Earlier this month, I had the privilege of supporting a powerful leadership event with Windsor Leadership, where we invite leaders from all walks of life to reflect on what’s shaped them—both the highs and the lows.
It made me pause and think: What has shaped me?
My leadership journey began long before I held a formal leadership title. I started my career as a social worker, supporting people through some of the most painful and complex experiences of their lives. But perhaps the real beginning goes even further back—to my own childhood.
We had social workers in and out of our lives due to the challenges my mother faced. At the time, I didn’t think of it as “leadership,” but looking back, I see how those early moments taught me the importance of compassion, listening without judgment, and meeting people where they are.
That value—compassion—became a thread running through my entire career. When I transitioned from frontline social work to managing teams, and later into commercial consultancy leading large-scale change programmes, I carried it with me. The context changed, but the need for empathy didn’t. Whether someone is dealing with personal trauma or professional uncertainty, people respond to being heard and respected.
Now, as a career and inclusion coach, I see clearly how those early experiences didn’t just influence me—they defined me. Compassion isn’t just a value I hold; it’s the lens through which I lead.
We often think leadership is shaped by training, strategy, or big decisions—and yes, those matter. But often, it’s our personal experiences—the struggles, the support, the things we never asked for but learned from anyway—that truly shape how we show up for others. Possibly the most valuable tool in our leadership toolbox is the time to reflect on who we are and who we choose to be? How are our experiences and influences shaping our actions to be a force for good in the world?
So, I’ll leave you with this:
What has shaped you as a leader? Was it a positive influence—or something painful that taught you strength? How does it still show up in your leadership today?