MBA Ventures Expedition Feedback

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “Make sure you have all the gear you need before getting to Santiago. very expensive to buy in the city. read up on altitude sickness and do what you can to prepare.”
• “This venture is no joke, and altitude is a tough cookie. Andes isn’t physically that strenuous if you’re a fairly active person, but there’s only so much you can do when you get mountain sickness.”
• “Work out before the venture and get physically prepared.”
• “This expedition has two major challenges: physical exhaustion and altitude.”
• “This is a serious climb. Prepare physically…and only commit to join if you are ready to take on the challenge.”
• “Make sure you’re physically in shape and if you want to summit taking altitude medication can only help.”
• “Couldn’t be happier with the expedition. It is the real deal in terms of both a camping and a moutaineering experience. Do yourself a favor and get in shape. It is an expensive mistake to not perform well because you were lazy.”
• “Work out, preferably in high altitude.”
• “work out! try to spend some time at higher elevation if possible!”
• “Listen to the guides when they talk about hydration, safety, and climbing techniques. These folks are pros. I was shocked by the cost of the trip and actually sat down to write all of the things I could buy with the money I would save by not going. I had buyer’s remorse from the time I booked to the time I got to the first mountain. All of that went away very quickly. Looking back with four weeks of hindsight, this trip was completely worth it. More important than any class I’ve taken so far.”
• “This is the most difficult venture offered at Wharton. Make sure you are mentally and physically prepared before signing up. Recommend 3+ days per week of cardio/strength training for at least 2 months leading up to the trip.”
• “Train well in advance for this. Focus on cardio and leg strengthening.”
• “The Andes trek is difficult and you should prepare physically for this expedition.”
• “Great for making friends and exploring a beautiful part of the world. Just okay for leadership development.”
• Depending on the venture, make sure you are in good physical shape. Even if it’s possible to do it without training, the venture will be much more enjoyable. Also get the right gear. Weather is unpredictable.
• “WORK OUT before – you need to be physically prepared for this trip!”
• “Train for this venture!!! I suggest a lot of running, spinning, stairmaster. I’m a world-ranked triathlete and I even struggled on summit day because it was so strenuous. However, note that every day besides summit day was perfectly manageable for someone in average shape. Further, take the altitude medication (the only side effect was tingly feet) and don’t skimp on anything recommended in the gear list (it was exceptionally cold on our summit day, mostly because of the wind, gusts were 50mph.)”
• “It’s not as physically hard as they’re telling you. And it’s not that cold. Also, bring beef jerky.”
• “Just do it.”
• “Do the pre-trip training and take the workouts seriously! Summit day is incredibly difficult, and you’ll be much more comfortable if you are in great shape going into the trip.”
• “Prepare in advance and be open minded.”
• “Don’t underestimate the physical challenge, but know that you will have a team to support you.”
• “Do it. It has been my most memorable experience at Wharton thus far. “
• “Don’t expect it to be easy. But at the same time anyone who’s into the outdoors and reasonably fit can do – don’t shy away!”
• “Be fit. Workout. Take responsibility for your health so you’re not a liability to your peers.”
• “Definitely don’t neglect the physical preparation for the venture — it’ll give you more time and energy to enjoy the scenery and work on leadership development goals.”
• “The more prepared you are for the physical part of the trip, the more you can get out of the non-physical leadership lessons you get from the VFs, the guides, and your fellow Venturers.”
• “Train early. Cardio is important.”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “I wish I had actually done the readings!”
• “Carry big water bottles, carry enough layers. This venture is not about walking or climbing (both easy-peesy if you are not a couch potato) but about fighting with a mountain that can throw you off with its altitude and breathtaking landscapes.”
• “I should have worked out more.”
• “The guides expected only ~1/2-2/3 of the participants to successfully summit.”
