From Gloom to Growth: How Seattle’s Trails Taught Me Data Leadership

When I first moved to Seattle, two things made me question my life choices:

1. The eternally gray skies that could turn your coffee cold just by looking at it.

2. The fact that everyone—literally everyone—wanted to hike on the weekends.

As someone who preferred skylines over tree lines, I found it hard to understand the appeal of trudging uphill, dodging rain, and calling it “fun.” But like all good stories, things change with time.

Two years later, I’ve become that person. Come summer, you’ll find me strapping on my boots, grabbing a granola bar, and heading for the nearest trail to reset and recharge from the fast pace of city life and digital dashboards.

But more than just a weekend ritual, hiking started teaching me something deeper—leadership lessons I didn’t expect.

Lesson 1: Planning Isn’t Fancy, But It’s Essential

Before any hike, you check the trail maps, pack water, layers, bug spray (learned that the hard way), and make sure someone knows where you’re going.

It’s the same with data projects. The lessons are in the prep—understanding business needs, aligning stakeholders, defining scope, and having a contingency plan. When you skip this, you’re hiking blind.

Lesson 2: Execution Is About Pacing, Not Speed

Early hikes taught me the importance of not rushing uphill just to get it done. Leadership in tech is similar: burning out your team for a deadline without long-term clarity leads to more backtracking than progress.

Set a sustainable pace. Celebrate milestones. Take short breaks. Refuel. It’s not a sprint—it’s a summit.

Lesson 3: Leading Means Being the First to Show Up

On many group hikes, I found myself texting reminders, organizing carpools, and (reluctantly) waiting for latecomers. Eventually, I realized I wasn’t just going on hikes—I was leading them.

In data teams too, leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about being dependable, proactive, and showing up—especially when others don’t. Clarity, consistency, and communication are what keep everyone on the path.

Lesson 4: Getting Lost Happens—Especially Near the End

On a hike to Twin Falls, I took a wrong turn during the descent. I thought I had it memorized. I didn’t. I ended up 45 minutes off-course before finding my way back.

It reminded me of something I’ve seen in many data projects: we often get lost near the finish line.

That’s when urgency kicks in, documentation gets skipped, testing gets rushed, and alignment fades. What should have been a wrap-up turns into damage control.

Leadership means anticipating that. Building checklists. Creating clarity for handoffs. Making sure you get back to the trailhead—together.

From Trees to Tables

Seattle’s trails have done more than get me out of my comfort zone. They’ve helped me see projects, people, and progress differently.

I now hike to pause, reflect, and recharge—not just from skyscrapers, but from the intensity of sprint cycles, syncs, and SQL.

Because sometimes, the best leadership insights aren’t in a strategy memo or a TED Talk. They’re on a winding path through tall trees, teaching you to plan better, walk steadier, lead with empathy—and finish strong.

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