Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Gustave Eiffel

Gustave Eiffel, the audacious engineer behind the world-famous tower, exemplifies the spirit of visionary leadership. His journey through skepticism, obstacle, and innovation demonstrates that legends are not inherited—they are built, one bold decision at a time. Eiffel’s Parisian years remind us that creative leaders must be both daring architects and resilient builders of their own story. He pushed boundaries, assembled brilliant teams, and transformed criticism into catalysts for greater achievement.

On this walking tour, you will walk in Eiffel’s footsteps through key Parisian sites that shaped his ascent, using the Hero’s Journey and the 12 archetypes as your guide. At every stop, you will reflect on your own path as a leader: Where are you playing it safe? Where might you aim higher? Because you are not just living a story—you are authoring your own legend.

Timeline: Eiffel’s Hero’s Journey in Paris

Time	Hero’s Journey Stage / Archetype	Location	Focus
09:00	The Ordinary World / The Innocent	48 Rue Fouquet (Eiffel’s early home)	Beginnings, hidden ambitions
10:30	The Call to Adventure / The Explorer	Pont Alexandre III (Eiffel’s bridges)	Taking risks, embracing challenges
12:00	Meeting the Mentor / The Sage	École Centrale Paris (Eiffel as student & mentor)	Learning, inspiration, new vision
14:00	Tests, Allies & Enemies / The Warrior	Champ de Mars (base of the Eiffel Tower)	Resilience, overcoming opposition
16:00	The Return With the Elixir / The Creator	Eiffel Tower Summit	Perspective, legacy, inspiring others

The Walking Tour

09:00 – 48 Rue Fouquet (The Ordinary World / The Innocent)

Eiffel’s Parisian beginnings were unglamorous—a young engineer with quiet dreams, starting his career unnoticed.

Reflection:

• What are the humble origins or passions that first inspired you as a leader?
• How do you reconnect with your sense of wonder and possibility?

Inspiration from Eiffel:
Every great journey begins with a vision most people overlook.
Question: What “ordinary world” or comfort zone are you ready to step beyond?

10:30 – Pont Alexandre III (The Call to Adventure / The Explorer)

Long before the Eiffel Tower, Eiffel made his mark building innovative bridges, transforming Paris’ landscape. Each project required bold risk-taking and technical prowess.

Reflection:

• When did you first venture beyond your comfort zone in pursuit of something larger?
• How do you respond to the call of the unknown?

Inspiration from Eiffel:
Real growth begins when you dare to cross new frontiers.
Question: What challenge is calling you forward right now?

12:00 – École Centrale Paris (Meeting the Mentor / The Sage)

Eiffel both learned from great minds and eventually mentored others, fostering a circle of innovation and ambition.

Reflection:

• Who are your mentors and collaborators?
• How do you seek out wisdom and offer guidance in turn?

Inspiration from Eiffel:
Innovation thrives in communities of shared learning.
Question: Whom can you learn from—and who looks to you for inspiration?

14:00 – Champ de Mars (Tests, Allies & Enemies / The Warrior)

Here, at the base of the Eiffel Tower, Eiffel faced fierce criticism, technical setbacks, and the pressure of delivering the impossible.

Reflection:

• What “impossible” project have you committed to?
• Who are your allies in the face of resistance?

Inspiration from Eiffel:
The strongest towers are built on resilience and alliances.
Question: How do you transform setbacks into stepping stones?

16:00 – Eiffel Tower Summit (The Return With the Elixir / The Creator)

From the top, Eiffel surveyed the city below—a symbol of what vision, collaboration, and courage can achieve.

Reflection:

• What unique perspective have you gained on your journey?
• What is the legacy you wish to leave for others?

Inspiration from Eiffel:
Your greatest story is the one you build and then share with the world.
Question: What “skyward” vision will you leave for the next generation?

Conclusion: Lessons from Eiffel’s Hero’s Journey

Eiffel’s ascent was never guaranteed. Every stage brought opposition, doubt, and creative risk. But he authored a story about himself grounded in daring, ingenuity, and refusal to yield—a narrative that gave him a sense of flow and destiny. His tower stands as proof that when leaders dare to build, even the sky is not the limit.

Final Questions for Your Leadership Journey:

• Where are you on your own hero’s journey—facing the call, in the arena, or at the summit?
• What story are you telling yourself—one of caution, or of possibility?
• What will your “Eiffel Tower” be, and who will it inspire?

The legend you build is the one you choose to live. Dare to make it skyward.

Tour Details:

• Duration: 1 day
• Start Time: 09:00 AM
• End Time: 05:00 PM
• Cost: € 595 per person excluding VAT per person

You can book this tour by sending Peter an email with details at peter@wearesomeone.nl

Your Tour Guide

Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project,  a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.

Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing,  MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.