If I think about my leadership journey as a sequence of events to experience, I rarely envision a straight line. Rather, I picture a flowing river that travels down a mountain, bending and adapting to the surface of a rugged terrain. Maybe you prefer to think about yours as a hand-drawn map with giant road markers and colourful scenes. A map that is always changing and evolving --often in very unexpected ways.
When most of us think of being a leader, we think of people in charge making decisions to make money. Or we think of politicians, making decisions that will impact the lives of hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people. Personally, when the word leadership comes to my mind, I imagine a journey of discovery and growth, independently of what I need to do or achieve. For me, being a leader is also about understanding when it’s time to lead and also when it’s time to stay put and follow.
My leadership journey started many years ago and I quickly realised that in order to get things done, I first had to learn to lead myself. Otherwise, who would want to work with me? Even as a mother, the ride has been blessed with moments of growth but also with many realisations after periods of trial and error.
In my view, developing our leadership is something that pertains to everyone, no matter our role in life. We all need to interact with people, communicate well, solve conflicts and understand how to work together to achieve what would be impossible to accomplish on our own.
Fuelled by my passion to leave a legacy and to add to the work I published in my 2014 book ‘Leadership is Upside Down: The i4 Neuroleader Revolution’, I decided to take my research further and produce a documentary on the topic.
The 85-minute film, which I titled ‘
’ will be launched in Australia on July 25th, 2018. On this date we will be holding a Grand Opening Premiere at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington, Sydney. The movie will also become available for purchase globally on our website from July 26th.
The purpose of this film is to help viewers think of ‘leadership’ in a new way—to realise that leadership begins with ourselves and that we have the power to design our own map and add as many road markers and colourful scenes as we wish.
The journey to produce this documentary took 24 months and a significant amount of work. It had its peaks and troughs, too. The first trough appeared shortly after I had conducted my first series of interviews. On a very cold and dark night in 2016, I fell down the stairs... I broke both of my ankles and ended up spending two full months in the hospital, followed by a slow recovery period that lasted a year.
It’s difficult to describe the emotions that I felt after the fall. Disbelief, shock, fear, anxiety, and finally, acceptance and hope. During this time, I wondered if I would ever finish my documentary project...but I quickly had to accept what had happened and somehow make the best of an unexpected situation.
I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
Dalai Lama
Without losing focus on my aim, after I healed I was able to continue my journey around the world, speaking with many types of leaders, experts and scientists to unravel many secrets, particularly trying to understand how the brains of successful leaders work. I also realised during those long weeks in the hospital that if I could improve myself, and see how my own mind worked, that perhaps I could motivate others to do the same.
This film will give you the tools and strategies to enhance your leadership abilities and to remain balanced and engaged, not only at work but in life. You have the power to make changes, and these changes can be like seeds on the wind, sprouting new thoughts and innovative ideas.
I am so excited to invite you to witness this journey. will open your eyes to how your body and brain work together and what you can do to optimise your mental, emotional, and physical health. I believe that spending time in learning how to be, rather than focusing on ‘doing’ or ‘having’ is the key to feeling more authentic and at peace with who we are.
Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute
Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.
Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.
Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership
In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.
Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.
Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.
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