Aretha Duarte Eyes Andean Seven Summits and Denali
Balancing corporate speaking and social projects, the mountaineer shares her routine and outlines her next high-altitude goals.
With over 100,000 people reached through speaking engagements across Brazil, Aretha Duarte continues to find her center in the mountains. In an interview on XTREMMA Sports, she revealed her focus on the Andean Seven Summits and her ambition to summit Denali.
Despite a busy city routine, Aretha Duarte makes no secret that her true mental and emotional anchor remains rooted in nature. During an appearance on XTREMMA Sports with Shubi Guimarães, the mountaineer detailed how she balances her speaking career, social project initiatives, and upcoming major goals in high-altitude mountaineering.
From shyness to corporate stages
Seeing Aretha on stage at major national and multinational corporations, few would guess that public speaking was once an obstacle. The athlete herself admits surprise at the turnaround: once shy, she has now reached more than 100,000 people through her keynotes, establishing a solid presence in both the corporate and social sectors.
Aiming for the Andean Seven Summits and Denali
The call of high altitude, however, remains strong. Aretha is actively pursuing the Andean Seven Summits project, which encompasses the highest peak in each country traversed by the Andes mountain range. Her progress is already well underway: she has summited Aconcagua (Argentina), Sajama (Bolivia), and Chimborazo (Ecuador), leaving four peaks to complete the circuit.
When it comes to the traditional global Seven Summits circuit, Aretha has a clear, targeted ambition. Rather than completing the full global list, her sights are set on taking on Denali in Alaska, the highest peak in North America.
Guiding steps in the mountains
Alongside her personal projects, guiding expeditions remains part of her life, even as she adapts to a tight schedule. Shortly before recording the episode—which also touches on key milestones in her inspiring journey—Aretha had returned from an expedition on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. For her, leading high-altitude groups while managing her professional and social responsibilities in the city is how she keeps the driving passion of her life alive.