NOTE: It's best to view this episode via YouTube to see the women as they speak. In this special episode of The Porter Voices Podcast, we step beyond Nepal to explore the experiences of women guides across the world's most iconic mountain destinations. Recorded live during the 3-Day Pilot Women Leadership & Guide Training held in February 2026, this powerful conversation brings together female mountain professionals from Morocco, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro), Pakistan, and Mongolia. Despite working in vastly different cultures, landscapes, and tourism systems, these women share common challenges—and a shared determination to create pathways for future generations of women in mountain tourism.Through candid storytelling and cross-cultural dialogue, our guests discuss how they entered the guiding profession, the barriers they have overcome, the importance of mentorship and training, and their visions for a more inclusive outdoor industry. This episode highlights a simple but powerful truth: whether in the Himalayas, the Atlas Mountains, the Karakoram, the Altai Mountains, or on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, women guides are redefining leadership in the mountains. Featured Guests Abla Oumidouch from Morocco A female mountain guide working in the Atlas Mountains who shares her journey into guiding and the evolving role of women in Morocco's outdoor tourism sector. Lucina Focus and Rehema Olotu from Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) Pioneering Kilimanjaro guides discussing their experiences leading climbers on Africa's highest peak and advocating for greater opportunities for women in the trekking industry. Zeba Batool from Pakistan A female mountain guide from the Karakoram region who reflects on navigating cultural expectations while building a career in one of the world's most spectacular mountain destinations. Banu Tileukhan from Mongolia A mountain and cultural guide from the Mongolian Altai who discusses preserving nomadic traditions, creating opportunities for rural women, and connecting travelers with local communities. About the HWTL Women Leadership & Guide Training Pilot The training brought together women guides, tourism professionals, and advocates from around the world to exchange knowledge, develop leadership skills, and explore strategies for advancing gender equity in mountain tourism. The program serves as a foundation for future initiatives aimed at supporting women guides through education, mentorship, storytelling, and workforce development. The Porter Voices Podcast amplifies the stories of porters, guides, and mountain workers whose labor and leadership make adventure travel possible. Through authentic storytelling, we explore workforce equity, gender inclusion, human rights, and the evolving future of mountain tourism around the world. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with others who believe in creating a more equitable and inclusive future for mountain communities and tourism workers. Learn more about our work and subscribe: www.theportervoicecollective.orgSupport women guides and help us amplify more mountain voices: DONATE NOW Want to partner/collaborate with PVC? Send us an email -theportervoice@gmail.com. Also, check out our HWTL Initiative Brief and Program Evaluation to learn about HWTL and its impact via our HWTL webpage. Follow The Porter Voice Collective: Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn Subscribe to our YouTube channel and be the first to listen when episodes launch. Or you can listen via The Porter Voices Podcast.Because every mountain journey has voices that deserve to be heard. This episode was made possible by our Porter Voices Podcast team: Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq., Host, Creator & Writer Sound and Video Editing by Marinel M. de Jesus, Esq. Roger Foye, Music Director Jowita Kudzia, Theme Music Video Editor Visuals by Banu, Zeba, Abla, Lucina & Rehema