• “Take altitude medicine”
• “That altitude sickness will affect many people and can prevent you from summitting. However, that’s not something you can control and if you don’t feel well physically you should not continue pushing yourself. It can be dangerous if you don’t have the energy to get down the mountain safely.”
• “Bring protein bars and earplugs. Need more than two Nalgenes (one liter each). Eastern Mountain Sports gives you $10 free for every $100 you spend. Buy your gear in chunks to maximize use of these”
• “What things should we carry and what things would mules carry”
• “Communication is hugely important when you are co-dependent with five other people in a remote area trying to achieve ambitious goals.  Moving slowly can be the fastest way to get from A to B, as long as you reduce the number of breaks to get there.”
• “That I get heavily affected by altitude so I should have taken the altitude medicine.”
• “It is important to double check that all your gear fits and is functioning correctly before the trip”
• “Be prepared for anything. You may have a group that jives and gets along great or you may have a group with a lot of conflict. You may have great weather or it may rain the whole time. Be open to whatever experience it ends up being.”
• “Not showering for 6 days isn’t as bad as it seems”
• “Don’t skimp on gear. Get a warm down jacket (700 or 800 fill).”
• “Visit wine country.”
• “You will not regret it.”
• “I definitely underestimated how cold it would be, and wish that I had been more prepared for the freezing temperatures (particularly on summit day).”
• “To get in better shape beforehand.”
• “Bring more sun protection.”
• “I’m capable of more than I realized.”
• “Some of the stuff I carried I never used. Pack light.”
• “That the recovery from the trip might take a little while. Don’t plan or expect to do anything too physically strenuous after this trip.”
• “The temperature starts warm and then drops as you move higher up the mountain. Be prepared for a range of climates. Bring Advil.”

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “Buy your gear during black friday, reach out to people who did the venture the year before and arrive one day before to Punta Arenas (bags GET delayed up to 72 hrs)”
• “A huge part of your experience will be determined by your relationship with your rope team. Take the time and the effort to cultivate it.”
• “Only go on this trip if you like or at least don’t mind the cold. You will be cold and wet and there is no place to get warm but in your tent.”
• “I would recommend some good backpack training before the venture. The pack is heavy and you carry it around almost everyday. I struggled a lot dragging my feet through a feet of snow with my back hurting from the weight of the pack.”
• “Be prepared following all the instructions beforehand. When you start the venture, relax, emerge and enjoy.”
• “Enjoy it! Antarctica is spectacularly beautiful, and it’s an amazing opportunity to experience a continent very few will have the chance to visit. Also, for a delicious dessert, Nutella melts really well if you put it in a pot of boiling water. Antarctic fondue!
  Just go! Best experience of my Wharton life for sure.”
• “Remember that this is going to be TOUGH. Additionally, remember that they are going to try to “surprise” you with new challenges that catch you off guard. If you don’t like that kind of thing, this probably isn’t for you.”
• “Bring more socks. Bring the right eyewear — the sun is BRIGHT.”
• “Word of mouth is that the difficulty level of Antarctica is medium. It definitely isn’t the hardest expedition nor is it the easiest. However – keep in mind that if you are not in shape or in “excellent physical condition” as the website lists for this venture, you are going to be relying on your other teammates to take your slack (carry your weight or take on more difficult positions). Try to prepare so that not only can you get the most out of this from a physical standpoint, but so that you can be best equipped to visit the last continent!”
• “Come in with an open mind and lots of energy. There will be personal and group ups and downs to the trip, but a positive attitude and a willingness to learn goes a long way to making a fantastic experience out of the venture.”
• “Have clarity in what you hope to get out of the venture.”
• “Consult previous participants on the gear check. When in charge, be in charge.”
• “The lack of infrastructure means that we should be mentally prepared to adapt to an environment and lifestyle really different from what we have been used to. So keep an open mind and be optimistic about the experience and challenges is very important.”
• “Be open minded, push yourself, learn to communicate.”
