A voyage to Antarctica: Applying lifelong principles of Girlguiding

Last November I set off on an adventure. I departed Argentina, along with 110 women and non-binary leaders (and strangers!), on a ship that would become our home for 3 weeks as we immersed ourselves in leadership practices, brainstormed some of the most pressing areas of climate, against the backdrop of visiting the magnificent and last true wilderness - Antarctica. I packed a few jumpers and thermals, a journal, and switched off my phone’s data and wifi. See you later alligators!

I’d hoped I might make some friends, learn some things, see some nice places. The reality was all of that with the dial turned up to full volume, and so much more.

There is something incredibly special about communities with a safe space. I was initially quite nervous about living with 110 women and non-binary strangers, though when I got there it reminded me or something. Girlguiding! The fizz of excitement, the shared experience of something new, the push to continually stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones, the structured programme to anchor us, the growth in confidence - and of course the singing, the dancing, the joy of shared meals, the desire never want to go to bed even though you should, and more. Having been an ambassador for nearly five years I can proudly say the Girlguiding values - Caring; Challenging; Empowering; Fun; Inclusive; Inspiring - permeated the boat. Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

I wanted to share with you some of the elements that inspired me the most, in the hope they might inspire you too. What better way to do this than through the Girlguiding themes?!

Have Adventures

Let me start with the sense of adventure. Antarctica looks like a completely different planet. Everywhere you turn is a beautiful, strange, white landscape peppered with mountains, glaciers, icebergs, cliff-faces. And of course, lots of penguins, seals and whale watching! It’s impossible not to feel delight at every turn. Here are a couple of my favourite places and landings:

Cuverville Island is home to the largest gentoo penguin colony with 7,000 pairs.

Walker Bay is home to a number of very curious, noisy, growing elephant seal pups!

After the polar plunge in Antarctica

Take action

We spent a lot of time on the ship reflecting on climate issues and the power of collective impact. There are projects off the back of the ship on AI, how to make people feel connected to nature, food systems, the future of women’s leadership in climate, and many more. It is a really good reminder that you can achieve so much more when you bring together diverse perspectives and skills - as the Homeward Bound phrase goes - we are stronger together.

When I returned to my ‘normal life’ after the ship - I was suddenly experiencing and noticing it differently. I noticed every piece of plastic, every coffee cup, how much my social media feeds are flooded with nudges to get you to purchase things you don’t need (even if you might want them). I am still learning and a work in progress on what in my life I want to change for a more sustainable future. Here are a few small changes I’ve made this year, and I know there will be more to add to:

• I haven’t bought any new clothes. The fashion industry produces 8–10% of global CO2 emissions (4–5 billion tonnes annually) due to new clothing production, made worse by use of synthetic materials like polyester. As someone who loves a good outfit I am relearning how I can do this sustainably. I’ve been ‘shopping’ my existing wardrobe and second-hand. There are lots of nice places to buy luxury second-hand items that are cheaper than something new on the high street, and made of nicer materials.
  
  
• Participating in projects to support sustainability. While I don’t have a job directly in sustainability, it’s a topic I’m passionate about and I have skills that I can apply. So I’m working with a group of women on a sustainability career guide to inspire the pipeline of girls into STEMM, I’m picking up a new project about making our business sustainable at work, and I’m incredibly excited to be launching a vodcast with Girlguiding on climate - watch this space!
  

The small things. I bring my keepcup with me, or if I’ve forgotten it I will drink a coffee in a cafe rather than takeaway. I also have started putting less water in my kettle. These seem like tiny actions, but there is a brilliant book by Dr Tara Shine that teaches you how to make small changes in your life to make a big difference in climate impact, and imagine what tiny changes on a global scale could do! I’ve barely started the book and these two are already a routine. I can’t wait to finish it and would definitely recommend it.

