KAREN TRACEY

GET TO KNOW ME

My team, my collaborator network and I really hope that you find some interesting content that will help you in your leadership journey. Of course, if you’re here to take a look at some of our leadership programmes or coaching offerings – by all means, give us a buzz, we will be more than happy to chat through with you how we help individuals and businesses all over the world with developing their leadership capability.

Where It
All Began

But how did I get here? People ask me this all the time! It’s been a 40 year journey since I emerged from education, then into the Royal Air Force for 9 years and eventually then entered the professional world into business. Leadership development has been my life long profession. I was always fascinated by leadership if I am honest. Even before I entered the world of work. It intrigued me how by a “slight of tone” or focus on “positioning”, another person could be either motivated or left feeling powerless in one single move or sentence.

Proud to Have Served.
Honoured to Support.

I’m a proud veteran of the Royal Air Force, where I served in aerospace systems for 9 years. That early leadership training to provide clarity under pressure, discipline and emotional control, has stayed with me throughout my career.

Today, I use those same foundation skills to support leaders which includes some veterans as they navigate leadership transitions and step into executive roles.

Whether I’m helping leaders and executives move into the boardroom or guiding them through new chapters, I bring both lived experience and strategic insight to every conversation.

Discovering a New Mission

Shortly after completing active service in the First Gulf War (that’s another story!), after nine amazing years, I “shook hands” with the Station Commander and turned the page to my next challenge – civvy street (and that’s another story) and my first job out of uniform “I’m not a civvy – I’m Ex Forces!” I have heard this many times from colleagues and friends who have served and do I feel the same. I do! This does not mean I have not transitioned! I certainly have and love my civilian life and how I live it but there are just some things inside you that will always be a little bit military when you have served!

So how did this play out in the big, wide world of corporate working? Well, over the next 20 years I worked in Learning and Development and Training, focussing on developing personal and leadership skills in others. It is where I took my skillset as a developer of others to the next level and essentially started to really specialise in Leadership. It has been an amazing ride! I have had the pleasure and privilege to meet and work with the most amazing people and there absolutely is nothing like seeing someone demonstrate something that helps them influence something or someone, that you were part of developing.

It’s the best feeling in the world. As is seeing someone grow and prosper, seeing someone achieve something they never believed they could, seeing someone be so terrified in a situation but because they believe in the development you’re providing, they push on and find themselves eventually enjoying it! All these things are the joys you have when you develop leaders.

Legacy and Lifelong Impact

Within my business, sometimes solo and sometimes collaborating with other leadership specialists, I have the privilege of working with business owners, entrepreneurs, CEOS and senior executives using diverse coaching, leadership training and development solutions in order to respond to the leadership pains and challenges that we all recognise within growing and changing organisations. Sometimes I work with leaders on a one to one basis and sometimes I am commissioned to work with a senior team. The things I see are common to me and there is always a way to resolve a difficult situation or challenge. I use the DISC psychometric profiling tool to understand the communication and leadership wiring and preferences of my clients. This helps us both understand the best way to approach and work with each other and of course their team and other stakeholders.

Developing female leaders is very important to me and I was approached in 2015 to become a Chair for the Women Presidents Organisation (WPO). This is a a global entrepreneur peer learning network, supporting female entrepreneurs owning multi million dollar businesses. Over time, I have worked with some amazing women all over the world and I have learned so, so much from being a Chair in this organisation. It was also my absolute privilege to be named as the winner of the WPO global “Adrienne Hall Award in 2017”, awarded for “Breaking down Barriers” for female entrepreneurs. In addition to this, for our work during Covid19, myself and all my other WPO Chairs across the six continents of the world were named co winners of the WPO “President’s Award” in 2021. I mean – that just takes my breath away! If you had told my 17 year old self that I would write that paragraph, I would never have believed you. But that is the power of leaders leading others and I am so thankful to those that led me. Since 2015, I have also sat on the “Women in Enterprise All Party Parliamentary Group” in the UK Parliament. In this group, as members we discuss, lobby and make recommendations to improve the landscape for female entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom. In the time I have served on this group, we have released three reports, both containing recommendations for Government to improve opportunities for women who own businesses. I am proud to say we have “moved the needle” on quite a few things and we are determined to carry on for the next generation to reap the rewards of this most important work.

My Common Denominator

Finally, coming full circle, as a military veteran, I actively support the Not for Profit Organisation “X-Forces Enterprise” as one of their Ambassadors. The organisation was set up to help veterans and their families start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs and as an Ambassador, I play a small part in this work. I really do wish that this organisation existed when I set up my business. It really is a game changer for new, veteran business owners. Everything for me is about leadership. It is my “common denominator” and in doing the work I do, I know I don’t only impact my own journey and life but also others. For me – it is the greatest privilege. I hope your leadership journey is as enriching and rewarding as mine has been and continues to be.