Claudio tells us about his experience and lessons learned by rowing across the Atlantic

In this interview, Claudio Prante, Partner and Head of Deals Strategy at PwC Switzerland takes a look back at the Ocean Spirit Challenge. He tells us about this groundbreaking experience and what rowing across the Atlantic has taught him.

What was coming back from this adventure like?

Claudio: Fortunately, the organisers of the Atlantic challenge prepare the participants for life-changing experiences during or after the challenge. Before taking on the challenge, I was very happy with my professional and private life. That’s why I didn’t seek change but rather a shift in perspective and ways to enrich my life. I am very thankful for the experience – even though it was an extreme one at times – because it now helps me put things into perspective, for example in difficult situations at work or in my private life.

What was the highlight of your trip?

Claudio: Some of my friends and family members wrote letters for me and I read one letter each day. This really strengthened my personal relationships, for which I’m very thankful.

Connecting with nature was another highlight of the trip. One of the most special memories was when a family of whales accompanied us for three to four hours. That was just magical. I mean, who wouldn’t dream of that?

What about the toughest challenge?

Claudio: Most people expect the physical challenge to be the toughest part, but that wasn’t my experience. Yes, it’s physically demanding, it’s super tough, but doable. The toughest challenge I faced was something I didn’t expect, which was the tremendous amount of seagrass that considerably slowed us down. We had to deal with seagrass four out of six weeks, which forced us to clean the boat many, many times a day. This was a huge mental challenge and oftentimes very frustrating.

"I am very thankful for the experience – even though it was an extreme one at times – because it now helps me put things into perspective, for example in difficult situations at work or in my private life."

Claudio Prante, Partner at PwC Switzerland

If you had to break down your experience into four words, what would they be?

Claudio: Words cannot describe it. It’s something you need to experience for yourself.

What role did PwC play in making this project possible?

Claudio: The wish to participate in a challenge and to experience something majestic outside of work had been on my mind for quite some time. I brought this up in numerous discussions with my coach and was pleasantly surprised by the reactions.

Last year, I decided it was the right time to pull the trigger and asked for approval to take time off to participate in the challenge. I was met with huge support, for which I’m very thankful.

I had just been made partner, so when I first brought the challenge up with senior leadership, I was prepared for a tough conversation on how to meet expectations at work and participate in the challenge. Instead, I was told, “Cool, tell me more about it!” You cannot believe how good that felt considering how much it meant to me. Needless to say that I was very pleasantly surprised.

How could you maintain a sustainable high performance in the toughest rowing challenge in the world?

Claudio: It is not the challenge itself but a combination of challenges that makes it hard. The physical challenge can be surmounted quite easily if you do the proper training. The mental challenge, on the other hand, no one can prepare you for. That’s why you have coaches and experts to guide you. The technical aspect of it all was also quite challenging at times. Luckily, we had support teams for this as well. You’re essentially never alone and have a big support system to help you with anything that might come up.

Another tool for maintaining high performance is a sense of humour. Approaching each challenge that was thrown at us with humour helped us tremendously.

Lastly, taking care of yourself and each other is key. If you notice that someone is going through a tough time, flag it and offer support. Sometimes it even helps to start by asking “silly” questions, for example, “Did you drink enough water today?”

How can you transfer your experiences into the business world?

Claudio: One big lesson learned is to focus on the important things in life. I have learned to differentiate noise from the things that matter and this is something that will stick. The power of a well-running team and what one can achieve when joining forces is quite inspiring. One should not overlook the importance of a successful work environment as it has tremendous effects on motivation and productivity. Open communication, sharing expectations and building strategies to achieve those expectations is key and it will greatly improve the performance during the journey.

What has this trip taught you and what message do you want to give graduates applying at PwC?

Claudio: When you join a large cooperation such as PwC, you sometimes focus too much on the day-to-day work. Having a balanced life both professionally and privately with friends and sports is not just nice to have but a necessity to maintain a happy and successful career.

Another piece of advice is to stay curious by adhering to less routine-like habits and pushing one’s boundaries. This will help you shift your perspective and grow and develop further.

Want to start your career at PwC Switzerland?

Find your dream job

Claudio tells us about his experience and lessons learned by rowing across the Atlantic

{{filterContent.facetedTitle}}

{{item.title}}