Climbing the World with Masha Gordon

Masha completed the challenge in 7 months and 19 days on June 11, 2016, in Denali State Park in Alaska, beating the previous women’s record by over three months.

- Wendy Ewing

Who says a family and a career mean an end to adventure? Not Masha Gordon, the businesswoman and mother of two who just became the fastest woman ever to complete the Explorer’s Grand Slam. For those not in the know, the Explorer’s Grand Slam entails climbing all of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent) and trekking on skis to the North and South Poles, a feat accomplished by fewer than 50 people (and fewer than 10 women).

I caught up with the 42-year-old mother of two, non-executive director of Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond company, to talk about motivation, legacy, and her definition of success.

Innovation & Tech Today: What sparked the desire to compete in this challenge?

Masha Gordon: When I was on maternity leave for my son, at Goldman Sachs, we rented a place in the Alps, and a friend suggested going out on a big climb. I was adventurous, and I fell in love with that feeling of adventure and fell in love with the notion of high alpine travel. I fell in love with that sense of achievement. I wanted to see what my body was capable of, exploring my body and how the human body can adapt. I did Denali and Kilimanjaro and I realized if I did the south pole and a few other climbs I could set an endurance record.

I&T Today: What was your favorite peak to summit? Least favorite?