Episode 200: You Are Not Your Resume with Rich Alderton
May 21, 2025
When Rich Alderton left his high-powered corporate role on a Friday, signing off millions and fielding nonstop calls, he expected Monday to bring more of the same. Instead, the phone was silent. That stark contrast was the wake-up call: people had been in love with his title, not with him.
What followed was a journey into reinvention. Rich stepped away from corporate leadership to help others become more adaptable in a rapidly changing world. Along the way, he discovered just how unprepared most of us are for life’s biggest transitions.
Today, Rich joins me to talk about how to shift your mindset in the face of uncertainty, reframe fear as opportunity, and rediscover purpose in Chapter X.
We discussed:
- Why we resist change (and how to stop fighting it)
- The mental tool that makes uncertainty more manageable
- What personal purpose looks like in life after work
- How to move from fearing change to finding freedom in it
- Redefining success when there’s no one left to grade you
About Rich:
Rich has spent over 25 years leading change across some of the world’s most innovative organizations, from big pharma in the UK to agritech startups in New Zealand. His career has taken him from the shopfloor to the boardroom, including running a $1 billion supply chain and serving as CEO of a multinational SME.
In 2015, he set up a leadership practice focused on adaptability. His goal is to help people enjoy a life of change, rather than endure it. As a qualified coach and mentor, Rich has led teams on four continents. He believes the most powerful driver of productivity is also the most difficult — changing how leaders lead.
