Our very first Call of the Wild x Hensol Castle Quarterly Networking ‘Breakfast Serial’ took place last Friday morning — and what a way to kick things off with some leadership lessons from Antarctica!
Set against the stunning backdrop of Hensol Castle, the event welcomed business leaders from across South Wales and beyond for a morning of meaningful connection, shared ideas, and leadership inspiration. With coffee on the go and the conversation flowing, the castle’s rich history created the perfect setting for what was to come.
At the heart of the morning was an unforgettable keynote from Dave Thomas — former Royal Marine, Call of the Wild leadership coach, and currently the oldest man to ski across Antarctica, a record-breaking feat he completed in January 2024.
Dave’s storytelling was nothing short of captivating, but what truly resonated was how seamlessly he tied his extreme experiences back to day-to-day leadership. The challenges of navigating whiteouts, pulling 120kg sleds, and skiing for 12 hours a day in temperatures of -30°C provided powerful metaphors for the challenges we all face in business.
Here are five key takeaways from Dave’s session that left a lasting impression:
1. Think in 90-minute windows
When facing a daunting task, don’t let the end goal overwhelm you. Break it down. For Dave and his co-explorer Alan, focusing only on the next 90 minutes helped them stay grounded and effective — a lesson that applies directly to time management and productivity in business.
2. Adaptability is everything
Even the best-laid plans go awry. From shifting ice to unexpected blizzards, Dave and Alan had to pivot constantly. Great leaders do the same: they remain flexible and lead their teams through uncertainty with calm and clarity.
3. Know your team and lead with trust
On the ice, trust wasn’t a buzzword — it was survival. In business, too, knowing your people, understanding their strengths, and building a culture of trust is what makes a team resilient and high-performing.
4. Bring your whole self to leadership
Dave’s mindset wasn’t just forged through military training, but also through life experience. He reminded us that who we are outside of work — our values, our challenges, our resilience — shapes how we lead within it.
5. Have a clear purpose, but measure progress differently
In Antarctica, progress wasn’t just about distance covered — it was about momentum, morale, and surviving another day. In business, it’s not always about the biggest metrics. Sometimes, moving forward at all is success.
We’re so proud of the teams at Call of the Wild and Hensol Castle for coming together to deliver such a high-quality first event. Dave has truly set the bar high for future editions — and we’re already working behind the scenes to bring you the next Breakfast Serial.
If you’d like to hear directly from our Senior Leadership Coach and Antarctic Explorer, Dave Thomas, himself, get in touch:
Call us: 01639 700 388
Email us: info@callofthewild.co.uk
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