Fatima (Tima) Deryan
“As an Arab woman, a mountaineer, and a mother — I hope my story helps others believe that no dream is out of reach.”
Who Am I?
Tima Deryan is the first Lebanese woman and youngest Arab to summit Mount Everest at just 26 years old! Born in Kuwait in 1993, she was raised across the Middle East – from Lebanon to Dubai – Tima has always been drawn to adventure. She started with extreme sports like bungee jumping at 16, then scuba diving and skydiving. Her biggest dream began when she was 14: to climb Mount Everest. On May 22, 2019, that dream became reality when she stood on top of the world’s highest peak. Since then, she has become the first Lebanese woman to ski to the South Pole and has climbed all seven of the world’s highest summits, plus over 25 other mountains worldwide!
What Am I Known For?
Tima embodies incredible perseverance and courage in pursuing her mountaineering dreams while working to fund her expeditions. Her journey shows remarkable resilience – she’s had to convince her family to accept her solo travels to remote mountains, and she faces people who think her goals are impossible. Yet she responds with action rather than words, achieving record after record to prove them wrong.
Her optimism shines through everything she does. She describes mountaineering as her “heaven on earth” where she recharges her positive energy. Even when altitude sickness hits on mountains, she uses laughter to push through the challenges. Her integrity shows in how she stays true to her values – founding Feministiya, a sustainable fashion brand that advocates for women’s rights, and writing a children’s book called Curly Adventures to help kids realise they are limitless.
Perhaps most inspiring is her empathy and leadership. Tima climbs not just for herself, but to show other Arab women that “they are beautiful, they are strong and they can conquer the world.” As a certified coach through her company Mountain Gipsy, she helps people develop an ‘invincible mindset’ to achieve their biggest goals. She is also an environmental activist, campaigning on climate change and waste recycling. Her motto, “mind over matter” – which she has tattooed on her hand – guides both her climbs and her mission to give back to the world what the mountains gave her.
How About You?
Tima says mountaineering is her ‘happy place’ where she feels peaceful and confident. What is your happy place, and how does it make you feel stronger or braver?
Tima faced people who thought her dreams were ‘crazy’ or impossible, but she chose to respond with action rather than trying to convince them with words. When have you had to prove yourself through your actions? How did it feel, and what did you learn about yourself?
Other Amazing People (you can find them on the website)
Amy Johnson, Sacagawea and David Livingstone showed leadership and integrity by boldly exploring unknown paths, guiding others with purpose and staying true to their values in the face of great challenges. You can read their inspiring stories on our website.
Other Amazing Contemporary Role Models
Isatou Ceesay and Rigoberta Menchú share the character strengths of leadership and integrity, using their voices and actions to lead change and advocate for justice and sustainability. You can find their stories on our site.
Other Useful Resources (available on the website)
Our Amazing People from the Middle East and Amazing Explorers resources feature many amazing people who had to overcome difficult situations to achieve their goals. Subscribers can find these helpful resources by logging in and going to the Search page. If you are not a subscriber, you can access these resources, and many more, by starting a free trial.
Image courtesy of @mountaingipsy via Instagram