The Birth of Source Mountain – A Story of Friendship, Purpose & Solidarity

It began with a journey.

Over a decade ago, Nancy Vong Johnston traveled deep into the Mongolian steppe, following a childhood dream to be amongst nomadic herders. There in the mountains, she met a nomadic herder mother who feared for her and her only daughter’s future. All their animals had died due to climate change. In that moment, Nancy knew she had to act. From this life-changing encounter, with the support of friends, House of Tengri was born—a mission to enable trade, not aid by creating a sustainable fashion brand from rare Khangai yak fibres, where business is as a force for good.

Fast forward to the Khangai Mountains, where Christine Chang Hanway joined Nancy on another journey—one that would change them both. Sitting together under the vast sky, surrounded by the strength of the mountains, the animals and the stories of the people they had come to love, they found themselves asking the same questions:

What more can we do together? How can we share the wisdom of the mountains?

How can we help more women as we’ve learned and grown together?

From that question, Source Mountain was born.

Two women, connected by friendship, sisterhood, bound by purpose, and inspired by the mountains and the people who had welcomed them as their own. They knew that mountains are more than landscapes—they are living, breathing sources of knowledge, resilience, and transformation. Across generations, the women of the mountains have preserved traditions, cared for the land and animals, and carried forward ancestral wisdom—mountains are the source of life. Yet, their knowledge often goes unseen, and their economic opportunities, along with their ability to safeguard this wisdom and way of life, remain precarious in the face of rapid industrialization and climate change.

Source Mountain exists to change that.

Source Mountain is a movement. Built by two women founders, it is an initiative rooted in solidarity, cultural preservation, and economic resilience, ensuring that women and children in mountain communities have the opportunities they deserve — because when women rise, entire communities thrive.

Through fundraising, curated events, immersive storytelling, artisanal products, and intentional retreats, Source Mountain creates pathways for connection—between people, cultures, and the untamed wisdom of nature.

And so, what began as a journey between two friends has become a call to action for many. We are building a movement. A community. A bridge between worlds.

Source Mountain is our collective dream, eyes wide open. Now, we invite you to be part of this transformational journey.

Join us by becoming a Source Mountain member. Stand in solidarity. Help share the wisdom and strength of women and children in the world’s highest places.