S4:EP:10 Redefining Leadership: A Dialogue with Lara Small

Redefining Leadership: A Dialogue with Lara Small

In the realm of military and motorbike racing, determination, resilience, and leadership are critical. But what's often overlooked is the transformation that happens when someone looks within and channels their experiences, both successes and failures, into fuel for future conquests. Lara Small, an engineering manager at Rolls-Royce and an officer in the army reserves, has lived this journey. Beyond the career achievements, her foray into motorbike racing paints a picture of someone who's not just breaking barriers but also reshaping the narrative around what it means to lead and succeed. Here's an insight into the powerful ethos that Lara brings to all aspects of her life and the broader implications it holds.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience is a learned trait that often emerges from the reflection and recalibration following failures.

• Leading effectively in male-dominated environments such as the military and motorbike racing requires one to serve before aspiring to lead.

• Transitioning personal passions into professional pursuits can lead to influential leadership roles and inspire widespread change.

The Resilience Derived from Failure

Lara Small's tale is one of grit and introspection, which reveals that the road to success is paved with the stones of failure. Initially, after failing to secure her commission from Sandhurst, Lara felt a deep sense of letdown. However, upon reassessing her approach, she identified a lack of team synergy and recognized herself as the problem.

"It was a huge blow because it wasn't just like four weeks of effort. It was [...] like I'd been kicked from four years of effort," Lara shared about her initial Sandhurst experience. This painful realization sparked a journey of self-discovery. Lara’s story illustrates the importance of self-reflection and the construction of inner fortitude to overcome obstacles.

Lara's resilience narrative strikes at the heart of any professional journey. It reminds us that failure, when harnessed correctly, can be an incubator for leadership growth. Through rejection and introspection, we learn to contribute meaningfully to collective endeavors, growing our leadership capacity.

Serving to Lead: A Military Philosophy with Universal Applications

A key theme underlying Lara's discourse is the adage "serving to lead." This serves as a cornerstone for leadership both within and outside military confines. Lara's journey mirrors the evolution from individual accomplishment to collective success.

"I guess you could argue that, yeah, it was a fit, because if it isn't, I wouldn't have stayed... you learn how to be a leader and officer in the army [at university]," Lara explains about her natural gravitation towards structured environments where leadership is cultivated.

Applicable to all sectors, the principle of serving to lead emphasizes the significance of team cohesion and support. Lara’s experiences in the military and engineering management at Rolls-Royce exemplify the power of service-based leadership, demonstrating that those who prioritize the well-being and contributions of their team are the ones who eventually lead effectively.

Paving the Way in a Male-Dominated Arena

Lara's professional and personal exploits unfold against the backdrop of male-dominated fields. Her approach to thriving in such environments offers a valuable perspective on integrating one's authentic self into the professional realm.

"The sooner you bring your personality to work and who you really are, the less you'll spend pretending you're something you're not," Lara advises, encouraging others to stay true to themselves despite pressures to conform to dominant norms.

By doing so, Lara presents an alternative narrative that challenges prevalent stereotypes and celebrates the value of diversity in thought and personality. In highlighting the importance of authenticity, she inspires a generation of women to embrace their unique contributions in any field they choose to pioneer.

In tracing Lara Small's journey, we gain a profound understanding of the sentiments fueling her successes. Beyond the individual accolades lies a testimony to the power of self-reflection, servitude in leadership, and authenticity in male-dominated spaces. Lara's commitment to these ideals not only carves out a space for her strides in engineering and motorbike racing; it also lays a blueprint for others aspiring to defy norms and drive change in their respective fields. Lara’s dialogue inseparably links personal transformation with professional expertise, revealing the holistic nature of true leadership. As her narrative continues to inspire, we're reminded that leading with integrity, passion, and an unwavering sense of self is the ultimate race worth winning.

Listen to the full podcast now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/she-who-dares-wins/id1457720018