Alison o'leary - FOUNDER & DIRECTOR OF TALENT
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
- DESIGN & ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORCUPINE PROGRAMME
- DELIVERY OF THE PORCUPINE PROGRAMME WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND SCHOOLS
- 1:1 COACHING & MENTORING
- CV DEVELOPMENT
- CAREER READINESS ACTION PLANNING
- DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF PORCUPINE COACH CERTIFICATION PROGRAMME
ALISON'S TOP 5 CHARACTER STRENGTHS
STRENGTH 1:
CONNECTEDNESS
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STRENGTH 1:
CONNECTEDNESS
Alison has a natural sense of connectedness, which means that she takes responsibility for others, believing that harm caused to others is also harm caused to ourselves when considered against the bigger picture of a shared society. This belief system forms the foundation of Alison's core values. She is naturally considerate, caring and accepting of others and will seek to understand a person’s perspective or behaviour rather than simply judging them as wrong or lacking.
STRENGTH 2:
RELATIONSHIPS
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STRENGTH 2:
RELATIONSHIPS
Alison derives a great deal of pleasure and strength from meaningful 1:1 relationships. She deliberately seeks to understand peoples’ feelings, goals, fears and dreams and is naturally intrigued and excited by 'what makes people tick'. Alison loves nothing better than to use this intelligence to help others understand themselves better and feel good about what they have to offer
STRENGTH 3:
ACTION-TAKING
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STRENGTH 3:
ACTION-TAKING
"When can we start?” is a recurring question in Alison's life. For her, only action is real. It brings clarity, makes things happen and leads to high performance. Alison is decisive, assertive and keen to 'get going'. In her mind, action and thinking are not opposites - they are the best combination for learning. She makes a decision, takes action, looks at the result, and learns, putting herself out there and always keeping her thinking fresh and informed. Alison is happy to be judged not by what she says, not by what she thinks, but by what she achieves. This does not frighten her. It pleases and motivates her!
STRENGTH 4:
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
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STRENGTH 4:
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
Alison always spots the potential in others. She works on the basis that no individual is fully formed and everybody is a 'work in progress', alive with possibilities. A natural people-person, Alison loves nothing more than to interact with others, helping them to experience success by finding ways to challenge them, stretch them and watch them grow. Any signs of growth—a new behaviour learned or modified, a slight improvement in a skill, a glimpse of excellence or a “flow” where previously there was only halting steps, is the only validation Alison needs to see clear signs of potential being realised. Alison gains her strength and energy from encouraging others. Guiding and motivating others to be the best version of themselves is a genuine calling that fills her with a sense of purpose.
STRENGTH 5:
POSITIVITY
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STRENGTH 5:
POSITIVITY
Alison is generous with praise, quick to smile and always on the lookout for the positive in any given situation. She is light-hearted, energetic, optimistic and super fun. Alison's enthusiasm is contagious and as such, people love to be around her, feeding off the drama and excitement she injects into every project. Alison celebrates every achievement, however small, and is superb at finding the best in everyone, sharing her conviction that it is good to be alive, that work can be fun, and that no matter what the setbacks, you must never lose your sense of humour.
ALISON'S TOP 5 CHARACTER VALUES
VALUE 1:
FORGIVENESS AND MERCY
Alison forgives those who have done her wrong. She always gives people a second chance. Her guiding principle is mercy and never revenge.
VALUE 2:
CAPACITY TO LOVE AND BE LOVED
Alison values close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. The people to whom Alison feels most close to are the same people who feel most close to her.
VALUE 3:
PERSPECTIVE (WISDOM)
Although Alison may not think of herself as wise, her friends hold this view of her. They value Alison's perspective on matters and turn to her for advice. Alison has a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to herself.
VALUE 4:
ZEST, ENTHUSIASM AND ENERGY
Regardless of what Alison does, she approaches it with excitement and energy. Alison never does anything halfway or half-heartedly. For her, life is an adventure.
VALUE 5:
HOPE, OPTIMISM AND FUTURE MINDEDNESS
Alison expects the best in the future, and she works hard to achieve it. She believes that the future is something that she can control and look forward to.
ALISON'S SKILLS
CREDENTIALS
Alison is a leading life coach, certified and accredited by Martha Beck, with thousands of hours experience coaching clients around career development and career change.
While perhaps best known for her ground-breaking Work Wonderland online career coaching course and web application, which has helped so many transform and re-balance their lives, Alison continues to provide personal coaching and development for individuals, peer groups and teams through her coaching practice Live True.
Before making a career change herself, Alison spent a 20-year corporate career in London and Paris, holding a number of senior management positions within the Communications Industry, most recently as Deputy Managing Director, Europe for a global digital marcoms agency. She has consulted some of the world’s leading brands, including IBM, Sony, Huawei, Skype, Philips and Gartner.
Despite outward success, Alison began to feel discontented with her chosen career and craved something more meaningful. Her aim to transition to a better balanced life and a more fulfilling career led her to coaching, and taught her the techniques she now uses to help others who seek their own meaningful, purposeful and fulfilling change.
ALISON'S PASSIONS
Outside work Alison is an 80's disco queen with a penchant for changing hair styles/colours and a love of simple pleasures. She is married to a wonderful man who keeps her sane, honest and laughing.
After undergoing major changes in their lives, moving from the centre of London to a remote mountainside in Wales, and transitioning into careers they love, Alison and her husband are now tinkering with the idea of adding a black whippet to their family, whose name is already Marmite.
WHY ALISON IS PERFECT FOR US...
For all of the above reasons, The Porcupine Collective believes that Alison has the inherent strengths and skills required to be a perfect match for our role of 'Director of Talent'. Her natural talents make her an incredible advocate and coach for young people - a role she fulfils with ease, gratitude and delight.