Power Skills and Purpose: Alana’s Road to Balance and Leadership

​Alana Bennett, a Human Experience Fanatic and Coach at Connected Experience, embodies the art of balancing purpose, wellbeing, and leadership. Her professional journey, which she shared at the Female Leaders in Retail event, is a deeply personal story of resilience, reflection, and intentional change.

This blog is the first in a three-part series spotlighting each guest speaker from the event, offering unique insights into their inspiring career paths and perspectives on leadership.

From the outside, Alana’s career path might seem like a bold leap- a transition from the corporate world to building her own leadership coaching business. But her story reveals a deeply personal journey shaped by pivotal moments, profound loss, and a personal commitment to living a values-driven life.

At the heart of Alana’s story is a redefinition of success. One that values presence, wellbeing, and a sense of purpose above the constant drive for career accomplishments.

Rewriting Her Story

“When my son looked at me and called me the nanny’s name, I thought this is not how the story was meant to go.” – Alana Bennett.

This moment was a catalyst for Alana. It wasn’t just about her son’s perception of her- it was a wakeup call to the life she was building for herself and her family. Was it aligned with her values? Was it sustainable?

The answer was clear: change was needed.

A couple of years later, tragedy struck with the sudden loss of a close friend at just 37 years old. This heartbreak brought an urgency to her reflections. “Losing a friend taught me to slow down and focus on what truly matters… and forced me to become grounded in what is Important in life,” she shared.

These life altering experiences didn’t just shape Alana’s decisions, they anchored her in her purpose. She left her corporate career to design a life that integrates her roles as a mother, leader, and business owner.

This shift in career path is explored in our blog,“ The Mid-Year Career Question: Should I Stay or Should I Go?” which examines the key motivators behind making a career change—a road not unlike Alana’s own pivot in direction.

Mindset Matters

Alana’s pathway didn’t just involve a change in circumstances; it requited a profound shift in mindset. She describes the importance of daily practices that fuel resilience and positivity such as affirmations, journalling, and what she calls her “mind movie”- a visualisation technique that keeps her on track with her goals.

Alana’s “mind movie” is a 90 second sequence that features visual and complimentary intentions that she watches every morning. It includes statements like, “what’s meant to be won’t miss me,” and “I am living a life that I once thought impossible.”

For Alana, mindset work is not just a tool for personal growth, but a cornerstone of effective growth, leadership, and example setting for her family.

Rebranding 'Soft Skills' as 'Power Skills'

Alana is a fierce advocate for reframing so called “soft skills” to “power skills” as they are some of the hardest to master and learn. She spoke about how people often underestimate the strength power skills hold, and the courage and emotional intelligence required to implement them in daily work, leadership, and life.

Amongst these power skills, Alana emphasised the art of feedback. She described feedback as both a challenge and an opportunity for growth. “Feedback is really hard to give, particularly to your leader. It'sprobably the hardest thing for anyone to grow confidence in doing,” she notes.

To make feedback more actionable, Alana recommends anchoring it in personal experience. She says that leaders must take responsibility for creating an environment where feedback feels natural and non-threatening, inviting you to ground your thoughts with your experiences.

This ties into one of Alana’s blogs “Your Impact on the Employee Experience” featured on her business website Connected Experience underpinning the similar notions of the unique role a leader can play in the workplace and employees’ lives.

Filling Your Buckets

Alana finds that the concept of “having it all” is unrealistic- at least not all at once. She uses the analogy of buckets, recognising that not every bucket can be full simultaneously.

“If I want to do this great thing, what are all the things that are going to be impacted as a result?” Her honest reflection allows her to prioritise her life without guilt, making aligned decisions about where to focus her energy.

Alana finds inspiration in Atomic Habits by James Clear, a book that aligns closely with her values driven philosophy. The book emphasises the power of small, consistent actions to create meaningful change over time, which feeds into Alana’s mindset practices: her “mental movie”, journalling, and affirmations.

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“It’s a brilliant reminder that every habit is a vote for the person you want to become” Alana shared, which reminds us that big dreams are built on the foundation of everyday choices.

Balance is Key

Balance is not about perfection; it is about intentionality. Alana emphasises the power of reflection, asking herself:

- Have I had the impact I intended to?

- What went well, what didn’t go well, and what will I do differently next week?

These practices help her stay grounded in her goals while making space for gratitude and balance.

“When you move from a mindset of busyness to thriving, watch what happens to your behaviour and the stories you tell yourself.”- Alana Bennett.

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Authenticity, Empathy, and Empowerment

Alana’s career journey is one of resilience, self-awareness, and purpose. By showing up authentically, cultivating empathy, and empowering others to grow, she has not only created a life that aligns with her values but also inspires others to follow her footsteps.

In Alana’s words, “Be proud, be grateful for the opportunity to do what you’ve done. The impact you’ve made is what truly matters.”

Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this overview of Alana’s inspiring story, there’s more to come!

Stay tuned for the next two pieces in this series, where we’ll dive deeper into personalised insights and practical advice from Jessica Low and Angeline Achariya from ourFemale Leaders in Retail event.

In the meantime ,visit the Sharp & Carter Retail & Consumer Goods landing page to connect with our expert consultants and explore how we can support your career or business in this space.

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