• “Douse your nose in sunscreen. Or get a super geeky looking nose guard. By day 5 people will be jealous.”
• “Don’t underestimate the leadership learning opportunities during the expedition, approach these with an open mind from day one to make the most of them!”
• “Cherish the time at camp as a way to get to know your rope team on a deeper level! From meal times to just sitting in the tents, in groups of six or in individual conversations, there are so many opportunities to learn about teammates at a level that you just can’t get to outside of Antarctica.”
• “Bring lots of baby wipes and take baby wipe showers once in a while. / Cover your face! You do not want to go back to school with a major sunburn. / Eat your meals together in your tent team but try to cook inside so it’s not windy or cold. / Finally, enjoy! The wildlife in Antarctica is awesome and you’ll never get this opportunity again!”
• “Be careful about baggage transfers as you travel – maybe head to South America a couple of days early to make sure your bags get to you in time for the trek.”
• “Do it! Know you will be cold, tired, hungry, and wet, but don’t let yourself complain about it because everyone else is in the same exact situation. Be open with your rope team and your VF and take advantage of the opportunity to learn about or confirm your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. / / Also, stockpile snow for boiling water and start early. Early as in like as soon as you have your tents up.”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “All the activities were “trekking” related.”
• “Bring an extra pair of gloves, leave the headlamp.”
• “The Muck Arctic Sport Boots are the best option. Having dry feet is the most important. You won’t be walking enough that you need to have the most comfortable walking boots, just need your feet to stay dry.”
• “To take two pair of gloves”
• “The Muck Boots are the single most important piece of equipment you can get, and if you get any other boots, you’re going to be jealous of the people who got the Muck Boots. Also–try and start buying equipment earlier so it’s not a mad dash to the finish line amid finals!”
• “Make sure you have a nice thick “expedition-level” down jacket, usually you have to order them online. I got mine at REI and it wasn’t thick enough, even though it was the most expensive one / thickest one they had in store.”
• “You will have to form your own team from your pod assignment so think about what you want to prioritize in building a team.”
• “I wish I knew more about how hiking shoes get completely drenched in snow so I could have better packed my gear.”
• “Should have done more physical trainings before going for the venture.”
• “Invest in good gear! You’ll be much more comfortable and can enjoy the trip instead of being cold :)”
• “Bring more socks. That I was not going to lose 15 pounds.”
• “Encourage everyone to bring a camera – even if it is a personal cell phone. As long as you keep it close to your chest, with airplane mode, the battery will last a very very long time. mine lasted over 5 days without needing a charge (I did bring a portable charger, however). I think many people regretted not bringing their cell phones after realizing it would be fine in Antarctica.”
• “The Venture Fellows emphasize that the expedition is an opportunity to “Go Deep, Fast” with a group of strangers. As a more closed person, I wish I would have better prepared myself mentally for that aspect of the trip so that I could have shared more of my deep personal feelings, motivations, hopes and fears, etc. For some people, that comes naturally. For me, it caught me a bit off-guard when I needed to do it in the venture and I didn’t share as much as I would have had I been prepared.”
• “I wish I didnt try to take my backpack on the plane. It was taken away from me at the gate and then got lost. I was stuck with no gear. I would never have taken it with me to the gate had I known they would take it away from me. Check your bag!”
• ” not much. went in an empty vessel and think that was the best way to go now.”
• “The pre and post-expedition period can be used effectively for exploration around the port of departure to Antartica. Planning ahead for these trip opportunities would be a great option.”
• “I wish I took greater advantage of the leadership office resources

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “You can do it even if you don’t have outdoors experience. You can also easily get to the level of physical fitness necessary to achieve your goals on the venture.”
• “People will tell you that you can organize a comparable trip on your own and save money. It’s not true. So much goes into preparing the experience and curriculum specifically for Wharton students and their leadership development. Going on a Leadership Venture has actually been one of the most high value experiences I’ve had at Wharton.”
