What can high-risk avalanche rescue teach us about leadership, ego and team wellbeing?
In this episode, Brad sits down with Caroline Elliott — avalanche specialist, ski patroller, controlled bomber, and avalanche dog handler — to explore what happens behind the scenes in the mountains before you clip into your skis. From bombing snow slopes in the dark to reading the snowpack and trusting your gut, Caroline has spent two decades operating where mistakes can be fatal.
Caroline shares how her work in avalanche control, dog handling and rescue has shaped her approach to risk management, psychological safety, bullying, and leadership in high-pressure corporate environments. She also tells the moving story of her avalanche dog Fjord, and how his legacy lives on through her children’s book Fjord’s Mountain Mission and her snow-safety education work with young people.
If you care about resilient teams, humble leadership, or venturing safely into the mountains, this conversation is for you.
In this episode:
How Caroline fell in love with the mountains and found her way into ski patrol and rescue
What it actually means to set off bombs to prevent avalanches (and why it’s essential for safety)
The invisible work that keeps ski resorts safe before the lifts even open
Training at the French École Nationale de Ski et d’Alpinisme and being one of the few British women to qualify
The intense training path to become an avalanche dog handler and “controlled bomber”
Working with her avalanche dog Fjord — reading dogs, managing your own emotions, and avoiding “protection mode”
Why ego is a catalyst for disaster in the mountains and in organisations
Gut instinct vs data: when to trust your intuition in high-risk situations
The importance of repetition, drills, and muscle memory for crisis performance
How avalanche rescue principles translate into corporate leadership, communication and psychological safety
Caroline’s experience of bullying in a male-dominated rescue culture, and what real leadership looks like
The story behind her children’s book “Fjord’s Mountain Mission” and why she’s passionate about snow safety education
Her upcoming avalanche simulation camps and how she’s bringing mountain lessons to teams and leaders
Connect with Caroline:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-elliott-aabb8117/
Speaking & corporate work: https://www.carolineelliott.me
Snow safety education & consultancy (FjordSAR CIC): https://www.fjordsar.com
Fjord’s Mountain Mission (children’s book):
https://www.amazon.com/Fjords-Mountain-Mission-Safety-Avalanche/dp/1739813502