Everest 2007 Team

Benjamin Stephens

investec logoBen is sponsored by Investec Asset Management, an entrepreneurial investment firm with a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.

ben stephens

Age: 26
Lives in: London, UK
Nationality: British (Welsh)
Occupation: Student

Ben is also sponsored by:

Mercury GSF
Ian Brand Solicitors

Education

MBA 2007 London Business School

Climbing & expedition experience

Ben has been walking and camping since becoming a boy scout over 20 years ago. In the last 18 months he has completed training expeditions to the Alps and Scotland, climbed Kilimanjaro and been to the world's 6th highest mountain – Cho Oyu.

He is no stranger to adversity and long expeditions. A leader on a six week expedition to Iceland's largest ice sheet in 2000, he was also an expedition member climbing in the Indian Himalaya in 1997 for six weeks. Ben has also sailed from Cape Town to Dakar, in Senegal non-stop via St. Helena, which was a 42 day journey in high seas up through the middle of the South Atlantic.

Other interests and hobbies?

A keen skier and rugby player, Ben is also a qualified PADI Rescue Diver. He is a big Harry Potter fan and occasional amateur astronomer. When not training at the gym, climbing, walking, cycling or running Ben can often be found trying to complete the never-ending DIY at his flat. He would probably rather be tucked up with a good book instead of scaling the mountains of business literature and old copies of the FT and Economist which are the result of his MBA studies. Team mates have been appalled to find business ‘novels' accompanying Ben on every team outing; the most recent was Hedge Hogging – a book about Hedge funds – not Hedgehogs!!Team mates have been appalled to find business ‘novels' accompanying Ben on every team outing; the most recent was Hedge Hogging – a book about Hedge funds – not Hedgehogs!!

What makes you want to climb Everest?

There is something about climbing mountains that no other physical or mental achievement brings. I'm not sure if it's the view from the top, the danger or the sheer fact that most people would choose not to do it. In the end I want to climb Everest because it's the world's highest mountain and is there to be climbed. I want to do exceptional things and above all I relish the mammoth challenge of making these expeditions a reality and not just someone else's dream.

What skills will you bring to the team?

Long duration expedition experience and practice at bringing ideas all the way from conception to competition by building a strong team and successfully executing the plan.

What motivates or inspires you generally?

Achieving and helping others to achieve the things that most people consider impossible or even unthinkable. I am most inspired when someone takes on a personal risk in order to try to achieve an objective which is difficult for them.

What do you think will be the hardest part of climbing Everest?

The long term exposure to cold adverse conditions, poor sanitation and altitude sickness will wear people down, so I think that the hardest part of the expedition will be the mental battle to keep going when the chips are down, let alone making yourself eat at altitude!

What do you think you will miss the most during the 10 weeks on Everest?

Being able to turn the heating on, shut all the windows and doors and get into bed when I'm cold and tired in a blizzard at 24,000ft with nothing to do but wait it out and hope that I don't get frostbite.