• “Be clear about what you want from a leadership development perspective and be active in pursuing it. Push yourself and push OTHERS to get what you want.”
• “Be physically prepared – experience will be much more enjoyable.”
• “Buy into the leadership aspect early”
• “Embrace the uncertainty. Some people found the expedition physically challenging. It always help to exercise a bit before the trip so that you can physically and mentally be prepared.”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “Bring shorts”
• “You can never be overly prepared for an expedition. Build your physical strength. Don’t overlook the non-physical/emotional aspect of the trip either – walk in open minded and ready to learn.”
• “Teams are randomly assigned and can be badly unbalanced. Be active in forming the team culture you want. Don’t rely on others.”
• “A little better sense for itinerary; I would have taken my altitude sickness meds”

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “Definitely go on this venture! Really wonderful experience. Be prepared that it is very physically demanding – taking a couple of spin classes a week definitely helps prepare. Travel as a group in New Zealand after the venture!”
• “Work out – a lot.”
• “Be prepared to be pushed, physically, emotionally, and mentally.”
• “This is a great venture but you have to be prepared to be cold and wet. You also need to be in good physical shape. Do not do this venture if you are not truly prepared for the physical challenges.”
• “Be sure to understand the level of difficulty and what you will have to do. It is not as easy as it seems!”
• “Know what you are getting yourself into. I cannot say this enough times. Some students thought this was going to be an easy endeavor, and the experience was not as enjoyable for them. See what kind of weather, terrain, etc to expect in your destination. Group dynamics are the largest factor that determines levels of enjoyment, and if someone has a negative perspective of the trip for some reason, it can really bring down the whole group.”
• “My advice would be to relax and just be ok with the unknown. I think worrying about all the details I didn’t know caused me a lot of stress, but if I had just approached it with a more open mind, this could have prevented a lot of that unnecessary stress.”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “That we would have no alone time and no time to process or reflect in a meaningful way. AARs that only focus on the leader of the day and are late at night when everyone just wants to go to bed were not sufficient for me.” [Program note: As a team based program, finding alone time will be challenging.]
• “To bring water shoes, proper base layer thermals, and a watch with an alarm. Don’t bring anything extra that is not on the list – you won’t need it.”
• “1) Physical intensity. 2) I wish I knew more about how to buy gear… the packing list was pretty bad.”
• “Good base layers and warm clothes. Also, the sun is really strong (wear high SPF sunscreen)”
• “The weather can be consistently terrible. Be prepared for bad weather.”
• “The main difficulty here is that you are wet ALL the time (it rains a little, but you also cross rivers and have to lift your raft when it is stuck). Know that you will be also cold of course.”
• “Nothing. I did my research and knew very well what to expect, but some of the other people in the venture did not, and I believe my level of enjoyment was significantly higher. The venture is supposed to be ambiguous before you go so that it is more challenging, and at the end it makes it much more rewarding.”

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “Make sure you are in shape. It’s not just a matter of making sure you don’t struggle – being out of shape can negatively effect your rope team, which isn’t really fair to everyone else that showed up prepared. “
• “Push yourself out of your comfort zone – but with that said, PREPARE! Anyone can complete the venture successfully, but do yourself and your team a huge favor by training beforehand.”
• “It’s a great stretch experience and everybody was super happy that we went there.”
• “If you dont have past trekking experience, make sure you are (i) working out a few days a week for a couple of months before the expedition (ii) mentally prepare ourself to be challenged (iii) clearly understand that its actually all about attitude and willpower at the end of the day”
• “If you do not work out/ are not in shape whatsoever, potentially consider other ventures”
• “Be open-minded. Buy into the process. Go deep, go fast. Communicate”
• “I highly recommend the venture to students who aspire to challenge themselves. My advice is that despite its challenge, almost everyone is able to complete the venture. The biggest hurdles are mental preparation and openness to new experience.”
