Ice, Grit, and the WHITE Pin: What a 70% Failure Rate Taught Me About Success.
I recently spent the past two weeks in Whistler—not for a spa retreat, but to be judged.
Under a blinding sun on a sheet of pure ice, I fought for my CSIA Level 2 Ski Instructor certification. It was mentally and physically draining. To give you an idea of the stakes: only 14 out of 45 passed. I’m thrilled to say I was one of them.
What made this particularly sweet? I only picked up skiing again three years ago. After a childhood of ski racing that ended at age 12, I spent my entire adult life as a snowboarder. Switching back to two planks and chasing a professional standard as an adult has been a masterclass in humility.
As Executive Director of the Microsoft Alumni Network, I’m used to high-stakes pivots, but there’s something uniquely humbling about receiving blunt, real-time feedback while vibrating down an icy run at 40km/h:
"Focus on the internal feeling... if you can't feel the outside hip stay stable, the ski will never track." — Chloé S. (Teacher Development)
"Your teaching was a highlight—you have a great attitude and the ability to take info and apply it immediately." — Julian Base (Course Conductor)
Here is what that White Pin journey taught me about leadership:
Consolidation is King: In skiing, "Consolidation" is when movements become a habit. In leadership, we often obsess over the "new," but the real magic happens when you make excellence your default setting under pressure.
The 30% Reality: When the pass rate is that low, you can’t "fake" it. You have to block out the noise, trust your training, and execute. Resilience isn’t a slide deck; it’s what’s left when the conditions get tough and the ice is unforgiving.
The Adult Beginner Mindset: Switching from snowboarding back to skiing reminded me how vital it is to be a "beginner" again. Julian’s feedback on my ability to "apply info immediately" is a muscle I’ve spent years building at Microsoft—it turns out being coachable is the ultimate competitive advantage.
I’m incredibly proud to take this learning to new heights in work and play. Whether I’m leading a network of thousands or a class of four, my mantra remains the same: Stay centered, keep the shins on the boots, and never stop looking for the next peak. Off to Level 3!
