent service, and focused customer care. It made me very prou

Rachel Colenso speaking clips: BBC News; Unilever; Old Mutual; Momentum; First National Bank

Today we went for a walk. Just a short one around The Kom, a rocky outcrop of land protruding into the Atlantic near Cape Point. It is similar in look and feel to parts of the Maine coastline in North America. At high tide the local fishermen are able to use their knowledge and skill to navigate small rowing boats carefully between the rocks to land their catch. It was low tide and little pools of water lapped between seaweed and rocks creating a delightful opportunity for our little daughters to enjoy the variety of pelagic birds. Rosemary our eldest was keen to find out whether the pair of Egyptian Geese were guarding a nest, or simply enjoying the morning sun. As we crept over the rocks we came across the remains of a dead seal. At first I thought the children may be saddened or repulsed by the sight. It is so easy to influence someone's view just through your reaction. Mountain guides quickly learn to ,remain unphased and not to react negatively to events. Your group always

A few years ago a fantastic new 'bouldering' area was discovered on the Cape Peninsula, Red Hill. It lay within the confines of the Table Mountain National Park, and due to its fairly remote location the area had not seen much sporting activity. Nobody really thought to ask too many questions, or create a protocol of how best the land could be used for bouldering but also ensure little disturbance to flora and fauna. We just climbed on the boulders had enjoyed the scenery. Most South African climbers like to think of ourselves as being environmentally sound, and avid nature lovers. Most of us will pick up other people's litter, and feel we are not harming the environment by scrambling over a couple of rocks... after all it is actually quite exciting bashing your way through thick undergrowth to find yet another piece of amazing overhanging sandstone that no one has ever climbed... ever in the entire history of the human race! It is a true voyage of discovery. I did wonder

A dark night. I was driving home. Our daughters asleep in the back. It is a narrow coastal road, flanked on one side by steep mountain slopes. The opposite verge plummets some 30 meters straight into the icy Atlantic Ocean. I rounded a bend, and was faced with a small duiker (buck) caught in the glare of the headlights. It was wide eyed and paralyzed by fear to its spot in the central white line. It seemed ages in my mind. I braked steadily, hoping it would dash to one side. It didn't. I braked more aggressively, finally swerving rightwards, and jolting to a halt. I looked round, reversed, and studied the surrounds. It had vanished. VERY cautiously I completed the rest of the journey home. But I kept thinking about the duiker, and how it had done exactly what many of us do when confronted with danger, or a frightening situation. So often fear paralyses us. We are confronted head on with something big and unexpected, and our first reaction is ... to freeze. 'Fear' and &#

The past few months have been a bird's life. Flying to speak at conferences and returning to feed the kids. The only difference is bird's stay fit doing this. Now home and settled I am told we are famous in New Zealand! (Well for 5 minutes at least.)  Our TV docu drama for "I shouldn't be Alive" has just been aired there. It didn't dawn on me at first why people may have taken more note there than elsewhere. And now, having more time than allowed to down a steaming hot coffee whilst texting family and trying to board an air craft; it made sense. I married a Colenso! Whilst Bishop Colenso made his mark in Africa,  his cousin (William Colenso) has become renowned as a rather zealous New Zealand missionary explorer, travelling with Maori guides through trackless mountain forest over the Ruahine Range and across the Rangipo Desert. He was a keen botanist, and also responsible for the first printing of the Treaty of Waitangi and translating the New Testament int