40 Kilometers, 1,880 Meters of Climbing, One Mindset: Leadership Beyond the Office

Interview with Amil Brkic, CEO of HiQED

Building a company and running mountain races may seem like two completely different worlds. One revolves around strategy, innovation, and leading teams. The other is about steep climbs, endurance, and pushing through physical limits. Yet, both demand the same qualities: discipline, resilience, preparation, and the ability to keep moving when things become difficult.

Our CEO recently completed a demanding 40-kilometer mountain race with 1,880 meters of elevation gain, finishing in 6 hours and 33 minutes. We sat down to discuss what the experience taught him—not only about endurance, but also about leadership and business.

1. What motivated you to take on such a demanding race?

I've always believed that growth happens outside of your comfort zone. Whether you're building a company or climbing a mountain, the biggest rewards come from embracing difficult challenges rather than avoiding them.

For me, races like this aren't about proving something to others. They're an opportunity to test myself, disconnect from everyday routines, and see how I respond when things become uncomfortable. Every finish line represents months of preparation, consistency, and discipline.

2. What made this race particularly challenging?

Forty kilometers with 1,880 meters of elevation gain is a completely different experience than running on flat terrain.

The climbs constantly test your strength, while the descents require focus and control. You have to manage your energy carefully because if you push too hard early, you'll pay for it later.

Unlike shorter races, this is less about speed and more about making good decisions for over six hours.

3. How did you prepare?

Preparation wasn't only physical.

Training consistently over many months was essential, but equally important was developing the mindset to stay committed even on days when motivation wasn't there.

Success on race day is built long before the starting line. Every training session, every recovery day, every small decision contributes to the final result.

The same principle applies in business.

4. What was the hardest moment during the race?

Like every long mountain race, there were moments when fatigue set in and every climb seemed steeper than the last.

Those are the moments where experience matters.

Instead of thinking about the entire distance remaining, I focused on reaching the next checkpoint, the next climb, the next kilometer. Breaking a large challenge into smaller achievable goals makes even the toughest races manageable.

5. How did it feel crossing the finish line?

Crossing the finish line after 6 hours and 33 minutes was incredibly satisfying—not because of the time itself, but because it represented the successful execution of a long-term commitment.

The race lasts one day.

The preparation lasts months.

The finish line is simply the reward for showing up consistently.

6. As CEO of HiQED, do you see parallels between endurance racing and leadership?

Absolutely.

Leading a company is very similar to endurance sports.

At the beginning of a project, everything feels exciting. Energy is high, opportunities seem endless, and progress comes quickly. The real challenge comes later, when unexpected problems appear, priorities change, and difficult decisions need to be made.

Success isn't determined by how fast you start—it's determined by how consistently you execute.

In both business and endurance racing, discipline always outperforms motivation.

7. What lessons from racing have influenced your leadership?

Mountain races reinforce several principles that also define how I lead HiQED:

• Preparation creates confidence.

• Consistency beats intensity.

• Difficult moments are temporary.

• Good decisions matter more than emotional reactions.

• Progress comes from solving one problem at a time.

Whether you're leading a company or climbing toward the summit, staying calm under pressure is often your greatest advantage.

8. What's next?

Every finish line becomes the starting point for a new challenge.

This race reinforced something I already believed: limits are usually much further away than we initially think.

There will always be another mountain to climb—both in sport and in business—and that's exactly what keeps the journey exciting.

Completing 40 kilometers with 1,880 meters of elevation in 6 hours and 33 minutes is an impressive athletic achievement. But perhaps the most valuable takeaway isn't the result itself. It's the reminder that success—whether in the mountains or at HiQED—is built through preparation, consistency, resilience, and the willingness to keep moving forward when the path becomes steep.