Coaching + Climbing:
Leadership Uprising Offsite

Leadership development that moves beyond theory. Through guided rock climbing experiences, leaders and teams discover how they handle real challenges, build authentic trust, and develop practical strategies for navigating uncertainty.

Step Away From The Screen

From screen time
to real time.

Get out of the conference and Zoom rooms to build leadership skills in a radically different way.

ALT+LEAD's climbing-based leadership offsites pull founders, execs, and teams out of the daily grind and into an environment where abstract concepts become visceral experiences.

Here, on the wall, your true leadership potential emerges through real-time challenges that demand focus, build trust, and develop unshakeable resilience.

Walls are meant for climbing,
not just whiteboarding.

Leadership Lessons from the Wall

Here's how climbing transforms your leadership:

Stay Composed Under Pressure

Learn to quiet mental chatter and maintain focus while out of your comfort zone. Master techniques for accessing calm, clear thinking exactly when you need it.

Break Through Mental Barriers

Face that inner voice saying "I can't" while tackling increasingly challenging problems. Develop practical strategies to identify, challenge, and overcome self-limiting beliefs in real time.

Embrace Calculated Risk

Practice real-world risk assessment as you analyze routes, test holds, and make crucial decisions. Build confidence in your ability to evaluate options and commit to decisions with incomplete information.

Communicate with Clarity and Purpose

Discover how climbing naturally hones your ability to communicate with precision. Learn to give precise directions, listen actively, and ensure mutual understanding in critical moments.

Build Trust Through Shared Challenge

Rely on your teammates to spot you, keep you safe, and have your back. Watch as genuine bonds form through collaborating on path-finding and supporting each other to the top.

  • "This experience goes far beyond traditional team development. It's a chance to practice the mindsets and skills that truly set leaders apart."

Available Programs

Every offsite is a laboratory for leadership development. Choose the format that fits your goals:

► NYC Indoor Sessions

  • 3-hour focused experiences at premier NYC climbing facilities

  • 1:1 or small teams (up to 6 people)

  • Coaching woven throughout—not just a debrief at the end

  • Led by certified executive coach + climbing expert

► NY Outdoor Sessions

  • Half-day or full-day immersive programs

  • World-class climbing just 2 hours north of NYC at The Shawangunk Mountains

  • Perfect for leadership teams or individual development

  • Led by certified executive coach + certified climbing guides

► Custom Programs

  • Indoor and outdoor experiences available throughout the US

  • Program length, group size, and learning objectives tailored to your needs

  • Led by certified executive coach + local certified climbing guides with regional expertise

Not sure which option is right for you?

  • In just one day at The Gunks, I saw how much my fear of failure was driving my decision-making. I learned to find the right challenge zone—where I’m stretched but not overwhelmed—and take small, deliberate steps into discomfort. That learning has helped me make bolder decisions at work with more confidence.

    First-Time Founder

How It Works

Reach out and let us know you're interested. We’ll send over a short intake form.

1

Contact Us

Answer a few questions to let us know we know what you'd like to focus on.

2

Quick Intake

We’ll work through the details together and lock in the format, location, and timing.

3

Finalize Logistics

Come ready to climb, learn, stretch your comfort zone, and enjoy yourself.

4

Have Fun!

Why This Works

Climbing works as a leadership metaphor because it confronts you with the same challenges: risk, pressure, incomplete information, and the need to keep moving even when the path isn’t clear.

It challenges you physically, mentally, and emotionally. And it gives you instant feedback on how you respond. That's what makes it so effective for leadership development.

Physical Engagement
Climbing forces present-moment awareness. You’re fully in your body, noticing what’s happening right now. That presence makes it easier to recognize how your nervous system responds to challenge. You start to see the connection between body and mind, and how simple physical actions can shift your mental state.

Mental Challenge
Climbing tests both your thinking and your mindset. You have to assess the route, make a plan, and stay mentally clear as you go. It forces you to cut through the noise: doubt, second-guessing, overthinking. You learn to balance analysis with intuition and keep moving even when the path isn’t fully clear.

