Lessons in leadership from Laklouk, Lebanon
Last week, I found myself on an ATV ride through the mountains of Laklouk, Lebanon, climbing steep paths, dropping into deep valleys, and navigating terrain that shifted without warning.
Halfway up a particularly tough climb, it struck me.
This wasn’t just a ride.
It was a lesson in leadership.
Every meaningful change I’ve led has felt less like a steady ascent
and more like that mountain ride, full of unexpected turns, uneven ground, and moments that test your grip.
In transformation, the terrain may not be physical, but it’s just as unpredictable.
One moment you’re aligning teams around a shared vision,
the next you’re navigating resistance to change or pivoting after a vendor setback that threatened the entire roadmap.
I’ve experienced all of that.
And here’s what I’ve learned from leading dozens of transformations:
The valleys shape you just as much as the summits.
One project stalled for months after a failed vendor handoff.
That delay forced us to build in-house what we had planned to outsource.
It was uncomfortable, but in hindsight, it became one of our most strategic strengths.
At another client, the situation was the opposite.
We were struggling to build internally until we made the call to outsource.
Letting go unlocked momentum and allowed the internal team to refocus on what mattered most.
Both paths were right, but for different moments, different terrains.
The insights from those low points are often just as valuable as the wins at the top.
When you’re in the thick of it, you gain clarity.
You reset priorities.
You build the resilience that carries you forward.
It’s important to know where you are in the journey,
valley or summit,
and adjust your perspective accordingly.
Because whether your adventure takes you through Dubai’s dunes or Laklouk’s ridges,
you can always expect valleys to come with the peaks.
And whether you’re in the valley, learning and building strength,
or at the summit, celebrating progress,
both phases prove the path was never meant to be straight.
Peak or valley make sure you take in the view.
👉 What’s one unexpected challenge you’ve faced during a transformation that ended up shaping the outcome for the better?
