A four-day virtual event for leaders at all levels in organisations
Navigating a life storm doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the career you’ve worked so hard to build.
Learn the skills to keep showing up as an effective leader at work, even while you figure out how to journey through your life storm.
Watch the video below to learn how this FREE event will help you keep going and lead powerfully at work when life throws you a major curve ball.
Leading is always a challenge – whether you manage a team or division, or lead in other ways. Normally it’s a challenge we relish. But life storms make it much harder to lead well.
Life storms come in many forms. Things like grief and loss, illness, divorce, parenting challenges, tough work situations, abusive relationships, estrangement. And so on…
Life storms destabilise us. But, as leaders, we have to find a way to keep going. You need an intentional, strategic & evidence-based approach to keep showing up as a leader.
This free online event will show you how! You’ll hear from 30 experts providing practical tools and strategies, and leaders sharing their lived experience of leading through life storms.
My guarantee? There will be no trite answers here. This event will go deeper, with creativity, honesty and hope.
Sound good?
Leadership demands that you bring your A-game consistently to inspire and support others to deliver great outcomes.
But when a life storm comes along out of nowhere, it’s shocking and makes showing up as a leader so much harder.
Life storms come in all shapes and sizes. Some storms are short and sharp like a lightning strike, while others rumble on for much longer.
Think grief and loss. Illness. Divorce. Parenting challenges. Tough work situations. Abusive relationships. Estrangement. The list goes on…
If you’re currently trying to show up as a leader while navigating a life storm, you may be asking yourself…
How do I continue to lead, inspire and nurture other people when looking after myself feels like a messy full-time job?
How do I keep delivering fast-paced results when the storm has left me feeling lost, disorientated and disconnected?
And how do I navigate those tricky work situations which now seem much more difficult to handle?
We talk a lot more about mental health & wellbeing at work these days, which is a fantastic step forward.
But the truth is, when you’re faced with a life storm, you need more than some comforting words and a few sporadic wellbeing techniques to help you continue to show up as the awesome leader you are.
You need a more intentional, strategic and evidence-based approach, and this is exactly what you’ll find at the Leading through Life Storms virtual summit.
Hello, I’m Alexandra Walker! I founded Damsel Not In Distress® in 2023, to empower people to thrive after big life challenges, that is to Sing After The StormTM.
After graduating top of my university class and achieving a maths doctorate, I became a senior civil servant and charity leader despite enduring a range of life storms.
But the toll on my health was high. After pushing through for many years, I found better ways to honour my needs. I’m passionate about supporting and encouraging you to find the treasures at the other side of your life storm!
So, grab your ticket & join me for a one-of-a-kind event that will help you show up effectively at work while navigating challenging personal circumstances.
I can’t wait to see you there!
Check out the incredible line-up of leaders and experts you’ll learn from at Leading through Life Storms!
There is so much value packed into these presentations – with speakers generously sharing their expertise and honestly recounting their lived experiences of life storms and leadership.
Dame Clare Moriarty
CEO at Citizens Advice & former Permanent Secretary in UK civil service
2019 - a year like no other
Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE
CEO at Ploughshare Innovations and Chair of Refuge
From dying to thriving through an onslaught of tsunamis
Richard Calvert & Linda Mason
Higher Futures Ltd
How to be a supportive leader who still gets things done
Tricia Donnelly
CEO at The Mungo Foundation
What resilience has really looked like in my storm
Clare Francis-Slater
Director, Diversity Days Everyday
The power and necessity of a pause and reset
Paul Hargreaves
CEO at Cotswold Fayre & Flourish
Why adversity helps develop great leaders
Niran Mothada
Senior leadership trainer
Leading through and learning from my grief journey
Fayana Richards
Financial wellness coach
Rooted in the reframe: Redefining my values and self-worth through discomfort and disappointment
Dame Clare Moriarty
CEO at Citizens Advice & former Permanent Secretary in UK civil service
2019 - a year like no other
Hetti Barkworth-Nanton CBE
CEO at Ploughshare Innovations and Chair of Refuge
From dying to thriving through an onslaught of tsunamis
Richard Calvert & Linda Mason
Higher Futures Ltd
Navigating life storms from different perspectives
Tricia Donnelly
CEO at The Mungo Foundation
The wisdom of trauma and the wonder of resilience
Clare Francis-Slater
