No Tigers Were Harmed in Writing This Courageous Story
Join a welcoming environment where learning and kindness go hand in hand under the direction of an accomplished trainer who has a passion for helping others.
Courage to:
Embrace the Unexpected: She fearlessly navigated a career change, proving that it's never too late to pursue your true calling.
Lead with Authenticity: She shares her experiences—both triumphs and missteps—to connect with readers on a genuine level and foster a supportive community.
Empower Through Knowledge: She equips aspiring leaders with practical tools and resources, enabling them to confidently guide and inspire their teams.
Build Community: She cultivates a welcoming space for connection and shared learning, recognizing the power of collective growth and support.
Cross Continents for a Dream: She boldly moved to New Zealand, demonstrating the courage to start anew and build a life aligned with her values.
Meet
: Learning and Development Rocks
Q: Tell us a bit about your background.
I grew up in a working class family in the south of England and went to an old fashioned, girls only Grammar School.
After school, I began training as an accountant, but it didn’t suit me at all. I moved to retail management, which was far more suited to my extrovert personality.
I was soon selected to become an area trainer. I loved training and decided that I wanted to do it forever.
Since then I’ve worked for various organizations and in many Learning & Development roles.
Q: If you had to choose an SEO keyword for your life, what would it be?
Strive
Q: What are your hobbies, passions, obsessions, or what excites or inspires you? What sets your soul on fire?
I always loved teaching, and I’ve been lucky in that I’ve enjoyed nearly every job I’ve had.
Reading has featured greatly in my life, encouraged by Friday night family trips to the library when I was a child. My usual fare is classic novels, cozy mysteries, sci-fi/fantasy and self help. And Jack Reacher novels, of course :-)
Q: What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
I’d love to say that I’ve leapt over the fence at the zoo, and pulled a toddler from the jaws of a ravenous tiger, but sadly, nothing like that has ever happened.
My most courageous move was moving to New Zealand in the late 90s and starting a new life from scratch.
Q: Why do you write on Substack?
I enjoy writing and teaching and Substack is a place where I can share what I’ve learned.
The people on Substack are so friendly and kind, and I love that. It’s different from other social media where I see arguments and division.
The platform has such a wide variety of options for creators. I can write short or long form, post videos and even set up a podcast if I want to.
Q: What are your values as a writer/creator?
My values as a creator are the same as my values in any other area. I believe in honesty, treating people well and being kind.
My newsletter is designed to help entrepreneurs and people in corporate learn how to lead and train their teams.
Each week I provide practical step-by-step instructions on a leadership or training topic plus a downloadable resource.
Providing a resource makes it easier for my readers to take action - all they need to do is print it off and get going.
Q: How do you connect with your readers?
Connecting with my readers is important to me, so I’m careful to respond to all comments, questions and notes promptly.
To connect within my writing, I try to be as authentic as possible and tell personal stories about the mistakes I’ve made, as well as showcasing the skills I’ve learned.
Q: Why did you join the Connected Community project, and how do you find it so far?
I joined the Connected Community project to get some clarity around what I write about, who my readers are, and how I can best provide value to them.
These are easy questions to answer until someone asks you to write them down and commit to them. That’s where the Connected Community project came in. I had to stop being wishy-washy and come up with a solid plan.
Hearing the ideas, victories and challenges of the other community members was a great help too. I’ve deepened my relationships with some amazing writers, finalized my strategy and settled on a newsletter structure.
If you enjoyed this share and resonate with the Learning and Development Rocks, subscribe and reach out! I’d love to hear from you.
Thanks Magdalena, I've been AWOL from Substack for a week or so after my trip away. I'm happy to report that no tigers were harmed, though a lot of food was eaten, and a lot of wine was drunk!
Moving to another country and starting from scratch is no small feat and takes a huge chunk of courage.