Active choices are always better than passive waiting

What do curiosity, creativity, human connection, payments innovation, entrepreneurship, and AI all have in common? A lot.

I recently had the honour of connecting with Alexia Hagen, for her they are all expressions of the same underlying purpose: using your talents in service of other humans.

Huge thank you to Keith Douglas for connecting us.

In this thoughtful episode we explored identity, purpose, leadership, innovation, and the courage to build a life aligned with your values. Alexia reflects on her unique journey from the creative arts into financial services leadership and now into building her own creative business.

While her career may appear diverse on the surface, she reveals the common threads that have connected every chapter: curiosity, creativity, empathy, and a fascination with the human experience. The conversation explores why the most successful leaders create environments where diverse perspectives can flourish, how trust accelerates both collaboration and commercial outcomes, and why understanding the "why" behind a project can transform team performance.

Alexia shares powerful insights on balancing risk management with innovation, the entrepreneurial mindset inside large organisations, and the critical role of psychological safety in unlocking human potential. We discussed the opportunities presented by AI. Rather than seeing AI as a threat, Alexia views it as a tool that can remove repetitive work and create more space for what humans do best: connecting, creating, collaborating, and thinking strategically. The real question, she argues, is not what AI can do for us, but what we choose to do with the time it gives back.

The episode concludes with a powerful discussion about career transitions, personal alignment, and the importance of auditing your "energy currency" rather than simply your résumé. Alexia encourages listeners to remain curious, challenge assumptions, and actively design their next chapter rather than waiting for change to happen.

A rich conversation filled with wisdom for leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to build a more meaningful and purposeful career.