A black and white photo of a man in historical costume with a hat, superimposed on a rural landscape background. There is also a logo with stylized letter 'H' and some text that appears reversed.

Arnold: Early Life in Switzerland, Architecture Career & Global Adventures

Arnold's parents and sister in rural Switzerland
Arnold's parents and sister.

Arnold was born on a farm in a small rural town in Switzerland (My Switzerland) where he, his brother, and sister learned the value of hard work from an early age.

He became a successful architect (TVT Winterthur), running his own company (IE Gruppe) for many years.

Arnold at a business lunch in Switzerland
Arnold on a business lunch.

His children challenged his view of the world from within the corporate walls of his business life. They suggested that the Switzerland he knew was somewhat artificial, shaped largely by his business experience, and that the “real” Switzerland was quite different. This prompted Arnold to explore new horizons beyond his professional sphere.

Arnold's farewell gift of climbing gear before his adventures
The farewell gift: climbing gear.

In 1998, he traded in his business suit for climbing gear. In 1999, he headed for Alaska to begin a new chapter of global adventures and mountaineering exploration.