The drive to be daring is often discovered in the moments that challenge us the most, when we’re called to summon courage, resilience, and strength from within. Whether through bold adventures or life’s unexpected trials, it’s in these defining experiences that we uncover just how powerful and capable we truly are, often revealing a part of ourselves we never knew existed.
In celebration of Mother’s Day (and in honor of the women who raise families, lead with vision, and leave lasting marks on their communities), Land Rover recently hosted an exclusive, women-only event called “Women’s Appreciation Day” on Saturday, May 3rd, at the Land Rover Experience Center in Carmel, California.
Nestled in the Santa Lucia mountains adjacent to The Quail Lodge (the renowned hotel and golf club that hosts the notable automotive gathering called “The Quail” during Monterey Car Week every August), the LRE Center offers daily off-roading adventures through hundreds of acres of forested trails. From Land Rover customers and off-roading enthusiasts to corporate retreats and special celebrations, the Land Rover Experience caters to all types of clients.
Ranging from in-depth educational trainings to empowering experiences that encourage us to explore our daring side, overcome fears and limiting beliefs, and learn valuable communication and team-building skills, after spending several hours with the group, I discovered first-hand that LRE is much more than just an opportunity to improve our driving and off-roading skills – it’s a transformative experience that helps people expand their horizons and tap into their vast potential.
During the recent event, the all-women group encompassed a range of females, from teens to seniors, including Defender owners, mothers and daughters, and female journalists. While some were more experienced than others at off-roading, one thing was evident – we were all eager to learn, evolve, and improve our skills and abilities.
Whether you’re interested in learning about Land Rover and Defender vehicles, improving your driving and maneuvering abilities, or developing greater confidence, mental clarity, or leadership skills, read on to find out why the Land Rover Experience is an incredible opportunity for drivers of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds.
To start with, the trails at the Land Rover Experience Center in Carmel, California, cut through hundreds of acres of wild terrain, weaving between oak groves, dry riverbeds, and rocky forested paths. We navigated steep inclines, side tilts, boulders, and downed trees. One trail, aptly named River Run, mimicked the unpredictable surface of a granite-strewn riverbed.
“We have granite boulders, loose aggregate, river rock, and down trees that create the environment of what spotting might look like in an area where you don’t have great visibility,” explained Sterling Johnson (pictured above), Manager of the LRE Carmel. “You can hear the rocks crackling under the tires.”
The immersive nature of the terrain demanded presence. Every obstacle required focus, awareness, and adaptability, both on the trail and within. During the all-day outing, Sterling and their team of expert instructors taught us more about the impressive technological features and innovations built into the Defender vehicles.
While navigating effortlessly over boulders, rocks, and muddy terrain, I joked that the Defender could do virtually anything and likened it to (what I imagine would be the experience of) driving a Monster Truck. And of course, the humorous side of me (that often comes out when I’m feeling cortisol levels surging) kept envisioning Ace Ventura, driving through the jungle, saying: “Nobody wants to play with me!“. My visualization techniques and sense of humor helped lighten the mood (given the intensity of the highly-charged, laser-focused experience), which was actually to my advantage, since it calmed my nerves and enabled me to feel more relaxed and confident.
Aside from discovering how to physically maneuver through the terrain (while overcoming internal fears and limiting beliefs), we learned about several of the notable features of the Defender that stood out (and were highly useful during the adventurous experience):
Hill Descent Control (HDC) enabled the SUV to maintain a steady speed while descending, applying brakes independently to each wheel. As Sterling explained, “If your tires don’t rotate, you can’t steer. With HDC, it’s like having four brake pedals.”
360° cameras and visual terrain mapping made it easier to comprehend what you were driving over or through, which was especially helpful in challenging terrain such as the narrow pathway through rocks, boulders, oak trees, and other hazardous obstacles.
Adjustable suspension for varying terrain height provided enhanced comfort, improved handling, and increased off-road capability.
Terrain Response Selector enabled the drivers to choose various terrain options (for snow, sand, mud, rock, etc.).
The benefits of learning how each technology functioned were that it made the driving experience that much easier. From maneuvering through treacherous obstacles or difficult terrain, to feeling more at ease and confident behind the wheel, the experience reminded me of horseback riding, in that, while you’re steering, in essence, you’re also trusting the horse (or the SUV, in this case) to naturally do what it’s designed to do – navigate through challenging pathways. While this sense of ‘blind faith’, so to speak, doesn’t always come easily, in circumstances like this, it’s imperative.
