Knowing your cheese from your crackers

As an ex-exec, I realised my real magic powers were not in holding the title but in being the thought partner, confidant, and noise reducer for others. That was my experience when I was in-house as a senior leader.

Because I never wanted to be the big cheese.  Not because I couldn’t do it, I could. I just didn’t enjoy it.

It simply didn’t bring me any joy.

Because my joy isn’t in boardroom rumbles or quarterly reports. Or political, back-channel moves. And I’m quite bad at excel.

But we are so frequently told we should want the big gig, I thought that was my only choice for quite some time.

And that was exhausting.

Really, I’m a Mini Cheddar—small but mighty, packed with impact, and way more fun at parties. I am much better at being a mini cheddar than a major cheese.

I can complement a cheese board pretty well. But I don’t want to be jostling for position between the stilton and the brie.

Instead, I create space for leaders and leadership teams to think, be heard and explore their own vision for what they are creating.  I help them take the complex and make it simple. I help brilliant people see (and own) their own genius. And because of this, I am better as an exec whisperer than as an exec.

I am a small but mighty power cracker, not a grand formaggio.

That’s why I chose to do my work differently now.

My best work is in supporting alongside those who want to lead differently, do things differently, compassionately challenge the status quo—with creativity, ease, and kindness. Those who recognise that leadership is a choice, a behaviour and a privilege. And that privilege helps us find and unlock the magic in others to help them do their best work too.

If you’ve discovered you’re not the cheese you thought you wanted to be, I’d love to chat.