• “Go in looking for a challenge. Take the leadership part of the trip seriously for yourself and others.”
• “Make sure you are both strong and flexible. Be open minded with your team and be prepared to learn about more than just surviving in the outdoors.”
• “Be mentally prepared for the physical challenge. Go in with an open mind and be nice and patient with your team mates.”
• “Make sure to get the correct gear”
• “Understand all the costs, book flights early, come with a good attitude and very open to making new friends FAST”
• “Be as physically prepared as possible”
• “Definitely do it just make sure you’re physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared. Train hard beforehand – very hard! If you are afraid of heights, you might want to think twice. You won’t necessarily become close to your team mates”
• “Do it. It’s expensive but well organized and a once in a lifetime experience.”
• “Know what your “physical trigger points are” and if you really want to test yourself in those physical conditions and see how you react.”
• “I think the expense of the trip can be daunting but Patagonia is a place that would have been very difficult to do on your own. I also think participating in a venture has the additional aspect of building teamwork and leadership skills that you wouldn’t necessarily get doing the trip on your own.”
• “Ask if you have questions on gear. If you’re an avid climber/trekker, this experience may be too easy. Buy your flights to Punta Arenas as soon as you can.”
• “Just Do it. It will be more expensive than other trips you take, but it is unlike other trips you will take.”
• “It is a great opportunity to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, even if you have some experience with things like this.”
• “More than anything, have a positive attitude and push yourself – convince yourself that you can get through it no matter what. Physically train and prepare before the venture.”
• “I would recommend that students pay attention to the physical training recommended, and also think about the setting/kind of trip this is. This is a camping trip, and I think a few of my fellow participants didn’t really think about what’s involved in this.”
• “Get in shape!”
• “Know how physically challenging this is going to be and don’t just assume this is like normal hiking with a few extra pounds on your back. Many participants will come back saying that this was an incredible experience because once you get to the end of it, all you can think about is how proud you are of yourself and your team of how much you’ve accomplished. What many people forget about was the struggle we went through to get to the end. On that note, even if you haven’t done camping / trekking that is this intense, don’t be discouraged.”
• “Set expectations going into the venture. First from what you want to get out of the experience, to which there is no single “right” answer. It could just be to travel; it could be to push yourself physically; it could be to work on a specific leadership trait. Then, do your research about what to expect from the location you are traveling and prepare mentally and physically.”
• “Don’t underestimate the physical challenges. If you aren’t interested in a physically strenuous trip, consider one of the other expeditions.”
• “Please do your due diligence and learn a little bit about the land you are about to visit. It’s a special and untouched place. Try to be realistic about your physical abilities and recognize your limitations. Work out regularly if you can.”
• “Just do it!”
• “When they give you a gear list and training schedule, take them both seriously. You cannot sneak by on these expeditions and will only have regrets about the lack of work and preparation to decide to not to put in. Don’t question them so much and just trust that they know what you need.”
• “Most people are afraid of the camping and the physical intensity, but honestly those aren’t too bad. Where you should expect to grow the most is mentally, namely learning how to work with others under times of stress and uncertainty.”
• “Be very open to the AARs and think hard, in advance, what you want to learn about yourself”
• “Don’t be intimidated by the outdoor aspect of the venture. If you have your gear, you are completely capable of braving camping for a week.”
• “Really push yourself to get the most out of the experiential learning portion of the Venture. Being introspective helps to ensure you’ll get more out of the trip than just sight seeing.”
• “Be prepared for demanding physical hikes. Train before the expedition!!”
• “Consider what your personal and professional development goals are, as well as your risk tolerance”
• “The leadership aspect and personal development was much better than I expected, but you have to completely buy in to the systems in order to get anything out of it”
• “It’s a very unique experience that combined outdoor activities and leadership lectures. It varies a lot with the group dynamics.”