Throughout the adventure, I kept reminding myself and other guests that they needed to trust their intuition, as it would act as an inner GPS – guiding them to make wise choices, even when they didn’t logically have all the information or knowledge. Whether you’re learning how to drive an off-roading vehicle or you’re navigating high-stakes deals in business, tapping into your intuitive powers is one of the wisest choices you can make, especially when you don’t have access to all the facts or figures that your left-side brain would usually rely on to make decisions.
In addition to driving, we were also challenged by the instructors when they asked each of us to act as a Spotter. That meant getting out of the vehicle, analyzing terrain, and safely guiding fellow drivers through tough areas using only hand signals. The role demanded clarity, calmness, and strong communication.
As spotters, we fine-tuned our spatial perception, learned how to regulate our nervous systems (this is where breathwork came in handy), and developed the kind of trust that transforms strangers into teammates. Suddenly, this experience wasn’t just about driving, it was about leadership, teamwork, and nonverbal connection.
Aside from the off-road experience, a couple of other highlights of the excursion were the opportunity to be trained by two notable off-roading experts, Daphne Greene (pictured left, below) and Steph Kowall (pictured right, below). In addition to hearing about their backgrounds relative to off-roading and automobiles, each of these illustrious women educated us on how to drive through the trails.
Daphne Greene and Steph Kowall
As a female pioneer in the field of off-roading, in 1995, Daphne Greene became the first woman to represent the United States in the iconic Camel Trophy, a grueling off-road endurance event that spanned several countries in Central America (including Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras), and an event that had received over 1 million applicants from around the world, out of which she was chosen to become a participant in the event. In addition to this impressive feat, she was appointed by the Governor of California to serve on the Commission for the Off-Road Motor Vehicle Recreation Division for several years.
As a lead instructor at the Land Rover Experience Center, she uses her decades of off-road expertise to educate and empower others. She’s been quoted as saying, “It’s never about male or female. It’s about your competitive spirit. I always see possibilities instead of limitations.” Throughout the day, her grounded, quietly powerful presence and insightful advice helped everyone embrace their strength and courage, both on the trail and in life.
Daphne Greene
As we learned, Steph Kowall’s off-roading journey began during a spontaneous camping trip that took her and her boyfriend down a rugged trail to a remote destination that is usually only accessible by powerful SUVs. That inspiring experience ignited her love for exploration and adventure, and led her to pursue a Defender to master its outstanding overlanding capabilities.
Steph Kowall
As a JLR Regional Performance Manager, she teamed up with a colleague to compete in the Rebelle Rally, an exciting women-only 8-day, 1,600-mile navigation challenge—no GPS, just maps, compasses, and grit. She explained that she wanted to improve her off-roading skills, enhance her ability to trust her instincts better, and become more decisive.
She told us riveting stories about overcoming challenging situations, including tackling harrowing sand dunes and treacherous mountains, while discovering a brave, bold side of her personality that she didn’t even know existed. One of the things that surprised her the most was her ability to exceed her own (and even her parents’) expectations.
Every time she faced a new fear or limiting thought, she discovered a tenacity and perseverance that led her to overcome these obstacles. Discovering her ability to figure things out, even in the face of danger, led her to develop greater self-confidence and the empowering mindset that anything is surmountable when you have faith in yourself.
Steph Kowall
As more women embrace adventure, brands like Land Rover are rising to meet the moment. With more female Defender owners and growing interest in off-roading, Land Rover’s Women’s Appreciation Weekend represents the beginning of a new era, as the company plans to host more women-focused events at Land Rover Experience Centers and other destinations.
While each of the attendees came from different backgrounds and comfort levels, every woman left transformed. Whether it was a mother-daughter bonding trip or a solo journey of growth, the experience created community, camaraderie, and confidence. The terrain was tough. The descents were steep. But each woman who took the wheel found a new part of herself waiting on the other side of fear.
We didn’t just learn how to navigate rocks, ruts, and ridgelines—we learned how to maneuver through life. Whether you’re facing a literal boulder or a metaphorical one, remember: the Defender within you is built to rise, to overcome challenges, and to exert strength through grace, beauty, and the innate power from within.
Christina-Lauren Pollack
[Disclosure: Complimentary media access to invite-only events provided by Land Rover USA. All opinions are my own.]