Three Days in the Wilderness: My Defender Trophy Journey
I traveled to British Columbia with a duffel bag, a lot of hope, and no certainty about what the next three days would demand.
There were 120 competitors from across the United States and Canada. The experience combined off-road driving, physical challenges, navigation, and problem-solving in some of the most beautiful terrain I have ever seen. Every task required attention, adaptability, and the willingness to keep moving when the answer was not immediately obvious.
Shortly afterward, JLR Land Rover announced that I was one of six U.S. finalists for the 2026 Defender Trophy. At Destination Defender in New York, two Americans would ultimately be selected to represent the United States at the Global Final in Africa.
Being named a finalist was meaningful, but the larger value of the experience was what it revealed. Difficult environments remove many of the routines and conveniences we depend on. They force us to pay attention, work with what we have, and act before we feel completely ready. Those are wilderness skills, but they are also leadership skills.
I have experienced a similar lesson through endurance events, international travel, social entrepreneurship, and public service. The setting changes, but the question remains: What will you do when the path is unfamiliar and the outcome is uncertain?
That is why experiences like this matter. One demanding weekend can show us strengths we had not yet needed to use. It can change our understanding of what is possible and prepare us to approach the next challenge differently.
I am grateful for the opportunity, proud to have represented Fort Worth, and ready to carry the lessons forward. Sometimes the experience that changes our trajectory begins with a simple decision to say yes.
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