Know myself

We spent a lot of time on the ship developing our Personal Strategy Maps with our facilitator Kit Jackson. It’s a real privilege to spend deep time reflecting on what is important to you, your values, and where you want to focus your energy and time to make that life happen and live in congruence across the pillars. The part of my strategy map that aligns with the work I do with Girlguiding is my aspiration to be a strategic and feminist leader, advocate and voice for change, and this is my north star for improving outcomes for girls, women, the disadvantaged and the planet. Clarity on why you do what you do, as well as what you want to do, and the conditions you need to enable that, are all in combination a great motivating force towards the change you want in your life.

Express myself

A focus on the ship was how you grow your visibility and influence to get the outcomes that you want to affect the change or get the impact you want to achieve. Communication is a huge part of that, and let me tell you, loudly and repeatedly: your views are important and your voice needs to be heard. Authenticity is really important here too. As our expedition leader Dr Deborah O’Connell says “you can’t be visible to others until you are visible to yourself, you’ve got to understand your values and your purpose”.

I know putting yourself out there can feel cringey and awkward. A lot of us can hold ourselves back out of this fear and letting it limit what you can do. I want to reassure you that I also have this fear, and am choosing to face it and encourage you to do so too, in whatever way feels right to you. What feels most authentic to me and ways that I am challenging myself to get messages out are:

• Communicating visually: photography is something I have always loved, though I have a mixed relationship with social media. I do however have lots of breathtaking imagery of Antarctica (you can see these posted throughout this year on my Instagram @thisparadisehere). If that inspires even one person to make a small change or connect to nature and feel inspired to protect it, then I’ve done a good thing. The likes and follows don’t matter, but connection does.
  
  
• Writing: as an introvert, I do my best thinking alone. And for me, there is no greater asset to helping process my thinking and shape my messaging to others through writing. I have started a fortnightly writing practice. Again, if only one person finds something useful in it, it’s worth doing! Win-win.
  
  
• Recording a careers podcast: a great friend of mine Annie and I have always had such stimulating conversations about careers, and recreating the content and intimacy of in-depth topics women find challenging in their careers for others’ benefit is a real joy.

A beautiful iceberg in the Antarctic, an example of reconnecting to photography

Be well

I have a longstanding fear of boats and ships. Having spent every boat trip as a child being ill on them, I now start to feel sick before I even get on them. So it’s pretty crackers to commit to one for three weeks right?! But to minimise the impact of something you’re afraid of, sometimes you need to directly acknowledge it head-on.

I was terrified of the Drake Passage - the roughest seas in the world for ships to cross. The good news is by the time we’d reached the Drake, despite 8 metre waves, I’d adjusted to my seasickness medication (patches behind the ear) and while it’s certainly difficult to walk or concentrate while you’re swaying that much, I am delighted to have kept my meals down. And the best thing is, I’m really proud of not being afraid of water transportation anymore!

Another important aspect about being well on the ship was about mental health. For many of us that was recognising when you are a bit too tired (too much excitement!) and should go to bed early; feeling on the edge of your emotions (letters from home! anxious about climate and the future of penguins!) and being mindful or asking for a hug; or need a time out (social battery empty!), and putting the headphones in for some journaling. Being able to recognise how you are feeling, when you need something and prioritising yourself is a good lesson for every single day.

Skills for my future

Leadership and teamwork are two really prime examples of skills that I will always continuously want to build for my future, and I love that they are part of the Girlguiding programme. I learned on the expedition, and this was a surprise for me, that I actually prefer to quietly lead from the middle or the back. Often when we think about leadership we think about one person in front, and I’ve probably spent a lot of my career trying to do that inauthentically. I am much better, and feel much more natural, being the person who makes sure everyone makes it up and down the hill, rather than the person who is the first one up. It also broadened my definition of leadership. You don’t need to be up front presenting or showcasing, or the loudest, proudest, or fastest to be a leader. We are all in fact leaders and there is value to every single one of us (including you, reader leader!).

A hike up Deception Island’s Antarctic volcano

About Bec, region ambassador

Bec leads the government’s relationship with major tech firms and was named one of the top 100 women in tech in the UK in 2018's Techwomen100 and a finalist for Everywoman and Forward Ladies emerging leader awards. She supports girls and women to achieve ambitious goals.

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