The Gap Years: From McKinsey Boardroom to Everest Summit – Tom French
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Monday, April 6, 2026
Tom French is a senior partner emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a lifelong mountaineer and cross-country skier. After four decades in the high-pressure corporate world, he retired at the end of 2019 and decided to take “gap years” to rediscover the passions of his youth.
What started as one year quickly turned into three extraordinary years of adventure and self-discovery. He rebuilt his athletic strength, competed in demanding cross-country ski marathons, and completed two epic expeditions to Mount Everest — one dramatically interrupted by a cyclone and a harrowing blizzard descent down the Lhotse Face, and another where he became the first climber ever to approach the mountain through the remote Makalu Barun region, summiting on a moonlit night.
In his inspiring new book, The Gap Years: Climbing, Skiing, and the Journey Back, Tom shares a powerful story about the joy found in wild places, the power of endurance, and the profound renewal that comes from reconnecting with what truly lights you up — proving it’s never too late to step away from burnout and expectations to create a bold, purpose-filled next chapter.
Learn more about the book here: https://brandeisuniversitypress.com/title/the-gap-years-climbing-skiing-and-the-journey-back/