Director, Diversity Days Everyday
The power and necessity of a pause and reset
Paul Hargreaves
CEO at Cotswold Fayre & Flourish
Why adversity helps develop good leaders
Niran Mothada
Senior leadership trainer
Leading through and learning from my grief journey
Fayana Richards
Financial wellness coach
Pivoting during the pandemic: redefining my purpose & self-worth
Leon Clark
Organisational consultant and leadership coach
Your emotions as data to navigate your storm & the workplace
Maggie Rose Cunningham
True Colours Coaching
Rekindling your magic: 5 pathways for tough times
Amanda Devaure-Croft
The Mindful Style Coach
Style as shelter: Mindful dressing to weather life's storms
Jen Le Marinel
Coach, trainer, facilitator & wild guide
Live wild: harnessing our wild wisdom to navigate life storms
Mark R. McLaughlin, MD
Neurosurgeon, coach & author
Dismantling fear in the storm so we can lead and serve others
Sarae Pratt
Coach & trainer
Going from empty to full
Philippa Robinson
The Bold HSP
Taming your negative thoughts in the storm
Susan Sutherland
Executive life coach
From gaslight to inner light in a life storm
Leon Clark
Organisational consultant and leadership coach
Your emotions as data to navigate your storm & the workplace
Maggie Rose Cunningham
True Colours Coaching
Rekindling your magic: 5 pathways for tough times
Amanda Devaure-Croft
The Mindful Style Coach
Style as shelter: Mindful dressing to weather life's storms
Jen Le Marinel
Coach, trainer, facilitator & wild guide
Live wild: harnessing our wild wisdom to navigate life storms
Mark R. McLaughlin, MD
Neurosurgeon, coach & author
Executive functioning in the storm
Sarae Pratt
Coach & trainer
Going from empty to full
Philippa Robinson
The Bold HSP
Taming your negative thoughts in the storm
Susan Sutherland
Executive life coach
Gaslighting - title TBC
Mark Foster
Former Group Chief Executive, Accenture & Chairman, IBM Consulting
Adaptive consistency: how to lead & support others through life storms
Graham Allcott
Author & founder, Think Productive
The quiet power of kindness at work
Anne Archer
Thinking partner & coach
Anchored leadership: Connecting authentically in times of overwhelm
Dr Lizzy Bernthal
Release Your Potential Ltd
Rise with resilience to lead through life's storms
Wendy McCristal
The Mental Wealth Company Ltd
Weathering life's storms: wellbeing habits for busy professionals
Megan Stachini
Founder, Intrinsic
The secret to overcoming burnout in a storm
Alexandra Walker
Damsel Not In Distress Ltd
Strong storm reactions & emotions: Getting the most from this summit
Mark Foster
Former Group Chief Executive, Accenture & Chairman, IBM Consulting
Adaptive consistency: how to lead & support others through life storms
Graham Allcott
Author & founder, Think Productive
The quiet power of kindness at work
Anne Archer
Thinking partner & coach
Anchored leadership: Connecting authentically in times of overwhelm
Dr Lizzy Bernthal
Release Your Potential Ltd
Rise with resilience to lead through life's storms
Wendy McCristal
The Mental Wealth Company Ltd
Weathering life's storms: wellbeing habits for busy professional women
Megan Stachini
Founder, Intrinsic
The secret to overcoming burnout in a storm
Alexandra Walker
Damsel Not In Distress Ltd
Strong storm reactions & emotions: Getting the most from this summit
Dr Ritz Birah
Consultant counselling psychologist
Rewiring our brain & reconnecting with ourselves after burnout
Lauren Chiren
Founder, Women of a Certain Stage
Successfully navigating menopause at work
Liza Collins
Executive leadership coach
Reclaiming your power and calm when facing bullying at work
Andy Elwood
Specialist in psychological safety & mental health first aid
Stranded in a blizzard: three lessons to navigate life's toughest moments
Laura Howard
The Contented Workplace Company
A woman's guide to leading through the storm
Helen Jeffries
Senior civil servant, UK Department for Health & Social Care
Building autism acceptance in senior leadership
Dr Ritz Birah
Consultant counselling psychologist
Burnout - title TBC
Lauren Chiren
Founder, Women of a Certain Stage
Supporting colleagues to successfully navigate menopause
Liza Collins
Executive leadership coach
Reclaiming your power and calm when facing bullying at work
Andy Elwood
Specialist in psychological safety & mental health first aid
Stranded in a blizzard: three lessons to navigate life's toughest moments
Laura Howard
The Contented Workplace Company
A woman's guide to leading through the storm
Helen Jeffries
Senior civil servant, UK Department for Health & Social Care
Building autism acceptance in senior leadership
There will be no banality. No pretending that this is simple. Worthwhile endeavours rarely are…
You can expect:
Gritty honesty
Fresh, creative ideas
Hopeful perspectives
Targeted techniques
During the Leading Through Life Storms summit, you'll learn how to:
Fill your own cup again within your busy schedule
Even with all the pressures you face, you'll find time to look after yourself. This will enable you to tackle work and life demands with renewed focus, and be meaningfully present with your team and colleagues.
