Emma Newell
Emma Newell is a Strategy and Culture Consultant. She helps CEO’s and business owners who feel frustrated and unfocused to finally achieve a clear strategy aligned to their people. As a leadership coach she helps committed leaders who want more success, to finally discover a leadership with meaning and purpose.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your professional journey and what inspired you to choose this career.
I was brought up in a small village in West Sussex, England and enjoyed horse riding, gymnastics, swimming and being in the countryside outside all day. At college I was always intrigued with human behaviors and ‘what makes people tick’, plus I had a keen head for business (taking after my father) so when I went to University in Brighton, England, I studied Human Resources and realised that HR was the professional way where I wanted to dedicate my career.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
I dreamt of a rewarding well paid career.
By the age of 40, I had my dream job as an HR Director, with dream pay, but I was empty and disillusioned. I felt physically and emotionally exhausted from being the strongest person all the time. I wanted a better life, but had no idea what that meant. Just after realising this, I was suddenly informed by Global HR that I had to remove my CEO from the organisation. I did this with utmost professionalism whilst Global found his replacement.
I spent the following 6 months sitting on a leadership team which had no clear strategy, with an unconfused and unmotivated workforce and communication breaking down everywhere.
I was miserable, burnt out and carrying other people’s stress and overwhelm. I felt physically and emotionally sick, and I numbed my pain through alcohol and cigarettes.
After a further 3 months of putting my work responsibility above my health, my new CEO sat me down in my office to inform me Global HR, who didn’t know my true performance, had given me ‘Achieving Expectations’ in my Annual Review (a basic job grade) and told my new CEO to deliver this message.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I was angry, appalled and confused. I felt my loyalty was unrewarded, and that the performance system was flawed.
1 week later, I was on holiday sitting by a pool with my partner and I burst into tears. Intuitively knowing it was time to leave but feeling overwhelmed with guilt and insecurity, not knowing what my next career move would be.
He said: ‘it’s only money, if you’re unhappy just leave’.
I said: ‘you can’t just leave a 20-year career!’.
But I did! The timing was bad because my new CEO was a great person who valued me and needed me, as did my fantastic HR team. I felt even more guilt, I just knew I was suffocating in that job role.
I made the bold move to start my own business doing only what I love (Strategy, Culture and Leadership development). I am now healthy, stress free, motivated and focused on my career goal and purpose.
Tell us about your goals, interests, and role models.
My father for his work ethic and my mother for her free spirit! I have no specific role models other than people who don’t follow the standard path expected in life, but instead forge their own path.
I love learning and translating concepts into simple practical solutions for my clients. One of my personal values is ‘Competence’ (the ability to solve problems and demonstrate mastery). So I learn something new every day.
My health is of paramount importance to me after neglecting it for so many years, so I work part time and I cook and eat nutritious food. I also do a daily yoga practice and I set my goals through each of the New Moon cycles (every 28 days). Hence the name of my company, Magnetic Moon Coaching Ltd.
Everyone has their own set of challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. Still, the most essential part for others to learn is how you deal with those. Would you like to share with us your challenges and your coping mechanisms?
The balance between having total freedom and flexibility (joy) but without having regular pay (fear).
I was scared at first, until I developed a ‘Contractor Mindset’. I had to have faith, and it paid off through hard work and proving to my clients I was worth them coming back time and time again for my expertise.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
I now help CEO’s and business owners create clear strategies and align them to their people, so I get to use my experience to get businesses focused on what matters, and motivate their team to deliver the strategy. They get to benefit from 20 years experience in HR, and I love that I get to simply things and see them succeed.
I am creating an App for a Leadership Development Programme and intend to do even more public speaking events to reach 1,000’s of people.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I see businesses as thriving on ‘Alpha / Yang’ energy (which can also be called ‘masculine energy’ but this is not linked to gender, more of the energetic quality this energy brings).
Alpha / Yang can be great, such as:
Progress and evolution
Action rather than accepting
Doing
Dynamic
Deconstruction
Linea
Bright
Positive
Outward energy
Heated
Changing the world around us
Accountable
Organised
Integrity
Independent
Non-Judgmental
Courageous
Intellectual
Strategic
Grounded
But remembering, is can also be destructive in excess, such as:
Preoccupied with power
Toxic patriarchal society
Persecutor
Cold and detached
Egotistical
Aggressive
Emotionally numb
Dominant
Abusive
Ruthless
I would like to see in the world much more ‘Omega / Yin’ energy (which can also be called ‘feminine energy’, but again, it’s not necessarily linked to gender) be embraced and celebrated more, such as:
Nurturing
Welcoming
Accessible
Kind
Gentle (yet firm & fierce)
Compassionate
Accepting
Forgiving
Patient
Wise
Intuitive
Vulnerable
Creative
Open minded
Tenacious
Instinctual
Considerate
Spontaneous
Adaptable
Again, ensuring there is not excess in this ‘Omega / Yin’ energy either, such as:
Victim
Co-dependant
Insecure
Manipulative
Pass
Overly emotional
Cruel
Accept reluctantly
So I hope for a future world of balance, and not just the same traditionally ways of success in business, so that everyone can ‘fit in’ and build better work places, products and server the world around them
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women’s leadership today?
Say ‘yes’ and work it out later. So many men do this, whereas I see women undersell their abilities.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Invite feedback always. Don’t let praise ‘go to your head’, or you will also let criticism go to your head too!