We were lucky to catch up with Rená Koesler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rená, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

I have every intention to leave a legacy in these ways:

1. Be an inspiration to others by helping them grow and be the best version of themselves
2. Act and behave with authenticity, integrity and character
3. Be an example of growth and learning, regardless of age or any other limiting belief
4. Utilizing and sharing the God given resources/gifts we have to the benefit of others
5. Be a light of goodness and honor to and for others.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I had a fabulous 30-year career as a Professor. I’m inspired by all people, particularly people who are curious, want to grow, make a difference in the world and ready to step into the unknown. By many accounts, college students fit this description and that energy fed me well. I wanted to continue to inspire and be inspired so I transferred from my role as a professor/educator and into an entrepreneurial role. Coaching and mentoring were my gifts so I decided to obtain my coaching credential to begin my Summitcoachinternational business in executive coaching.

My passion is the outdoors where I often use adventure and my four decades of climbing mountains as metaphorical examples of what it takes to continue putting one foot in front of the other. Although I do one on one coaching, I also offer Mastermind on the Mountain hikes for leaders and entrepreneurs to connect and engage in discussions that help illuminate concepts that will help them fine-tune elements in their life and in business. It’s a holistic approach to masterminding and an authentic environment in which to make connections.

The programs that I offer, the workshops I facilitate and the keynote speaking I do revolve around finding and using your purpose to live a meaningful life. My first book Achieving your potential: 15 empowering steps to reach each summit, provides the direct steps to move toward your goals and aspirations. The book is small but loaded with gems that inspire the reader to start and not stop in their quest to achieve their summit.

The other topic that I am most aligned with is leadership development. In my second book, UNFLAPPABLE: Leadership lessons from climbing mountains, I share personal mountaineering stories and illuminate the mistakes I’ve made, the observations I had, and the successes I encountered along the way that helped me develop my best understanding of leadership. Influence without character is dead-end leadership. Leadership is everywhere and right in front of us as it is beyond titles and positions.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 1996, I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. I was thrilled and found so much fulfillment from the experience that I wanted to share it with others. The very next year, I offered a trip to Tanzania in my community where climbing Kilimanjaro and going on a Safari were the itinerary. I had four college students and five community members sign up for the trip. We were going to spend New Years on Mt, Kilimanjaro.

One of the gentleman on the trip was a physician. Everyone was so fond of him as he had an incredible reputation in the community and was enjoyable to be around. As we were returning from summiting the mountain, he was experiencing altitude sickness and not feeling well. He was smoking, which he had semi quit before the trip, and he was not drinking much water. Hydrating is critical at altitude and he appeared as if he simply didn’t want to follow through with directions and protocols. He also refused to go to the hospital as he had a fear of blood transfusions in Africa.

After arriving to the hotel at the base of the mountain, he went to his room to rest. I spoke with him the next morning and he seemed to have improved. He indicated that the group go ahead on Safari and he will be there when we return. Upon arriving at the hotel four days later, he had died.

I was shocked. What did I miss? What did I not see? I was broken as a leader. Three factors stood out to me as a leader. 1) I let him take the leadership away from me (ie., refusing to go to hospital or drink water, etc.). 2) I made faulty assumptions about his role as a physician, thinking he knew his own body and what he was experiencing. 3) I did not hold him to the same standards of everyone else in his actions and behaviors.

My initial resilience came from taking care of the rest of the group during this tragedy. Resiliency over time came from taking what I learned and gained from this experience and applying it to all of my future leadership responsibilities.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

At the start of of COVID, there was so much uncertainty and darkness (doom and gloom) surrounding people’s lives and business. On a whim on a Tuesday, I shared a 2-3 minute video of something enlightening, educational or inspiring to with the social media world. After a couple of weeks I decided to call it “Tidbit Tuesday’s.” All throughout COVID, I shared good and light to people – all recorded outside or on a hiking trail. I ended up doing 52 Tidbit Tuesday’s, an entire year. People looked forward to seeing them and I believe I provided some goodness to a challenging time period.

I was a consistent and regular face and that helped reach and connect with people.

Contact Info:

• Website: rena.koesler@gmail.com
• Instagram: Rená Koesler
• Facebook: Rená Koesler
• Linkedin: Rená Koesler
• Twitter: KoeslerRena