<div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Soreng's journey to the top of the world began long before he set foot on the icy trails of the Khumbu Glacier. An engineer by training and a graduate of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIMB), Hemant has always been a man of many hats. His career trajectory, from co-founding eDeltaC Communications, one of India’s first digital marketing agencies, to his current role as the founder of Rustik Travel, a sustainable experiential travel company, reads like a manual on entrepreneurial success.</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">"I decided one year ago to participate in the Everest Expedition this spring," Hemant recounts. "Since then, I have been consciously training for it in the gym, outdoors, and trekking and climbing some big mountains. However, it took me more than 20 years to arrive at this." Indeed, his preparatory regimen included everything from long-distance cycling and running marathons to completing Ironman triathlons, each activity meticulously designed to hone his physical and mental resilience.</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><h2 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;">The Climb and the Challenges</b></span></h2><p style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></b></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">A knee injury during one of these rotations could have spelled disaster. "I injured my knee around 5,900 meters during the descent from Camp 3 to the Everest Base Camp (EBC)," he recalls. Despite the setback and a subsequent helicopter evacuation to Kathmandu, Hemant's determination remained unshaken. "I continued to stay in Kathmandu, resting and letting the injury heal, hopefully it does before the final summit push," he wrote during his recovery period.</span></b></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></b></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><b style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">And heal it did. On May 22, Soreng reached the Everest summit, dedicating his climb to his late mother and to India, his motherland. "Firstly, to my mother who raised us single-handedly after we lost our father very early on in my early teens. She passed away last year. I still miss her," he said, holding a picture of his mother at the summit. "Secondly, to my motherland, India. She has shown me an infinite kaleidoscope of diversity of culture, language, food, and more."</span></b></p><span></div><a href='null'><div><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/b4GQ7crR402.tmp'/></div></a><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><h2 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Reaching the summit of Everest is a moment etched in the memory of every climber, and for Hemant, it was a culmination of years of preparation and perseverance. Standing at 8,848.86 meters, he was not only overwhelmed by the breathtaking panorama of the Himalayas but also by a profound sense of accomplishment and connection to the people who supported him throughout his journey</span>.</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-weight: 700; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">"This climb that took years to shape up is dedicated to the mothers," he shared emotionally. The dedication to his mother, who had been a pillar of strength in his life, was a poignant moment of reflection and gratitude. Moreover, he paid homage to his homeland, India, whose rich diversity and resilience have always inspired him.</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">The descent, though often overshadowed by the ascent, was equally challenging. Hemant's meticulous planning and unwavering focus were crucial in navigating the treacherous paths back to safety. The experience reinforced his belief in the conservation of natural resources and sustainability, principles he champions through Rustik Travel.</span></p><span></div><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><h5><b>Beyond the Summit: A Legacy of Impact</b></h5><p><span style="font-size: 16px;">Rustik Travel is not just a travel company; it is a reflection of Hemant's commitment to sustainable and experiential travel. Through Rustik Foundation, the non-profit arm of his venture, he aims to create a positive impact in education, skills training, livelihoods, environment, and culture. "Rustik Foundation is dedicated to creating a positive impact by working closely with individuals and organizations on the ground," Hemant explains. "The work that will be done through this was the very reason we started Rustik, in the first place."</span></p><span></div><a href='null'><div><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/XgSkTe2U403.tmp'/></div></a><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><h2 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;">His eclectic interests and achievements reflect a life lived to the fullest, driven by a curiosity to explore and a desire to make a difference. "Why am I climbing?" he muses. "I am so tempted to say 'Because it’s there,' but some bloke named George Mallory beat me to it more than 100 years ago. But frankly, I really do not have the answer. Maybe I am looking for the answer along the journey to the top and back."</span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><h2 style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><br style="font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">In celebrating Hemant Albert Soreng, we honor not just the man who conquered Everest, but the visionary who continues to scale new heights in every aspect of his multifaceted life</span>.</span></span></p><span></div>