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Reaching New Heights: Applied Leader’s Everest Climb Reflects the Power of Teamwork
June 11, 2026
“I’ve had opportunities to grow, learn and build confidence. That mindset helped me pursue a goal I once thought was out of reach.”
As the sun rose over Tibet and illuminated the North Face of Mount Everest, Len Tedeschi stood on the highest point on Earth after years of preparation. Len, deputy general manager for the dielectric deposition products group at Applied Materials, set out to climb Everest to fulfill a lifelong ambition that demanded persistence, discipline and focus.
The goal took shape decades ago. As a college student in the early 1990s, Len wrote down a list of life ambitions, and climbing Everest was one of them. At the time, it felt especially daunting because he was afraid of heights. Over the years, he tackled that fear step by step, including through rock climbing, until a once-distant aspiration became a realistic objective. Everest is often seen as an individual achievement, but Len notes that the climb depended on preparation, coordination and a team working together under constantly changing conditions.
He climbed with an experienced support team that included Sherpas Ngima Tendi Sherpa and Lakpa Dawa Sherpa, along with guide Matoco Erroz. Their expertise was essential throughout the expedition.
Months of training prepared Len for the physical and mental demands of high altitude, including working with a mountaineering coach and sleeping in a hypoxic tent for 10 weeks before the expedition.
“Applied has been a big part of my life,” Len said. “It gave me opportunities to learn, grow and build confidence – and that made a difference in how I approached Everest.”