Roots of Ambition
From a remote Bhutanese village with no roads to leading some of the world’s most iconic resorts across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean – this is the true story of how discipline, faith, and humility can turn hardship into a global journey of purpose.
Roots of Ambition is a meditation on roots and responsibility, on the mountains that shaped me and the oceans that continue to teach me.
The Book
Roots of Ambition follows a boy born in a valley without roads who walks away at thirteen, survives failures and storms, and eventually leads world-class resorts across continents – without losing the values of his grandmother’s village.
This is not a traditional business book or a travel diary. It is a human story about:
- Resilience in the face of poverty, risk, and uncertainty
- Leadership learned in kitchens, staff rooms, and crisis rooms
- Faith that quietly guided decisions through chaos and opportunity
- The tension between ambition and inner peace
Each chapter connects one element of nature – earth, forest, ocean, fire, wind – to a defining season of life, revealing how hardship was transformed into service, and how service became a form of gratitude.
From Village to World
Trashiyangtse, Bhutan to Harbour Island, The Bahamas – a journey across cultures, faiths, and oceans without losing the spiritual roots of home.
Hospitality as a Life Path
From washing dishes and managing IT to leading entire resorts, hospitality becomes a mirror for character, empathy, and discipline.
Quiet, Purpose-Driven Ambition
Not ambition for fame, but for impact – building teams, nurturing youth, and designing places where people leave more whole than they arrived.
Inside Roots of Ambition
The book is structured as a cinematic journey: each part rooted in a place, an element, and a lesson. Here’s a glimpse into the inner landscape.
Part I · The Forest That Fed Me
Childhood in Trashiyangtse and Khamdang – raised by a grandmother who knew every herb, berry, and prayer. Monkeys, cymbals, and the first lessons in responsibility and courage.
Part II · Running at Thirteen
Leaving home, crossing borders, facing hunger, jail, and humiliation – and discovering that sometimes survival itself is an education.
Part III · Washing Dishes to Front Desk
First jobs in India and Bhutan; learning the language of guests, mentors, and mistakes. How discipline and curiosity created unexpected doors.
Part IV · Oceans That Raised Me
Turks & Caicos, St. Vincent, The Bahamas, Mozambique – mastering crisis leadership, building culture, and leading through hurricanes, pandemics, and personal storms.
Part V · Fire, Wind & Return
Burnout, depression, rediscovering health and spirituality. Learning that saying “no” is sometimes the most ambitious act of all.
Part VI · Legacy Under One Sky
CW Luxury, Roots of Ambition, music and future projects. Building platforms for youth, for Bhutan, and for a new kind of mindful hospitality.
Gonday Kunjung Norbu — The All-Originating Jewel
ROOTS OF AMBITION
A Memoir by
Chorten Wangyel
Dedication
Dedicated with gratitude
to my grandmother,
and to the sacred blessing
of Gonday Kunjung Norbu,
the all-originating precious jewel
guiding my path.
Author’s Note
“Before writing this book, my Buddhist teacher blessed me with the name Gonday Kunjung Norbu — meaning the precious jewel from which all arises. This blessing is woven into every chapter of this story.”
“This book is not about what I achieved. It’s about everything I survived — and everything I learned because of it.”
— Chorten Wangyel, Roots of AmbitionSong · “Under One Sky”
Alongside the book, Chorten is creating music that carries the same message: that no matter where we are born, we dream and heal under one sky.
“Under One Sky” blends English, Hindi, and Dzongkha — the language of Bhutan — with a world-fusion sound that bridges the Himalayas and the islands.
It is a song about faith, forgiveness, and unity; about the quiet strength it takes to keep moving forward when life gives you every reason to stop.
“Under one sky we learn to rise — different worlds, but the same sunrise.”
Coming soon: full soundtrack and lyrics inspired by Roots of Ambition.
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Timeline to Release
A living journey — from pages to people, from idea to impact.