Anti-Fragile Leaders Aren’t Older, They’re More Self-Aware. My Lessons Prove It…

I was raised in a generation that normalised the linear career path.

You worked in the same job for 20 years. Maybe more. Or maybe you worked an average of 3 different jobs that built up a solid career to bump up your CV.

But at the age of 50, I would have never dreamed of calling myself a social media influencer. I’ve moved on from years of applying strict business paradigms to cutting through outdated trends and hype cycles. All by sharing my story and a no-nonsense take.

Recently, I’ve been posing my reflections to my peers in the industry. Surprisingly, they’ve mirrored my experiences in their own ways. It echoes a “never would I ever” narrative that none of us were programmed to expect but yet got to live through. Now we’re all sharing the lessons.

The conclusion? Linearity is dead.

In careers. In business. In solutions.

We were socially engineered to become specialists in a particular industry, only to live through experiences that applied those skill sets in entirely different ways.

Some call it adaptation. But I think we’re discrediting ourselves…

Because these bold career moves filled with shifts and changes show open-mindedness, flexibility and passion to learn.?

Key traits of the anti-fragile leader.

I spoke about the topic before. But never about the psychology behind it. Because behind any style of leadership, there is an individual who has undergone a myriad of reflections to achieve the readiness to become resilient in their careers.?

But how do you get there?

Let me share a few lessons from my own journey. Because I wish someone had taught me these lessons earlier.

My Journey of Evolving Resilience

My career spans 30 years.

But every decade has seen a different iteration emerge that set the scene for my choices as a businesswoman.?

20s - The Mask of Arrogance

My 20s were dominated by passion, limitless courage and a strong need to prove myself. But my lack of knowledge contributed to a lot of insecurities. So I masked it with arrogance. An unapologetic and daring Maria emerged and took on many responsibilities that I was less than ready for.?

But that drive helped me fast-track my career and compensate for the knowledge gaps I had after deciding to drop out of college in my final semester (for personal family reasons).

30s - The Aggressive Leader

My 30s were aggressive. I had my first taste of leadership, and I modelled it on the direct styles of my mentors. It produced a leadership of unquestionable authority that dominated teams without inviting valuable feedback and input. It was also an aggressive approach to tackling problems. I was a 'find a solution at all costs' type of leader.

I also made a lot of mistakes in my relationships. Failure quickly became my teacher.? It taught me that drive and resourcefulness can be impactful, but your approach will always have costs and consequences. I finally had a mirror held up for me to see the type of person my career was turning me into.

40s - The Pensive Professional

My 40s became a period of reflection. It was a time of listening, learning and then dialling down my level of intensity. And over time, it made me look at my trajectory with less regret.?

One of my biggest takeaways is realising that societal programming has turned me into a copy that the corporate world wanted to see. To be impactful you had to fit in first. However, I was genuinely surprised when I started seeing that being my authentic self generated more results than a curated image of professionalism.

50s - The Inward-Looking Influencer

I’m now in my 50s - an era of sheer selfishness. The process of deprogramming and reconnecting with authenticity helped me realise that no one becomes disruptive by being a conformist. I need to do things that serve me, harness my potential and help my target my zone of impact.

These different iterations don’t fit a linear trajectory. They fit a multidimensional career roadmap.

I spent three decades fighting the impulse to allow change to take me on a natural path.?

We are raised on such specific career expectations that we don’t allow ourselves to pivot when necessary. This is exactly where we should start detangling the knots in the hopes of building an inner resilience that can thrive in an era of anti-fragile business.

Steps to a Personal Resilience

I’m writing this newsletter to save others time.

Right now we don’t have the luxury of spending 3 decades to discover our most resilient selves to make an impact in business.?

So if you need a game plan, I have one for you.

STEP 1 - SET BOUNDARIES

Business etiquette is a series of values that entail respect, dignity and logic. It isn’t a mask. No boss or company should ask you to wear one for years at the cost of your individuality. Because you won’t be developing yourself. You’ll be developing an image that others have fabricated.?

Set boundaries. Stick to them.

STEP 2 - MAKE CHOICES THAT SERVE YOU

It is admirable to advance your career by becoming the solution to your boss’s problems. But don’t forget to advance your career based on where you can make the most difference. Find the opportunities that fit you and grow your skill sets.

Make choices that serve you. Be strategic.

STEP 3 - BUILD DIVERSITY IN YOUR NETWORK

To ruthlessly deprogramme and keep an open mind, you need people to challenge your perspective. You can collect your allies and cheerleaders. Likemindedness bolsters our confidence. But make sure your core network is defined by at least 5+ vastly different thinkers to expand the ways you approach solutions.

Build diversity in your network. Chase different perspectives.

STEP 4 - MAKE TIME TO INVITE CHAOS

As much as systems provide order, they also create comfort zones. You’ll work for many companies that will likely create them for you. Be bold to develop and apply new skills, volunteer for new projects or suggest original approaches to old problems. Create time and space to experiment, make mistakes and learn.?

Make time to invite chaos. Get out of your comfort zone.

STEP 5 - REVISIT YOUR IDEA OF AN IDEAL SELF

The endpoint of our careers is defined by who we’d ideally like to become. It’s great to have something to aspire to. But instead of just spending each year reflecting on how to get closer to your goals, spend time determining if those goals are still aligned with how you’ve evolved.??

Revisit your idea of an ideal self. Self-reflect.

An Invitation to Share Your Story

Many young people are stepping into the industry still facing the challenges we did decades ago. It doesn't make sense. Should it say: It's time we help them?

That’s why I invite you to share your story. I want to amplify it. It’s how we’ll create teachable moments for a new generation of leaders that can be far more prepared to roll with the punches than we ever were. Let’s make our lessons and experience visible…

Anti-fragile leadership needs its heroes. But it requires those individuals who have not delayed the inner work and have built personal resilience throughout their career.

Because in an era where the pace of change is unrelenting, the role of supply chain leaders is undergoing a profound transformation. We need those who are prepared.

On May 1st at 11 am (UK time), I’m running a free digital event with Maciej Kaniowski (COO of Avon), Prof Abhi Ghadge (from Cranfield University) and Vikram Singla FCILT (from Oracle) on the future of supply chain leadership and its evolving dynamics over the next five years.

We’ll be covering:

• Leadership strategies for effective Transformation: Actionable insights for transformative change to unlock business value.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Unpacking the strategies for breaking silos and fostering a culture of collaboration across departments.
• Supply Chain Visibility and Transparency: Exploring the nexus between technology and the attainment of unprecedented levels of visibility and transparency in the supply chain.
• Technological Empowerment: How cutting-edge technology is the linchpin for future-proofing supply chains and enhancing operational efficiency.

Head over to https://www.dhirubhai.net/events/digitalevent-theevolvingroleoft7184520855815639040/ to find out more.

Resilient leaders also understand and embrace transformation. But to build a business synchronised with modern demands, you need to understand the rules.

That’s why I recently released my eBook, “The 10 Definitive Laws of Transformation”.

Download your copy now for free from my website.