A New Leadership Paradigm
Why the Future Belongs to Guides, Not Gurus
Learn timeless wisdom from Nepal's Sherpa culture about resilience, humility, and service-based leadership that transforms organizations.
Discover why human guides become more valuable, not less, in an AI-saturated world where information is free but wisdom is priceless.
Apply battle-tested tools from hundreds of client interactions to discover your "inner Sherpa" and create meaningful impact.
Learn from organizations that reduced turnover by 52% and increased revenue by 28% using Sherpa principles.
Access the Sherpa Leadership Certification framework to formalize your guidance practice and join a global community.
Join leaders from Microsoft, Amazon, nonprofits, and churches who are transforming their organizations with guide-first leadership.
"We expanded services by 40% during the pandemic while others were closing. That's the power of having a Sherpa."
Executive Director, Haven House Services
"My team's engagement scores increased 34% in six months. This approach works."
Senior Manager, Microsoft
"When you measure success by how many people you elevate, everything changes—including your bottom line."
CEO, TechForward Solutions
The Sherpa are an indigenous people of Nepal with a history, language, and spiritual tradition that extends far beyond mountaineering. In Western culture, the word sherpa has often been used narrowly to mean "guide," yet this is only one part of their identity.
In this work, I use Sherpa as a metaphor — a symbol of service, resilience, humility, and community. The "Sherpa Economy" is not about reducing or stereotyping, but about honoring the spirit of guidance that Sherpas embody, and drawing inspiration from their example for how we can live and work today.
My hope is that as you explore these ideas, you will discover your own capacity to guide others, remove barriers, and create paths forward — while also holding a deeper appreciation for the dignity and heritage of the Sherpa people themselves.
David Runnels is the founder of Stories & Systems, where he helps purpose-driven organizations bridge the gap between vision and execution. With experience guiding 45+ organizations through successful transitions and training 1,200+ leaders in Sherpa methodology, David brings both practical wisdom and proven frameworks to the conversation about modern leadership.
His work has helped nonprofits secure $4.2M in new funding, reduced organizational turnover by up to 52%, and transformed leadership cultures at companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce teams.
Learn More About DavidBe among the first to get your copy and start transforming your leadership approach. Join thousands of leaders who are choosing to guide, not guru.
Digital and physical copies available. Expected delivery: Q2 2025