Rebuild your professional calm and confidence
Recapturing the sense of calm and confidence which the storm took from you will empower you to inspire others and take clear, effective decisions even in challenging times.
Handle complex situations with greater ease
Challenging and sensitive work situations can feel harder to deal when you're in a life storm. You'll discover how to approach them with greater poise, even in the face of the turmoil you're facing in your personal life.
Start taking profound steps out of your storm
You'll begin to proactively navigate your way through your life storm, so that you don’t simply survive it but rather emerge stronger to find the rewards which await you at the other side.
When and where
Leading through Life Storms will run from 12th to 15th May 2025, with a variety of presentations to choose from each day. Your free ticket includes 24-hour access to each presentation during the summit. This event is entirely virtual, so you’ll be able to attend from anywhere in the world with internet access.
Expert sessions
Watch presentations from our line-up of 30 speakers with insights on how life storms impact us as leaders, how we can intentionally build our Leader’s Storm Toolkit, how to cultivate skills and a supportive workplace culture, and specialist topics from neurodiversity to menopause.
Private summit community
You’ll be invited to join a private LinkedIn group during the summit, where we can come together and share questions and insights.
Upgrade for a VIP experience!
After registering, you’ll have the chance to upgrade to the All Access Pass which includes ongoing access to the presentations after the summit wraps up, premium bonuses from our speakers, and more! You’ll get all the details (and a special offer) after grabbing your free ticket!
If you’re a leader who is dealing with a difficult life event or circumstance right now, then this event is for you.
And remember, while some leaders have formal management and leadership responsibilities, there are leaders at all levels of organisations. If you draw others together to achieve something worthwhile, then you are a leader!
If you’re questioning whether your experiences are big enough to be a “life storm”, I would encourage you to come. For many years, I minimised the severity of what was happening to me, telling myself to just get on with it and keep soldiering on. It took years for my eyes to be opened to the impacts of everything that had happened to me, so that I could start to take effective action.
Additionally, if you’re a leader, coach or professional who is interested in learning how to help your team, colleagues and clients navigate their life storms, we’d love for you to join us.
The main portion of the summit runs from Monday 12th – Thursday 15th May 2025, with batches of sessions available to view with your free ticket during each 24 hour period. You’ll also be able to join our private LinkedIn community as soon as you register, so you can get stuck in straight away!
To give you the best possible experience and avoid tech glitches, presentations are pre-recorded and will be released at a scheduled time during the summit. These will each be available for 24 hours with your free ticket.
However, many of the speakers will be hanging out in our private LinkedIn group with dedicated threads where you can connect with them and ask your questions!
You’ll also have the opportunity to upgrade to the All Access Pass for extended access to the event materials and other goodies.
Your free ticket includes 24 hour access to each of the presentations, which will be released in batches over the four days of the summit.
If you need more time, you can always upgrade your ticket to the All Access Pass after registering, which will give you extended access to the presentations along with premium bonuses from our speakers and more!
No. When you register, you’ll be added to the Damsel Not In Distress email list so we can send you updates for the event and links to each day’s presentations. After the event is over, you’ll continue to hear from us, but you can unsubscribe at any time.
Some of the speakers will have free resources available that you can access by providing an email address, if you choose to do so.
You can learn more in our Privacy Policy.
Yes, all presentations have closed captioning.
Please reach out if there’s anything we can do to ensure you’re able to engage with this event.
If you still have questions, we encourage you to go ahead and sign up. Your questions will likely be answered during the event or in the LinkedIn community, which you’ll be able to join right away after getting your free ticket.
However, if you need to ask us a question before registering, feel free to send us an email at [email protected].
Navigating a life storm doesn’t have to mean sacrificing the career you’ve worked so hard to build.
It’s time to learn the skills to keep showing up as an effective leader at work, even while you figure out how to navigate your life storm.
So grab your free ticket & join us for Leading Through Life Storms today!
© Damsel Not in Distress Ltd,
Company no. SC770248, All Rights Reserved
Damsel Not In Distress ® is a registered trade mark
© Damsel Not in Distress Ltd,
Company no. SC770248, All Rights Reserved
Damsel Not In Distress ® is a registered trade mark