Ee Khong Lean
Leader and Treasurer

Ee Khong Lean, 27, graduated with a 2nd Class Honours (Upper) in Arts and Social Sciences, majoring in Southeast Asian studies. Being an intrepid traveler, his love for the outdoors invariably led to his love for the mountains. He admits that he has had the dream of climbing Mount Everest since 1995. The combination of surmounting a tall challenge, his insatiable curiosity to test his limits and to enjoy nature's tranquility led him to join the Make It Real (MIR) programme in 2001. He was one of the pioneer batch of students who participated in this programme, Singapore's first comprehensive training programme in mountaineering targeted at university students. The term "Make It Real" was coined to inspire Singaporeans to boldly pursue their dreams, which mountaineering (climbing higher) mirrors very well.

After one year of training, he was the co-leader for an expedition to Nepal. Subsequently, he was the leader for the MIR programme in 2002. "Moving from a trainee to trainer / leader offered me a very different perspective, as I now needed to see the sport at a higher operating level and make decisions on all issues", he recalls. Apart from these, Khong Lean held numerous leadership appointments prior to joining MIR, including being an instructor in the Temasek Junior College Outdoor Activities Club, chairperson for NUS Sports Camp, Quartermaster for NUS Sports Club and NUS Rovers Adventure Club.

The journey to Everest is not without difficulties, as he has had to constantly battle with financial worries, career instability, external pressures, yet remained focus on Everest. Throughout the 2 years of preparing for Everest, Khong Lean has only a goal in mind - to reach the summit of Everest and realize his 10-year old dream. On numerous occasions, succumbing to pressure and giving it all up seems so enticing, but he persevered on.

The greatest setback came when he was beaten back with frostbitten fingers on Cho Oyu. With all the rest of the members successfully reaching the summit and testing their oxygen systems, he failed to do both. His confidence was shaken. Self-doubts reared its head. "It was the lowest point of the past 2 years, I had to accept the fact that I did not summit and how I would perform on Everest", he recalls. However, training for the mountains has taught him humility and a never-say-die attitude. "You can be beaten, but you must never allow yourself to be defeated mentally", he remarked.

His role as a leader is to oversee the preparation for Everest to ensure that the team has the highest chance of reaching the summit and returning safely. His role also includes harnessing the potential of individuals to increase team performance. On his assessment of the team, he said, "Through the training, preparation and overseas expeditions, the team has attained the mental and physical fitness to climb Everest. When individuals are willing to sacrifice for the team's objective, I know that we have achieved a high level of teamwork, which is a critical factor to the success of any team or organization".

Khong Lean has recently been selected as a Management Associate with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC). Reflecting on the recruitment process, Khong Lean is aware that his endeavor to scale the world's highest peak has differentiated him from other potential candidates. "Because climbing Mount Everest is such a unique achievement, the management seemed impressed that I am actually doing it. More importantly, I was able to relate concrete personal experience, values and lessons which matches the corporate culture". Khong Lean is currently a contract staff with HSBC delivering banking and cash management solutions to corporate clients.

On a final note, Khong Lean would like to thank everyone who has supported him in the last few years. "The support and encouragement from my fiancee, Audrey, team mates, friends, family and even strangers are the single greatest source of motivation and gave me that impetus to carry on when the going gets tough. I felt that I couldn't let these people down by giving up". On behalf of the team, he like to thank NUS for taking up such a mammoth project of sending a team to climb Mount Everest. He believes that many lives will be inspired and changed by the team's attempt.