We are delighted to have Alex Bailey contributing to Dynamic. She is a Global CEO and Co-Founder with 20+ years of expertise in HR leadership, psychology, coaching, and organisational change. She specialises in cultural evolution, leadership, and performance, delivering impactful programmes globally while speaking at international events.
This really struck me last year while listening to Venus on Chris Evans’ radio show on Virgin. It became my latest Post-it reminder stuck on my PC to read every time I might get a knockback or a limiting belief sneaks in.
I’m fed a lot of social posts highlighting the success of young entrepreneurs hitting it big overnight, awards and lists for the next rising star under 30, women to watch, etc, but that is misleading and unhelpful. Success isn’t something that happens quickly. Our human life’s work over decades of wonderful, unique experiences, challenges and opportunities, and how we recognise and celebrate small steps of success over time gives us the most sustainable human approach to growth and learning.
I love seeing my personal icons such as Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, and Pamela Anderson demonstrating this by owning their image and bringing their life experiences in age into their roles and words to share how they’ve grown over the many years in the public/performance eye. Their recent words are increasingly raw and brave. In a world of possible, sudden cancelling, I know as a leader that it takes more courage to stand up in the crowd, call out the realities we face, and speak our truth out loud.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m seeing and hearing more women standing in their own space and demonstrating the determination and consistency over time that is needed to succeed. It’s not exceptional for women at all, but my experience of becoming a leader over time has meant embracing the underestimation I’ve experienced, the surprise of what I’ve achieved.
Reflecting on this, I recognise it may be because I’m not one to shout about my accomplishments for whatever reason. I don’t think I’m alone in being nervous about being judged; after all, pride comes before a fall, being seen and not heard – and all that. So… deep breath in, here goes:
Yes, I’m a pioneer in the application of Positive Psychology,
Yes, I’m a speaker and moderator of live, critical conversations on main stages across the world with audiences of up to 650 in person and 35,000 online,
Yes, I’m a global expert on all angles of a human workplace.
AND...
Yes, I am the owner and CEO of a global consulting business that has positively changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives every year for the past ten years.
I’ve gone through some harrowing challenges, sleepless nights and gut-wrenching times getting my business through those past ten years. I’ve done it all with two little girls in tow who are now teenagers and need their mum more than ever (and need a great role model).
Now, with a delivery team of 130+ across all regions of the world, we are currently delivering to 40 different organisations per month and I’m not stopping here. I have a voice with wisdom from my experience and intuition to share what has worked for me, and how I failed repeatedly and learned and grew each time I got up and carried on.
Cringey and cheesy as it may feel, I’m sharing what works for me, what has got me here and how I’m facing my next chapter stronger. In the words of Mel Robbins, “I’m letting them judge me, I’m letting them doubt me, I’m letting them underestimate me, whilst I let me focus on expressing my truths and step into my own space.”
Join me on my journey of bold new steps, letting go of all that’s held me back. Being here and writing about it openly in a business landscape is a first step.
Follow me with Dynamic, on LinkedIn for professional and work-related posts, and on my new Instagram account for how my personal journey has shaped me to dress, style, behave and learn the way I do now find out what inspires me and motivates me every day to focus on dreaming bigger than anyone imagined.
A vanity project? Or a new pathway of sharing that paves the way for others to step into their own space more confidently, more authentically and build the foundation blocks of success and winning that is indeed a process.
