Lead a team that people never want to leave
Retaining good people and inspiring, challenging and supporting them will be crucial to retail success in 2024.
As an award-winning retail leadership trainer and coach, I work with Australia’s leading Retail Area Leaders, Operations Leaders and Executives to create environments that create high performing retail stores.
Why Leadership matters now more than ever
Leading people in a demanding Retail environment requires us to understand and inspire the humanity of our teams more than ever. In 2024, retail has experienced significant challenges.
With a struggling economy, leaders have had to adapt and work around the clock to manage so many challenges and competing priorities.
This isn’t sustainable.
CEO’s, General Managers, and Chief HR Officers in the retail industry typically cite the following challenges:
No longer can retailers rely on great locations to deliver sales.
What my clients say
Being a new Area Manager, I used The Ultimate Area Leader program to help me build my ‘style’ and find what I was comfortable with and what worked for me. The Ultimate Area Leader program was the perfect balance of being hands-on, giving direct feedback on situations, and trying new things.
I can now focus on the crucial day-to-day requirements and spend less time on things that aren’t relevant. My store visits are more productive and impactful. I head into stores with a plan, execute and feel much more worthwhile and relevant as an Area Manager.
Toby Plant | Area Manager
The Athletes Foot Vic/Tas
I had the pleasure of working with Alison as part of a 6 month ‘Retail General Managers and State Managers’ leadership program. Her passion for leadership and development is evident in all she does and her commitment to helping others become the best version of themselves is inspiring.
Not only has Alison provided the tools, strategies and techniques to develop our leadership skills and grown our business, she has shown tremendous compassion and understanding on a personal level which, in turn, paved the way to a wonderful culture shift of ‘people first, employees second.’
Our time with Alison was both beneficial and motivating and I look forward to working with her in the future.
Maria Silverii
Blue Illusion
The program has delivered powerful and immediate day to day changes and given both myself and my team a better understanding of the role and best practice for how it’s performed.
I understand the skillset and behavioural attributes to succeed in the role and how I can better support those making the transition from Store Manager to Area Managers.
Alison’s motivation to see leaders thrive in their field is obvious, genuine, and inspiring. My team and I will take some truly powerful learnings with us forever.
Laura Barrett | State Manager
The Athletes Foot
Having recently restructured our entire retail business we engaged Alison’s talents to deliver a comprehensive leadership development course designed not only to fast track through the change but to future proof the success of our business and its people. Covering areas such as creating positive working environments by better understanding our people and their needs to achieve maximised success, effective coaching models to create ownership of personal and business development as well as strategic planning methods to see our businesses operating proactively and ahead of the game.
I know I personally took a lot from Alison’s teachings and could not wait to get back into my own business to pass on the learnings to my leadership team. Thank you Alison, your passion and knowledge shared are greatly appreciated!
Alison is a remarkable leadership trainer and facilitator, from everyone in my team I wish to thank Alison for being more than a teacher to us all.
Alison was great in planting the seed and allowing the group to transition into a collaborative discussion pertaining to our business.
A great environment to contribute and explore ideas where trust and solidarity was embraced.
Alison’s knowledge and experience radiated through her training. The entire group walked away from her sessions feeling confident towards our roles. Alison provided a professional nurturing open room for everyone to be actively involved. The most informative training session I have attended in my 17 years of Retail, I walked away looking at my business from another angle.
Communication, Personality type and Control and influence were major learnings for me that I have implemented straight into my business, which has had immediate effect.
Alison has been my mentor for the last 18 months since staring my first leadership role. She has taught me how to think more strategically when forward planning to work on my business. We have worked on projects together such as implementing new and improved team structures, which resulted in great sales results and enhanced productivity. Being new to leadership, having Alison as a mentor really gave me the confidence to lead, through her helpful tools and techniques. She truly has helped me to be the leader I am today.
I had the pleasure of working with Alison as part of a 6 month ‘Retail General Managers and State Managers’ leadership program. Her passion for leadership and development is evident in all she does and her commitment to helping others become the best version of themselves is inspiring.Not only has Alison provided the tools, strategies and techniques to develop our leadership skills and grown our business, she has shown tremendous compassion and understanding on a personal level which, in turn, paved the way to a wonderful culture shift of ‘people first, employees second’.
Our time with Alison was both beneficial and motivating and I look forward to working with her in the future.
I have had the pleasure of working with Alison. She is an inspiring person whose passion for leadership is evident in her unique ability to get the most out of you. Having Alison in my corner gave me the confidence to find the answers, tackle the challenges, establish a great team to get results and be a better leader.
Alison has been instrumental in developing my leadership skills and enhancing my business results. In 12 months I am a more confident and successful leader. My business has seen a 40% increase in profit and is now one of the top ten Flight Centre businesses in Victoria. She’s also been the catalyst to make some positive changes in my personal life. I’d highly recommend Alison to anyone wanting to further develop themselves and achieve better results.
A refreshing approach to enabling open and honest conversations. Alison is very effective in building team culture and relationships.
Ali has given me the confidence and the belief in myself that I have earned my place at the leadership table. She has been super patient with guiding me along this journey. I am super thankful that I have been lucky enough to use her time and energy as I know it has made me be a better leader and human-being.
You don’t build a business.
You build people and people build the business.
Zig Ziglar
