Olympic Medalists Launch Leadership and Resilience Program on Mount Olympus for Senior Executives

Olympic medalists Peter Pelcik and Oren Smadja, together with judo team psychologist Elad Pezi, have launched an innovative leadership and resilience program called PathEdge Olympus. The initiative, managed by PathEdge Ltd in collaboration with Keren Ofek Productions, will take 18 selected senior executives on a five-day leadership journey to the summit of Mount Olympus in Greece this October.

The program combines physical and mental preparation, starting six weeks before the trip with a tailored training regimen designed to fit each participant's lifestyle, requiring no prior sports experience. The journey, from October 11 to 15, includes staying at a boutique seaside hotel, personal and group workshops, judo mat training sessions, and a guided hike to the summit with overnight stays in mountain huts.

This unique experience integrates powerful natural settings with group dynamics and content from psychology, competitive sports, and leadership fields. Participants will confront personal and collective challenges in nature to deepen their resilience, personal growth, stress management, belonging, and sense of purpose.

Clinical psychologist Elad Pezi explained that the myths of Greek gods and heroes on Mount Olympus have long inspired human spirit and serve as a compass for this journey, emphasizing the "hero’s journey" as a metaphor for life’s ongoing process of choice, reflection, skill development, and responsibility. Both Smadja and Pelcik, who have overcome significant physical and mental challenges, view the climb as an ideal platform for participants to experience overcoming adversity, building capability, and striving for excellence.