Sharjah: The Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival (SEF 2024) was deeply inspired by Fahad Badar, a Qatar-based Arab mountaineer, whose story of overcoming adversity and achieving remarkable feats was a highlight of the event’s opening day.
In November 2021, Badar faced a daunting challenge when he had four fingers on his left hand amputated due to frostbite sustained on Broadpeak. Despite doctors advising a recovery period of at least a couple of years, Badar astonishingly scaled K2, the world’s second-highest peak, in July 2022, showcasing his indomitable spirit.
During his talk titled ‘To the Summit: Finding the Strength to Keep Moving Forward’ at the SEF 2024 Creative Stage, Badar shared his journey of resilience, emphasizing the importance of never giving up on one’s passions. He spoke candidly about the initial devastation and fear he felt after his surgery and how he turned that fear into motivation, secretly training for his next climb. Badar’s experience serves as a powerful testament to the idea that fear can be a driving force behind success if harnessed positively.
Badar, who has also conquered Everest and Lhotse in a single expedition, becoming the first Arab mountaineer to do so, inspired attendees with his perspective on failure and success. He believes that while achievements can lead to complacency, it is failure that ignites the desire to succeed and reach new heights. His daily struggles with the urge to give up contrasted with his burning passion for mountaineering resonated with many, offering insights into dealing with stress and turning challenges into opportunities.
The first day of SEF 2024 featured a diverse lineup of speakers, workshops, and performances, reflecting the festival’s theme ‘Our Shared Canvas’. Highlights included a workshop on networking by Kim A. Page and a panel discussion on starting a business in Sharjah, emphasizing the entrepreneurial spirit that Badar’s story epitomized. Performances by artists like Ebrahim Al Dubai and talks on content creation and mental health further enriched the festival, making it a source of inspiration and learning for entrepreneurs and creatives alike.
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