Reflections from an inspiring conversation between Lithuanian mountaineer Saulius Damulevičius and Raminta Dereskevičiūtė, Partner at McDermott Will & Schulte UK LLP, at the Lithuania City of London Club's 20th Anniversary celebrations.
Among discussions on artificial intelligence, investment and economic growth, one conversation stood apart. It was not about technology, markets or politics.
It was about human character.
Interviewed by Raminta Dereskevičiūtė, Partner at McDermott Will & Schulte UK LLP, renowned Lithuanian mountaineer Saulius Damulevičius shared extraordinary stories from more than two decades spent climbing some of the world's highest and most dangerous mountains.
Yet what emerged was not a story about conquering peaks. It was a story about leadership, humility, responsibility and the values that matter most when everything else is stripped away.
Earlier this year, Saulius made headlines after his attempt to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and without Sherpa support above base camp.
For many climbers, reaching the summit is everything. For Saulius, success meant something different. As he explained, the objective was never simply to stand on the summit.
"The goal here is not to reach the summit. The goal is to come back in one piece."
That philosophy shaped one of the most important decisions of his life. After spending two months preparing and acclimatising, and reaching approximately 8,400 metres, just hours from the summit of Everest, Saulius turned around.
Not because he lacked determination. Not because he lacked ability. But because he recognised the risks and respected them. It was an act of courage that many never witness.
In a world that often celebrates pushing forward at all costs, Saulius demonstrated an equally important leadership lesson:
Knowing when to stop is sometimes the bravest decision of all.
Throughout the conversation, Saulius repeatedly returned to the importance of preparation and personal accountability. At extreme altitude, where oxygen levels are dramatically lower and every decision carries consequences, there is no room for impulsive behaviour.
He explained how many critical decisions are made before an expedition even begins.
Scenarios are analysed. Risks are evaluated. Limits are established in advance.
"The worst thing to do is sit in the snow and do nothing," he said.
For leaders in business, public service or everyday life, the message was strikingly familiar. Leadership is not about reacting in the moment. It begins long before the crisis arrives. It starts with preparation.
One of the most powerful themes of the evening was respect.
Saulius spoke passionately about respecting the mountains rather than attempting to dominate them. Even Everest, despite the commercial expeditions that now attract hundreds of climbers, remains a place where nature ultimately decides the outcome.
"Every mountain has character," he observed.
This respect extends beyond mountaineering. It reflects a broader appreciation of life's uncertainties and a recognition that human beings are never fully in control.
Far from portraying himself as a fearless adventurer, Saulius spoke with humility about the limits of human capability and the importance of making thoughtful decisions.
His stories offered a reminder that true strength often begins with respect for risks, for nature and for others.
Perhaps the most moving part of the conversation came when Saulius reflected on what distinguishes traditional mountaineering from the increasingly commercial world of high-altitude climbing.
At extreme altitude, teamwork can mean the difference between life and death. He described how experienced climbers instinctively help one another. When a climber arrives exhausted at camp, others may begin boiling water, preparing tea, helping pitch tents or creating a shelter before focusing on themselves.
Simple acts. But profoundly important ones. For Saulius, these moments represent the true spirit of mountaineering. He recalled helping a fellow climber and being told:
"This is the most human thing I've experienced in five years in the mountains."
It was a remarkable reflection. In one of the harshest environments on earth, where survival is never guaranteed, people often discover their greatest humanity.
The lesson extends far beyond mountaineering. Leadership is not simply about reaching the top. It is about helping others reach safety too.
Throughout his career, Saulius has climbed many mountains alone. Yet he made it clear that nobody succeeds entirely on their own. When his recent Everest expedition turned into an unexpected survival story, support arrived from many directions.
Friends. Teammates. Filmmakers documenting the journey. Family members tracking his progress from thousands of miles away. Colleagues monitoring satellite communications.
The image of the solitary climber is compelling. The reality is more powerful. Behind every achievement stands a community. Behind every successful return stands a team.
As the discussion turned to lessons for business leaders, Saulius highlighted two themes. The first was risk. Not avoiding risk entirely but understanding it.
Assessing it honestly. Choosing it deliberately. In his view, growth, exploration and achievement all require a willingness to step beyond comfort.
"If we stay only in safe environments, we don't experience much," he reflected.
The second lesson was time. In the "death zone" high above Everest, every hour matters. Climbers are acutely aware that time is limited. For Saulius, that awareness creates clarity. It forces decisions. It encourages action.
And it reminds people that opportunities should not be postponed indefinitely. His message resonated deeply:
Do not wait forever for the perfect moment.
The evening also revealed another side of Saulius's character. Alongside his mountaineering achievements, he has devoted significant time to serving others. He volunteered during the COVID pandemic. He supported fundraising and humanitarian efforts for Ukraine. He is an active member of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union.
For Saulius, these commitments stem from the same values that guide him in the mountains: responsibility, preparedness and service.
When asked whether there are things more important than personal safety, his answer centred on freedom, purpose and protecting what matters.
It was a reminder that resilience is not simply physical. It is moral.
As the conversation drew to a close, one theme became unmistakably clear. For Saulius Damulevičius, mountaineering is not about conquering mountains.
It is about understanding oneself. Testing limits. Making good decisions. Helping others. And finding meaning in challenge. His story reminds us that success is not always standing on the summit.
Sometimes success is knowing when to turn back. Other times it is helping someone else continue. And often it is simply returning home safely, wiser than before.
The title of the session captured it perfectly:
"Overcome yourself, not the peak."
In an age obsessed with outcomes, Saulius offered a powerful reminder that character matters more than achievement, humanity matters more than glory, and leadership begins with service to others.
Guildhawk thanks Saulius Damulevičius and Raminta Dereskevičiūtė for a remarkable and deeply human conversation that reminded everyone in the room that resilience, humility and compassion remain among the most important qualities any leader can possess.
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