Making space beyond the job

When Jeev, a Product Manager within our Technology and Operations team in London, set out to complete Bob Graham Round - one of the UK’s most grueling ultrarunning challenges involving 42 peaks, 106 km (66 miles), and 27,000 feet of ascent within 24 hours - he wasn’t just chasing a physical milestone…

In doing so, Jeev made history, becoming the first Indian to complete the challenge, a feat that tested his endurance and broke new ground for representation in the sport.

But his journey wasn’t just about setting records. It was about navigating loss and discovering resilience. After the death of his mother, Jeev turned to the rugged beauty of the Lake District for solace.

“In the last few years, I had a tough time with my mental health,” he shares. “My mother’s death broke me into pieces. I always thought that as a grown-up man I’d be able to cope with the ultimate truth of life – death – but I couldn’t.”

So Jeev turned to the mountains. “These mountains are where I found peace and healing,“ he says. Being in nature helped me process grief and stress, and helped me slow down. I made space for reflection, something I also bring into work now. I learned to listen to my body, connect with my breath to be more aware, and importantly, to ask for help.”

And the biggest hurdle? Self-doubt. “I overcame it one summit at a time and focused only on the next step, not the next 42 peaks. Honestly, it’s not too different from tackling big projects at work: break it down, trust your team, and keep showing up.”

Jeev also learned that rest isn’t a luxury, it’s part of the plan. “Managing mental health isn’t separate from performance – it is performance.”

He didn’t do it alone, either. Throughout his training and the 24-hour challenge, Jeev leaned on the strength of his community – friends, family, local runners, and colleagues at UBS. “You can’t run 106 km with Everest-like climbing alone. My team showed up at 2:00 a.m. and hiked for hours just to cheer me on. That kind of support is everything.”

Jeev also credits the UBS culture of inclusion for making space for the whole person behind the professional. “My line manager was always asking about my training. My department lead, a passionate hiker himself, would often swap trail stories with me. That kind of support system is a quiet superpower.”

Now, Jeev’s journey is being shared across the firm. But for him, the real reward lies in the impact it’s had on others. “Hearing from people, especially from South Asian communities, saying, ‘I didn’t know someone like me could do this.’ That’s bigger than any medal.”

Jeev’s already channeled that momentum into action, helping organize UBS’s first-ever Mountains for Mind challenge in June. The event saw 30 employees head to the Lake District to raise awareness for mental health.

Jeev’s mantra? “Be where your feet are.”

In a world that’s often rushing, Jeev’s story is a grounding reminder that wellbeing, reflection, and community aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re essential to unlocking our full potential.