What 95 Kokoda Crossings Taught Me About Leadership Under Pressure

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What 95 Kokoda Crossings Taught Me About Leadership Under Pressure

By Glenn Azar – Founder, Adventure Professionals | Host, The Kokoda Track Podcast

They say pressure reveals character. I believe pressure builds it—if you let it. And after 95 crossings of the Kokoda Track, one of the most physically and mentally demanding jungle trails on Earth, I’ve learned more about leadership under pressure than I ever could in a boardroom, briefing, or textbook.

Because out there—deep in the Papua New Guinean jungle—there are no filters, no corporate jargon, and no time to hide behind a polished resume. Leadership is raw, real, and relentless. It’s about who you are when people are cold, wet, scared, blistered, and questioning why they ever signed up for this.

1. Calm Is Contagious

When things go sideways on Kokoda—as they often do with tropical storms, injuries, or just emotional fatigue—my job is to stay calm. Not pretend calm. Real calm.

In the military, we called it “command presence.” It’s not about being loud or in control of everything; it’s about being centered, so others can anchor to you. When you regulate yourself, you regulate the room—or in my case, the jungle.

I’ve had trekkers hyperventilate from panic attacks, get sick from dehydration, or feel like giving up mid-climb. My breath becomes their breath. My steadiness becomes their foothold.

2. Leadership Means Going Last

I have a simple philosophy: Lead from the front. Care from the rear.

I’ll never ask someone to do what I’m unwilling to do myself. But I’ll also never leave the person struggling at the back. Leadership on Kokoda means checking in on the slowest trekker, carrying someone’s pack if needed, or offering quiet encouragement when they don’t think they can take another step.

The greatest leadership moments I’ve ever had were never public. They were whispered beside a fallen log at 1,000 metres elevation, in the rain, telling someone, “You’ve got more in you than you think.”

Dense jungles of the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, intense humidity visible in the lush vegetation.

3. Plans Are Just the Starting Point

I’ve planned every trek down to the hour—but rarely does a day go exactly as expected. The jungle laughs at certainty.

This taught me to embrace adaptive leadership. It’s not about being rigid with structure; it’s about responding with intention. You can’t prepare for every challenge, but you can prepare your mindset: resourceful, resilient, ready to adjust.

In business and life, it’s the same. You can have the best strategy in the world, but your success is determined by your ability to pivot under pressure, not panic.

4. Pressure Reveals the Quiet Leaders

Some of the best leaders I’ve witnessed weren’t the loudest or most qualified. They were the ones who offered a hand on the steep climb. Shared snacks when rations ran low. Checked on others before themselves.

Pressure doesn’t just test your leadership; it reveals others’ capacity too. As a guide, I look for those moments—not just to keep the group going, but to elevate people who might not see themselves as leaders yet.

5. Nature Strips Away the Noise

On Kokoda, phones don’t ring. Emails don’t ping. There’s no Wi-Fi to distract you from what matters.

Leadership becomes human again. It’s not about KPIs, titles, or followers. It’s about presence, empathy, and decision-making in moments that matter.

And after every trek, I’m reminded: the jungle teaches you what kind of leader you really are. Not the version you talk about in interviews, but the one people trust when it’s raining, the incline is brutal, and there’s still 10km to go.

Final Thoughts

Leadership under pressure isn’t something you learn in theory—it’s something you live. After 95 Kokoda crossings, I’ve learned that great leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up with courage, consistency, and compassion, even when things get hard—especially when things get hard.

If you want to learn about yourself as a leader, come and walk Kokoda. It will break you open in the best way possible—and rebuild you stronger, clearer, and more capable than ever before.

The jungle doesn’t lie. And neither does leadership.

📍Ready to test and strengthen your leadership?

I have a Two Year Adventure Leaders Mentorship Program which teaches and guides you through everything to do with leading adventures and even setting up your own outdoor adventure business.

Or perhaps you’d just like to join me for my 100th Kokoda Crossing in April 2026—an unforgettable journey of challenge, history, and self-discovery. Either way, get in touch. I’d love to share my passion for Leadership and Adventure with you.