Confidence, Community & Climbing: Inside Upward Transitions Institute

What happens when you can’t find the outdoor community you’ve been searching for—so you build it yourself?In this episode, we sit down with Victoria Garvin, founder of Upward Transitions Institute, a mountain education and guiding company redefining inclusivity in outdoor spaces. After leaving a demanding nursing career and facing gender bias in the guiding industry, Victoria created a space where folks from any background, race, gender identity, and socioeconomic status can gain confidence, learn essential skills, and lead with independence.From scaling Mount Baker to organizing international mountaineering courses, Victoria shares how Upward Transitions empowers climbers through education, mentorship, and community. Her story reminds us that the outdoors isn’t just about summits—it’s about belonging, growth, and finding the courage to “do it scared.”Life in Motion is brought to you by Actual Outdoors. They help build beautiful brands that highlight the approachable and authentic parts of outdoor recreation. Said simply - they “keep it real”. Find them online at actualoutdoors.com or on Instagram at @actualoutdoors.Tweet us and let us know what you think of this episode! @illuminecollectFind more episodes at www.illuminecollect.com/blogs/life-in-motion-podcastSince 2017 Illumine has donated over $50,298 to outdoor nonprofits and shared over 251 stories on the Life in Motion Podcast.