Founded in 2011 by Bill and Maria Hoogterp, LifeHikes was built on their passion to train the world and a simple belief: if training does not change behavior, it has not done its job.
That belief matters even more now. As AI changes how work gets done, the human skills behind communication, leadership, trust, confidence, and connection are becoming even more important. We partner with organizations around the world as an extension of their internal learning and development teams, designing programs that reflect their people, priorities, culture, and business goals.
We specialize in the human skills people need to succeed at work and in life, from communication and sales to leadership, confidence, and connection.
Behavior change happens through practice. Not passive lectures. Not one-size-fits-all training.
Every LifeHikes experience is live, interactive, and built around the situations people actually face at work. Programs are led by expert coaches who create energy, build trust, and help people grow in real time.
Participants are not just learning concepts. They are practicing the behaviors that help them perform better. Growth does not happen by watching. It happens by doing.
Our Reach
LifeHikes has partnered with more than 1,200 companies across 45 countries and 50 languages.
Fortune 1000 companies and global organizations trust us to deliver learning that changes how people communicate, lead, collaborate, and perform, with impact they can see, hear, and measure.
1200
companies trained
Across
45
50
Languages
1000
Through the LifeHikes Foundation, we expand access to world-class learning for individuals and organizations that might not otherwise have it.
We partner with nonprofits, educators, youth organizations, small businesses, and community groups to bring human skills training to people whose voices, careers, and communities can grow stronger with the right support.
Work is human. Growth is human. Leadership is human.
At LifeHikes, we help people practice the skills that make those human moments better, so they can show up with more clarity, confidence, and impact wherever they are.
FAQ
We’re here to help. If you didn’t find the answer to your question, feel free to email us anytime.
LifeHikes is a professional development company that helps organizations build stronger communicators, leaders, and teams through experiential learning journeys.
We combine live workshops, coaching, reinforcement, technology, assessments, and real-world application to help people build skills that stick — not just skills that sound good in a training room.
Our programs focus on practical business outcomes including:
We work with organizations ranging from high-growth startups to global enterprises across industries including technology, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, media, and consumer brands.
Yes. LifeHikes was formerly known as Own The Room.
We originally built our reputation helping professionals become more confident, clear, and compelling communicators. Over time, our work expanded into broader leadership, collaboration, coaching, and organizational development experiences.
Today, LifeHikes reflects a larger mission: helping people and organizations grow through practical, human-centered learning journeys.
Most traditional training creates short-term inspiration but very little long-term behavior change.
LifeHikes is built differently.
Our approach combines:
Instead of one-off workshops that fade after a few weeks, we design learning journeys that compound over time and connect directly to business priorities.
A Learning Journey is a structured development experience designed around your organization’s goals.
Rather than relying on a single workshop, learning happens in seasons:
This model helps teams retain skills, apply them immediately, and create measurable behavior change.
