By Ana Lucia Jardim
Leaders Need to
Be Artists.
If you're here, then you're a changemaker. And that means you care about not only the change you create right now, but also the ripple effect of change you create in a month, a year, or a generation from now - and that doesn't happen by accident.
I’ve worked in both business and dance. To me, change goes beyond what you can measure. True leaders don’t see change intellectually; they feel it. It’s more than metrics, analysis, and strategy. It lives in people. In our bodies. And making that kind of change requires developing your mind-body connection.
Are you ready to dance through change?
Bring
Change
to Life.
Leading change is hard. When you care about something so much, it hurts when things don’t go as planned. So, when things get stuck, you push harder; when the message gets lost, you speak louder; and when progress is slow, you try speeding things up.
But harder, louder, and faster are not sustainable. They’re tiring and frustrating - for you, and the people you’re trying to lead. You need something else.
Leading change that lasts is about finding a rhythm, choreographing a community of people, building your stage presence to inspire action, and not looking so closely at the steps that you forget how to dance.
Transformation isn’t just something you drive.
It's something you bring to life.
Business Skills Are Not Enough.
Hi, I’m Ana Lucia. I’m an economist by training and a former corporate leader with 20 years’ experience driving large scale change in banking and biotech. But nothing has taught me more about leading change than being a flamenco dancer.
A live flamenco performance is made up of a guitarist, a singer, and a dancer. There are no rehearsals. We coordinate action in real time. We take turns leading the team. We recover quickly from setbacks. And the audience leaves transformed.
You, too, can become a transformational leader by adopting the mindset and practices of an artist.
Watch me talking about it in the video alongside:
THIS IS WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER
The Pivot Power Hour
“I need help NOW to navigate this change"
A one-hour private session to help you make progress. Get fresh ideas, feedback and resources, and leave with a new direction. Typical topics include leading a strategic initiative, changing careers, making a critical decision, resolving conflict, etc.
Ideal for: team leaders, entrepreneurs, change consultants / coaches
Valued at: $500
Keynote Live Performances
“I need a speaker to wow the audience at my event.”
A one-of-a-kind immersive experience that inspires leaders to liberate the artist within. Learn the secrets of flamenco artists to speed up change without overwhelm, recover from setbacks, and navigate uncertainty, and how to apply these strategies in the business world.
Ideal for: Conference / corporate events organizers
Valued at: $25,000
Leadership Retreats
“I want to learn the skills and mindset of an artistic leader"
A multi-day experience in the Douro river valley in Portugal (or in the venue of your choosing), away from the demands and distractions of daily life, so that you can think deeply, reconnect with yourself, and access new breakthroughs with the support of peers, artists and experts.
Ideal for: Leadership teams, entrepreneurs, senior executives
Valued upon request
And this is how we'll get there
Leading change is a lot like dancing: It combines rhythm, technique, choreography, presence, improvisation, and partnership to inspire others to step into the unknown with you.
RHYTHM
The rate of change matters. Rhythm is like a relationship’s compass: It involves trust, connection, synchronicity, and being in step with one another in a form of common language. Like any dance, you need to combine ‘quick’ with ‘slow’, and you need to time it well.
TECHNIQUE
Leading lasting change requires mastery, and demands integrity. Technique is about balancing art with disciplined rigor. You have to put in the practice. It takes work, but the rewards compound in impact.
CHOREOGRAPHY
Where do you create tension? How are you crafting a sense of belonging? This is the scaffolding for your change. Design with intention, and then dance with the people you want to impact. Expand your vocabulary of movement, see the world in new ways, and overcome beliefs that no longer serve you.
PRESENCE
We've all experienced change initiatives that feel lifeless. Impactful change is rooted in presence, authenticity and energy. It exudes a sense of power. This is where you become a role model, and generate mindset shifts in the people you engage. Lead in a way that energizes, moves, and sustains meaning throughout the journey.
IMPROVISATION
Intuition enables improvisation. It’s when you surrender to your body’s innate wisdom about right action at the right moment. You let go of the plan, you switch from leading to following, you sense, and you respond. Your body is an extension of your mind. It is full of data. Science demonstrates that. Listen to your body, learn to decode intuitive guidance, and make better decisions, unlock creativity, and be more agile.
DUENDE
This is the flamenco experience of rapture, of flow; where dancers lose their sense of self, and become one with the rhythm, the music, the audience. It’s a one-ness. Everything feels right, effortless, natural. It’s not something you can articulate, or measure, or strive for; it’s something you sense, you feel, and you know in your body. You are a vessel for the change that needs to happen, even if you don't understand it right away. Let the duende carry you where you need to go.
What other changemakers say
Since starting my work in 2000, I have helped my clients discover effective approaches in dealing with the challenges in their leadership and their lives. Read on to learn what clients have to say about their experience with my coaching approach, and contact me today to schedule your own session.
Let's dance.
This is the first step towards leading real change that lasts.
Send me your details using this form, and I'll get back to you about finding a time to chat. I'm looking forward to meeting you!