When Martin Christensen took a break from his studies in the Business School’s Global Energy Management (GEM) program, he didn’t mention to anyone why he needed a leave of absence.
Only after he had traveled to Nepal, only after he had climbed to the top of Mount Everest, only after he had survived a near-death experience, did the GEM community of faculty, staff and students hear about his accomplishments.
“I’m just not good at self-promotion,” Christensen said. “A lot of people are on social media, but that’s just not me. I just didn’t feel the need to tell everyone about it.”
Christensen’s story is no longer a well-kept secret. With the successful ascent of Everest, he has now climbed six of the world’s “Seven Summits,” the highest mountains in each of the seven continents, including Denali and Mount Kilimanjaro. When he completes the final summit, Vinson Massif in Antarctica, he will join an elite group—only about 400 people in the world have climbed the Seven Summits. But had it not been for a fast-acting Sherpa on Everest, Christensen would never have had the opportunity to finish his quest.
