Reflections on MSc Leadership; A Week of Masterful Leadership.

Why has this course struck such a resonance within me, why am I so excited about learning again? Is it because of its utter relevance to my everyday working life, its experiential teaching styles or the charisma and passion with which the subject matter is delivered?


Probably all of the above, but I think it also runs deeper. The fundamental values and core principles that first attracted me to the medical profession, that are so ingrained and have been subconsciously honed over the years, are what this course embodies.

Teamwork, problem solving, mental and physical challenge, self awareness and communication skills are all components of leadership that are so fundamental to our profession. This week and the preceding weekends of theory have addressed all of these facets, and more, that we all rely upon in our working arena, providing a formal framework of concepts and models within which to understand and begin to master them.

The opportunities given to cement the theoretical learning within exhilarating practical experiences means that this was a most rewarding and productive week.

Individuals were challenged and encouraged to deconstruct themselves before being given the tools and awareness to discover and develop self leadership skills that may have been latent or absent previously.

The diversity and intensity of physical and mental challenges that were met and conquered by everyone within the group meant that through the week’s journey steep slopes were climbed and many summits reached!

Anyone can read a text book on leadership or attend a seminar but to have the opportunity to experience the theory in such high calibre company and within such a breath taking environment has been a privilege.

Thank you everyone at the Carnegie Alpenrose for a truly memorable week.

Dr Tim Moore - Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland

Himalayan Expedition Training Weekend

After spending 7 months out at the Carnegie Alpenrose as a My peak Potential trainee it was fantastic to see some familiar faces back in Bavaria last week and also to meet some new ones.

I am referring to the training week for the Himalaya 09 Expedition which saw the whole team of Leeds Met staff and students travel to Bavaria for 5 days of preparation and planning for the trip to Nepal in October this year. The team will be aiming to reach Everest base camp as well as volunteering with a community project at a school for children with cerebral palsy, for which the team are aiming to raise £20,000.

The week combined briefings, mountain skills training, snow shoeing and that all important team bonding, in perfect clear blue skies which resulted in certain team members returning home with an unexpected lobster appearance.

Having been unable to attend the first training meet in North Wales I was meeting some of the team members for the first time. From the outset I was struck by what a friendly, motivated and diverse group of people have been put together for this ambitious project.

Unlike many commercial trekking expeditions where you simply turn up at the airport, this one is unique in that each team member has a specific area of responsibility from fundraising to coordinating the physical preparation. This results in the team developing personally and also learning vast amounts about expedition planning which contributes to a more rewarding and fulfilling experience.

Coming from a sporting background I have always enjoyed being part of a team and all the camaraderie and friendships that come along with having that collective identity. The group of individuals that arrived on day one, through the activities, the fantastic setting and a few bar games thrown in for good measure, left a focused, motivated and above all bonded Team.

As the team left for the airport there was a real buzz of excitement in the air, that one day in mid October, after much preparation and a great deal of hard work, we will be standing as one at Kala Pattar in Nepal, looking up at the top of the world.

By Dave Green

Infectious Enthusiasm in Bavaria

There was a jolting 'what have I let myself in for' moment on learning I'd been picked out of the hat for an Alpenrose trip. Some of the staff who run the centre are ex-army and there were stories of alarming physical activities. Arrival at the Alpenrose soon dispelled that. The accommodation and food were first class and the staff friendly and supportive, facilitating not just the activities but the social side as well. Some are volunteers because they believe in what the centre stands for - personal development, new experiences, pushing boundaries. Their enthusiasm was infectious.



The stunning scenery was a perfect backdrop to the activities - Nordic skiing, snowshoe walking and team building - involving ropes and wires across gorges - the most rewarding as it needed cooperation, trust, and teamwork. These qualities, on a much larger scale, were seen in two awe-inspiring evening presentations by Dave Bunting, who led the 2006 expedition up Everest's notorious west face and Dee Caffari, the first woman to sail single-handed round the world in both directions. It is possible to question the purpose of enterprises like these but impossible not to admire the sheer courage, drive, organisation and determination to carry them through.


Kevin Anderson Bibliographic Services Librarian Faculty of Innovation North - Libraries and Learning Services