An Evening with Lhakpa Sherpa - 16th Annual Visionary Leadership Award

We are thrilled to honor Lhakpa Sherpa, a true trailblazer whose impact and achievements continue to inspire across communities and generations. Set against the stunning backdrop of the historic New Haven Harbor, this evening features an intimate conversation with Lhakpa, moderated by Dr. Quan T. Tran.

In 2000, Lhakpa Sherpa became the first Nepali woman to summit Mt. Everest and survive. She has since summited Everest more times than any woman in history — 10 in total — and has also conquered K2. Beyond the mountains, Lhakpa runs her own Connecticut-based guiding business, Hiking With Lhakpa, and continues to climb in pursuit of a better life for herself and her daughters, championing Nepali women and girls along the way. Her story — as an immigrant, single mother, and survivor of intimate partner violence who reclaimed her agency and independence — was told in Netflix's 2024 documentary Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa.

The Visionary Leadership Award, presented annually by the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, honors a leader whose trailblazing work is impacting the world — carrying forward the legacy of Festival co-founder Jean M. Handley.

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