Believe to Achieve: Leadership Lessons from Climbing KilimanjaroKaren Afalo
- Karen Aflalo
- Jan 24
- 2 min read
In 2014, I set out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with my brother. What started as a physical challenge quickly became something much deeper – a test of perseverance, faith, and perspective.
For six hours a day, step after step, it was just me and my thoughts. The mantra that carried me up the mountain was simple: believe to achieve. Those three words became a lifeline whenever I felt I couldn’t go on.
The truth is, Kilimanjaro isn’t so different from leadership. Sometimes the trail you planned disappears, or a door you expected to open stays shut. I experienced that in my corporate career in pharma – but just as on the mountain, when the path ahead was blocked, I found another way. That resilience helped me pivot into a new purpose: fundraising, community leadership, and building opportunities for women to rise.
Today, in my role as executive director of Friends of JNF Canada Eastern Region, and as Sponsorship Lead at Women Leaders in Pharma (WLP), I carry Kilimanjaro’s lessons with me every day. My Jewish faith anchors me in the same way the mountain did – reminding me that there is always a path forward, even when it isn’t visible yet. That belief gives me the resilience to keep moving, one step at a time.
At WLP, I’ve seen countless women climb their own mountains – whether breaking barriers in male-dominated industries, finding new paths after setbacks, or stepping into mentorship and leadership. The power of this community is that you don’t climb alone.
Whatever your mountain may be, remember: believe to achieve. And if you’re looking for a place where women support each other on that climb, WLP is that community.
Join us at Women Leaders in Pharma and climb your own mountain with a community that believes in you. We can’t wait to welcome you.
Comments