• “This is more than a physical challenge – it’s as much about personal reflection and helping others develop as it is about conquering a trail”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “That is was going to be as cold as is was on the ropes course day. I would have brought an extra jacket and mittens.”
• “- How do-able (?) the venture was in terms of physical challenges, mental challenges, and how important the people on the venture is with regards to shaping your experience”
• “I would have liked to know a little bit more about each of the different ventures and which one was the best fit for my goals.”
• “For some reason, I never knew that this was one of the two most difficult ventures. I would probably try and make sure that even folks who are not on the waitlist attend at least one of the trainings – this would help folks get a sense what to expect.”
• “it is COLD – bring more and warmer clothes than you think you will need”
• “Succeeding in a venture is less about physical fitness. It’s about mental fortitude and being a team player. You CAN do this.”
• “Get prepared early, bring all the items on the equipment list, be prepared for a challenge.”
• “More about my own leadership style and how I can be effective in teams.”
• “You won’t necessarily get to lead your team through something extremely challenging — so don’t have too high expectations about that (not everyone gets the chance). Instead, think about how you might be able to learn about yourself in team interactions, as a follower, and as someone who can give critical feedback.”
• “That the Patagonia venture is no joke and you need to really be in good physical shape and willing to do this kind of thing. I think that was communicated well, but the message should be “no really, this is not easy…”.” [Program note: We will continue to find ways to communicate this information in ways people can hear.]
• “Leadership opportunities may be somewhat limited based on the day that you are chosen to be the leader of the day (i.e. first and last day). The intensity of physical training required before the venture. Will not necessarily develop new relations”
• “Bring hiking boots that are waterproof and feel the most comfortable.”
• “That the heights are pretty bad especially with the weight of the backpack. While we have trekking poles, it’s important to train your arms to be able to effectively use the poles and to put your trust into them.”
• “The unknowns were the best part. Embrace the unknowns and don’t worry. it will be amazing.”
• “Wish I knew more specifically what the gear was going to be used for so it would be easier to know where to invest more money in quality gear.”
• “That a single teammate can make or destroy your venture experience.” [Program note: The program is built around the team dynamic. There will be challenging participants. They do not have the power to destroy your experience.]
• “It will be more physically challenging than you think.”
• “A great tip for keeping warm at night was to put a nalgene of hot water in your sleeping bag. For me, it eliminated the need for a sleeping bag liner. Also, keep tags on your gear until you get to Punta Arenas and complete the final gear check with the guides because you might realize you don’t need something.”
• “It was important to take the physical training and gear list component more seriously. It helps you so much on the trip!”
• “I wish I knew how vertical the trek was going to be. I was mentally prepared to go far but didn’t realize how high we were going and the toll that was really going to take on my physically.”
• “I wish I knew how valuable the leadership component was. It’s not just lip service! I identified a lot of areas of improvement in my own leadership skills and am ever grateful that I know what they are and what I can do to get better.”
• “how amazing the guides would be!”
• “Don’t skimp on gear!”
• “The location we were at included day hikes throughout much of the expedition. Bring a sturdy, sizable day pack (30-40 L).”
• “Be comfortable with uncertainty and always be okay to ask for help”
• “I would not have spent time interacting with the whole group, it was really 99% of my time with my rope team only”
• “how to cook good camp food!”

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “If you don’t get seasick, you should definitely go for this venture!”
• “It’s an awesome venture, one of the best experiences I’ve had at Wharton. Slightly less intense than the other expeditions, but I still felt that I came away with all the learning/experience that I wanted to get out of this venture.”
• “Just do it! But be sure to go in with an open mind, curiosity, intentions to put the group’s goals ahead or your own, and flexibility.”
• “Find ways to stretch yourself and experiment with different leadership styles.”
• “Go in with specific personal development goals and communicate them to your team early on so everyone can collaborate on helping each other succeed.”
• “The boats are very warm at night. Sleep on the galley bench or outside. Storms can happen and should be planned for.”
