About Susan Otten
Susan Otten, raised on a family dairy farm in Minnesota, grew up believing that faith and family come first, help others if you can, and hard work always pays off. These core values became the foundation of a life built on service, success, and significance...
…After a thriving 15-year career at Apple, Susan transitioned into high-impact leadership roles. She served as a strategic consultant, business development executive, and led branding and marketing at two global agriculture companies. She also worked as COO of a behavioral health consulting firm. Today, she is the founder and CEO of Indie Do Good, a logistics company supporting mission-driven brands that make a positive impact in their communities and the world.
In one of the most inspiring chapters of her life, Susan Otten became one of fewer than 10 women over the age of 65 to complete a full thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, which spans 2,194 miles from Maine to Georgia.
Her goals were bold:
- Raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s Disease in honor of her husband, diagnosed at age 51
- Be home by Christmas
- And not die on the trail
Together with her daughter Gretja, Susan hiked 154 days, crossed 14 states, and overcame extreme challenges including two emergency room visits for serious head injuries (requiring 9 stitches and 10 staples). Remarkably, she was back on the trail within 12 hours of each injury.
Their journey raised over $95,000 for The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which honored them as “Rookies of the Year” for their extraordinary efforts.
Trail Stats: Susan and Gretja’s Appalachian Trail Hike
- 2 hikers: Susan (age 66) & daughter Gretja (age 27)
- 154 days on the Appalachian Trail
- 2,194.3 miles across 14 states
- 5.25 months away from home
- 14.25 average miles/day
- Elevation gain = 16x Mt. Everest (up and down)
- 35+ lb backpacks each
- 1.54 million calories burned
- 2 birthdays celebrated on trail
- 1 of <10 women 65+ to complete a thru-hike in 1 year
- 40+ trail angels offering kindness along the way
- 3 hurricanes, 1 case of COVID, 1 root canal
- 2 ER visits, 9 stitches, 10 staples, and 1 helmet of salvation
- 96 YouTube videos and countless corny dad jokes
- $95,000+ raised for Parkinson’s research
Susan Otten: A Voice for Resilience, Leadership, and Doing Good
Susan is not only an inspirational thru-hiker and Parkinson’s advocate—she’s also an accredited business communicator, award-winning mentor, and visionary strategist. Her passion lies in helping others become better leaders, business owners, parents, and entrepreneurs by sharing the powerful life and leadership lessons she learned on the Trail.
Her story has been featured on both local and national CBS News, in AARP, and on multiple podcasts, blogs, and video platforms.
” /> Featured Coverage & Media Links
” /> Featured Coverage & Media LinksNational Media:
- CBS National Morning News
- CBS National Evening News: Watch now
- WCCO CBS Minnesota: Mother’s Day segment
Podcasts:
- Connected Teamwork
- Discover Rising Tides: Appalachian Trail for Parkinson’s Disease
Blog Features:
- Michael J Fox Foundation – International Women’s Day Feature
- Together for Sharon – Parkinson’s Awareness Interview
- Bold Journey – Resilience & Leadership
Articles & Community Features:
- Wayzata Together Magazine – Cover Story
- VoyageMinnesota – The Change-Makers Feature
Viral TikTok Feature:
DadChats (2M followers) – 1Good Thing Wednesdays spotlight