The Importance of Resilience: My Journey at Front Row

Six years ago, I joined Front Row as a trainee when the company was just 40 people. Today, I’m proud to say I’m a Managing Director, leading a talented team and a fast growing divsion within the Company which has since grown to 400 people. We have partnered with a VC, joined forces, bought new companies, launched a SaaS software, expanded our capabilities, hired > 100 people in Europe, it's truly been an incredible journey.

They say the higher you climb in an organization, the more challenges you face—and I’ve found this to be true. Yet, ironically, there were times earlier in my career when I felt more stressed and overwhelmed than I do now. Today, despite carrying more responsibility than ever, I handle the pressures of leadership with far more calm and clarity.

The turning point for me was understanding resilience.

Resilience: The Key to Thriving Under Pressure

Resilience isn’t about avoiding difficulties or breezing through challenges without feeling the impact. For me, it’s been about developing the mental strength to adapt, bounce back, and continue pushing forward—no matter how tough the situation gets.

As I grew with the company, I had to learn quickly. There were times when the stress of deadlines, high expectations, and juggling multiple tasks made me question if I could keep up. There has been times where I developed sleeping problems, neglected health and impoprtant personal relationships. But over time, I realized that the real challenge wasn’t in the workload itself but in how I approached it. Once I learned how to cultivate resilience, my perspective shifted and so did my personal wellbeing.

Now, even though the scope of my work has expanded significantly, and the stakes are higher than ever, I feel more confident, focused, and balanced than ever.

What Resilience Has Taught Me

Resilience is often seen as a trait you're born with, but my experience has shown me it’s something you can build. Here’s what I’ve learned about resilience throughout my journey:

1. It’s About Adapting, Not Just Surviving: At times, when we’ve faced rapid growth, business shifts, or tough market conditions, I’ve had to adjust quickly. Resilience allowed me to embrace those changes rather than fight them. It’s about being flexible and finding solutions when things don’t go as planned.
2. Emotional Regulation is Key: I’ve learned how crucial it is to manage emotional responses, especially in high-pressure situations. In the past, I might have been reactive or overly stressed. Now, I take a step back, assess the situation, and respond with more clarity. This has not only improved my decision-making but also helped me lead my team through uncertain times.
3. Purpose Drives Persistence: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that having a sense of purpose can be a powerful anchor. Knowing why I’m doing what I do, what the company stands for, and where we’re headed as a team has kept me grounded, even during the most challenging phases.
4. Social Support Matters: Building relationships with colleagues, mentors, and friends who offer both emotional and practical support has been invaluable. I’ve found that leaning on others and being open to feedback has not only built resilience in me but also strengthened our team's resilience as a whole.

How You Can Build Resilience

Resilience isn’t just a personal trait, it’s a skill that can be trained and strengthened. Here are some practical ways to develop resilience, based on what I’ve found works:

• Adopt a Growth Mindset: See challenges as opportunities for learning. Early in my career, mistakes felt like setbacks. Now, I view them as learning experiences, which has been essential in growing both professionally and personally.
• Practice Self-Awareness: It’s important to recognize when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed and understand what triggers those feelings. I’ve found that practices like mindfulness and self-reflection help me manage stress more effectively.
• Maintain Perspective: Keeping the bigger picture in mind has helped me handle short-term setbacks. In the grand scheme of things, every challenge is part of the journey, and resilience comes from remembering that obstacles are temporary.
• Take Care of Yourself: Physical well-being plays a huge role in how we manage stress. Exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough rest are simple but crucial practices that help build mental strength.

A Positive Outlook

If there’s one thing I want to stress, it’s that resilience isn’t something you either have or don’t have—it’s something you can develop. I wasn’t always as resilient as I am now, but I made a conscious effort to build those skills. It’s a muscle that can be trained, and the more you work at it, the stronger it becomes.

Looking back, the challenges I faced at the start of my journey helped shape the leader I am today. And while the pressures are greater now, they don’t weigh me down the way they used to. Learning resilience has made all the difference—not just in my career but in how I approach life as a whole.

I encourage anyone, whether you’re just starting out or managing larger responsibilities, to invest in building resilience. It’s one of the most important skills you can develop to thrive in both your career and personal life.