Founder of Equenti Leadership & Learning, Public Speaker and Rule Breaker in Corporate Leadership Education, and whose biggest success came from getting fired.
The ‘Answers to Thriving' is an interview series that takes a look at the women who have created a life of self-success. We uncover key moments, lessons and habits that have influenced the life they lead today.
You can’t start the day without:
Coffee and a cuddle with my cat Chester and dog Pepper.
A favourite quote is:
“Lead yourself well, and everything else falls into place” (it serves me well in business and life)
One wellness ritual you do regularly:
What really rejuvenates my soul is horse riding. I find it gives me a sense of peace, simplicity, empowerment and freedom that is hard to match anywhere else. But when I can’t get on my horses, some pampering at a day spa is my go-to.
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The last inspiring podcast you listened to and what makes it worth a listen:
The Pursuit of Love - It is hosted by three young entrepreneurs from Toowoomba who interview people who are making their passion their life’s work.
A recommended read for personal growth:
I am a sucker for most things Brené Brown. Her book “Dare to Lead” is a notable favourite I recommend to business leaders. I love Brené’s ability to make scholarly work relatable, and how her theories around courage and vulnerability in leadership can enhance all aspects of our lives, both business and personal.
How do you go about self-development?
Education has always been a source of personal growth for me and I engage in everything from formal education to paid mentoring and self help books. You can’t underestimate the value of connecting with quality people and there is always something to learn. Always!
You can’t underestimate the value of connecting with quality people and there is always something to learn. Always!
Which business or person inspires you right now?
Right now I’m following business leaders who’ve managed to create a purposeful business life by following what excites them and lights them up, in combination with living a fun and connected life. The list is varied, including Timothy Ferriss, Rebecca Campbell and Simon Sinek.
Who has helped you progress in your career the most and what did they do to support you?
I am not sure I can pick just one. I am a big believer in surrounding myself with quality business thinkers and having them challenge my paradigms about what’s possible in business and life. I constantly work with paid mentors who’s explicit job is to stretch and grow my thinking.
What has been the most defining moment in your career to date?
For most of my corporate career I felt like a caged tiger. I knew I had much to give but my values often misaligned with old-school training programs that focused on buttoned-up corporate speak, and coldly delivered performance reviews.
After almost 20 years in the corporate human resources environment, my perspective shifted when my request for a discussion on career progression was met with “hold up there Angela, you have only been here 2 years”. After 2 years of battling with the owners to change the toxic corporate culture, my employer and I ‘agreed’ that it wasn’t the place for me.
This experience sent me into a debilitating state of exhaustion, my mojo shattered and future uncertain. With time and investment in personal development programs and coaching, I began a journey of self-discovery to evaluate what really lights up my internal creative fire. By focusing on what excites and energises me, I quickly discovered that a #litleadership mindset was the “secret sauce” to success in both business and life.
By focusing on what excites and energises me, I quickly discovered that a #litleadership mindset was the “secret sauce” to success in both business and life.
I went on to apply this thinking to the development of a leadership methodology that would challenge the status quo of leadership education. From this vision emerged my own leadership consultancy, Equenti Leadership & Learning and our unique suite of out-of-the-box coaching and training programs.
What fear have you had to overcome to pursue your ambitions?
When I first started Equenti I was unsure whether anybody else would ‘get’ our unique approach to corporate leadership development. Leaving the security of a salaried job and laying my unique ideas about leadership on the table was terrifying. But I needn’t have worried. I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the enthusiasm for Equenti’s programs and I am now living with more purpose than I ever did working with ‘job security’ for corporate employers.
Life/career advice you wish you’d been given in your early 20s?
Take more risks, make more mistakes and learn from them. Mistakes provide us the greatest opportunity to learn, grow and live a life that is closer to our truth.
Mistakes provide us the greatest opportunity to learn, grow and live a life that is closer to our truth.
What advice would you give women who want to make a positive change in their lives?
Get clear on what lights you up. Learn what really makes you excited, inspires you, grounds you, gets your blood pumping. And do more of that. From there, the path that is most energising will reveal itself to you with clarity…
What does thriving mean to you?
Living from a place of energised excitement and clarity in both my personal and business life.
Anything else you would like to share with the Thrivhers community?
A project I am proud of is the development of the Leadership Mojo Instant Guidance cards. They are like having a leadership coach in your pocket, providing a daily boost of leadership guidance. They make beautiful corporate gifts or as a personal tool for inspiring leadership greatness in yourself.
You can check them out at Equenti.com
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