• “The sleeping and bathroom arrangements are cramped. It’s important to come with an open mind for a stretch experience.”
• “This expedition was an amazing experience and included a lot of essential elements. We were put in a very foreign environment with small teams, and we had to manage a lot of different aspects of the team in order to perform well.”
• “Absolutely do a leadership venture, and go in with an open mind to meet people you wouldn’t normally meet, try things you normally wouldn’t try, and push yourself to do things you might not think you can do. You’ll be surprised to find you can do it all and actually achieve a ton if you just stick with it and give it your all.”
• “Have a very clear development goal in mind so you also benefit from the learning experience”
• “Get to know the people on your expedition before hand if possible.”
• “Do it. It should be mandatory from the Wharton MBA experience”
• “Do something that pushes your limits, don’t just do something that’s comfortable. Consider when you are recruiting as a first year – if you are mature recruiting Spring Ventures are better timed and if you are enterprise recruiting Winter Ventures are more convenient”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “All body parts need sunscreen, including feet.”
• “You are sharing an actual bed with another participant – not just a room. It wasn’t bad at all but be prepared.”
• “Plan travel better. Nice Delta flight on a Saturday-Saturday time frame that works very well for a venture-only travel schedule.”
• “Sunscreen is super important and needs to be applied every hour. Mosquito bites in Grenada are itchier than in the U.S.”
• “I wish I had been more inquisitive for the first few days, which would have sped up the learning process.”
• “Prior to doing a leadership, I often wondered if and how a person learns leadership simply through physical activity. The answer is you absolutely do learn leadership, through a few ways: 1) Hands-on experience of being the “leader of the day” where you have to direct your team in tasks you yourself may not be 100% confident about, and in stressful situations where you have to make split-second decisions and often revert to base instincts, 2) Seeing the way other teammembers take on this same task in different ways and with different leadership styles, 3) Observing how specific leadership strategies and team member styles impact you as a team member and the team dynamics as a whole, 4) Reflecting everyday, receiving personal feedback on your contributions and behaviors, and 5) Stretching yourself constantly by putting yourself in situations you’re not 100% comfortable in but push through anyway”
• “How amazing actually was.”

What advice would you give to a fellow student considering this expedition? 

• “Good foul weather gear is the difference between happiness and utter misery. Your bag has to fit in a small locker, if it doesn’t you have to sleep with it.”
• “This is a great experience to get to know classmates outside of your cohort or cluster and in a different setting. It exposed me to a new team with similar pressures of MGMT 610 and forces you to work with uncertainty which furthered you understanding of how I work in teams as a leader and under uncertainty.”
• “Pack rain gear and lots of warm clothes. Bring a few cereal bars. Download a few podcasts for your down time. Take the seasick meds even if you don’t think you need them.”
• “Physically, this is probably the easiest of all the ventures, but psychologically, it may be the most taxing. Be prepared to be exhausted mentally all the time.”
• “Do it.”
• “Go for it. This is a super fun venture, and you learn a lot about yourself in the process. Plus the food on the venture is to die for.”
• “If you’ve never sailed, don’t worry. If you typically get sea sick, there are ways around that. Don’t let either of those get in the way of completing this venture.”
• “Do it! Don’t worry about your sailing or physical abilities. Its a great and supportive crew that will help you along the way.”
• “Do it!”

Having just completed this expedition, what do you know now that you wish you knew before the expedition?

• “There is a hole in the Ozone layer above New Zealand. Sunburn happens extremely quickly.”
• “I wish I’d known how little sleep I’d get – rest up before you go!”
• “Not as physically or mentally grueling as one would expect”
• “A lot of sailing jargon and details will be thrown at you immediately. It can seem like this isn’t important in the moment, but I wish I had gotten up to speed on that immediately. With that base knowledge you can do much, much more around the ship.”
• “Why did I even think about not doing it? It was amazing!”