When Ruben Payan lost his vision just 20 minutes from the summit of Mount Everest, his life changed forever.

"I had spent my entire life trying to prove that I was a tough guy and could do things on my own," he said. But in that moment, blind and losing hope at the highest point on Earth, the Sherpa leading him was his only lifeline. "It's the power of lending a hand that changed me."

This was the message that Ruben Payan shared on Monday evening at Western Academy of Beijing in a special Distinguished Speaker Series event.

People in the audience shared with each other their own "personal Everest" and who the people were that helped them accomplish "the climb." It was part of an exercise that Ruben designed to help illustrate what he calls "the power of we." Recognizing those who helped you accomplish your biggest dreams is a win for everyone, he said.

"I didn't realize it at first, but it was always about we. It was always about the team," he said.

By hosting presentations and workshops, as well as in his role as a personal fitness trainer and gym owner, Ruben shares his life experiences to motivate people to reach their full potential. It's a message he refers to as Powerful Human, and he lives those values every day.

"Regardless of what you want to achieve in life, know that the powerful human is always with you as long as you can see it in other people."

To learn more about how WAB connects its students with inspirational people and ideas, head over to our Distinguished Speaker Series page.