Caroline Gleich
Pro Ski Mountaineer, Advocate & Speaker | Big Mountain Dreams
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
Becoming the first woman to climb and ski every line in The Chuting Gallery. Summiting Everest with a fully torn ACL. Testifying before both the U.S. House and Senate and helping pass the largest clean energy bill in U.S. history. Running for U.S. Senate in Utah in 2024. Speaking at TEDx about a new kind of intelligence — auntie intelligence. And honestly, just continuing to show up for the things I believe in, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your path?
Building a career as a pro skier in a male-dominated world, I thought I had to check my femininity at the door. No makeup, no pink, no giggles. Just toughness. Then I met Liz Daley. She was the strongest splitboarder and mountain guide I’d ever met: carrying heavy loads and leading hard routes with mascara, lip gloss, and a hot pink jacket, making dance videos on the glacier. She showed me I could be strong, be a leader and still be fully myself. It helped me step into my power as a full person.
Then she died in an avalanche.
After losing her, I knew I couldn’t keep taking unlimited risks in the mountains, and that balance was healthier for longevity. So I learned to channel that need into my advocacy: speaking truth to power, running for Senate, testifying before Congress. That’s where I take my risks now.
What key advice would you offer to other aspiring leaders?
Trust your intuition, especially when it’s telling you something is wrong. Advocate for yourself. Find a solution. In the mountains, ignoring that feeling can get people killed. In leadership, it’s no different. The most dangerous moments aren’t when we face obvious risks — they’re when we stay quiet because everyone else seems fine with the direction we’re heading. Speak up. Question. Dissent is how you keep the whole group safe.