Emotional Patterns
Climbing surfaces the emotions that drive your default responses: fear of failure, fear of judgment, fear of not being good enough. Those emotional cues trigger familiar patterns like control, avoidance, or overcompensating. The wall gives you a chance to notice the link in real time, interrupt the loop, and try a different response.

Perfect For

  • Leaders feeling stuck on specific challenges

  • Teams that want to build trust and engagement

  • Anyone ready for a new perspective

  • People who learn best by doing

Unlike traditional leadership training, climbing creates an immediate, visceral feedback loop that accelerates learning and makes insights memorable. What you take from the wall applies directly to how you lead at work.

FAQ

  • This experience is ideal for:

    • Leaders looking for breakthrough insights on specific challenges

    • Teams wanting to build authentic, lasting trust

    • Individuals ready for a fresh perspective on their leadership

    • People who learn best through hands-on experience

    • Anyone looking to develop resilience and decision-making skills

  • Absolutely. Safety is our top priority. All sessions are led by climbing instructors and certified guides who follow strict protocols. We use a “challenge by choice” approach, meaning you decide how far to push and what’s right for you.

    We ask that all participants are physically cleared to take part and able to follow basic safety instructions.

    Most sessions use top-rope systems, one of the safest forms of climbing, with thorough instruction and equipment checks. We also offer bouldering, which involves shorter climbs without ropes over padded mats, which a great way to build confidence close to the ground. For experienced climbers, lead climbing is available as an optional challenge that adds more complexity to decision-making and risk assessment.

    If you have any concerns, let us know. We’ll work with you to make sure the experience feels supportive, accessible, and aligned with your needs.

  • Not at all. We welcome complete beginners to experienced climbers, and work with all fitness levels and ages. We tailor the experience to meet you exactly where you are. Some participants never leave the ground. Others use adaptive climbing techniques designed for different physical abilities. The focus is on learning through the experience.

    That said, if you have a recent injury or medical condition that hasn’t been cleared by a provider, it’s best to wait until you’re physically ready.

  • Whether indoor or outdoor, each session combines physical climbing with real-time coaching. You'll tackle routes that challenge you mentally and physically while receiving guidance that helps you connect climbing insights to your leadership challenges. There's no lecture at the end—the learning happens in the moment.

  • Working with height anxiety is actually one of the most powerful parts of the experience. Many participants discover new ways to manage fear and uncertainty by gradually expanding their comfort zone in a supported environment. Our coaches are experienced in helping people work through these challenges safely.

  • Wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows full range of motion. All technical climbing gear (shoes, harness, etc.) is provided. Just bring water, food, and an open mind.

  • Indoor sessions run 3 hours. Outdoor sessions range from half-day to full-day experiences. Custom program lengths are available for teams.

  • Indoor sessions are held at premier climbing facilities in NYC. Outdoor sessions take place in the Shawangunk Mountains (the "Gunks") near New Paltz, NY—just 2 hours from the city. Custom locations worldwide are available for teams.

  • Transportation can be arranged if needed. Just let us know your needs and we'll handle the logistics to ensure smooth travel to and from your session.

  • Indoor sessions work well for individuals or small teams up to 6 people. Outdoor programs can accommodate larger groups. We'll help design the right format for your needs.

  • This isn't just climbing with some coaching tacked on. We've carefully designed each session to use climbing as a laboratory for leadership development. The physical challenge becomes a mirror for how you approach obstacles, communicate under pressure, and build trust—all with expert coaching to help you extract insights you can apply immediately.

  • Yes! Many clients start with a single session and then move into regular climbing + coaching to sustain their development. We can design a program that matches your goals and schedule.

  • Pricing varies based on format, group size, and location. Programs typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. We're happy to provide specific pricing once we understand your needs and goals.

  • I won’t lie, I’m terrified of heights and thought this whole idea was crazy. But the coaches created such a safe, supportive environment that I found myself doing things I never thought I could. What surprised me most was how much this experience brought my team closer together.

    CPO

Contact Us

Fill out the form below for more information about this program.