Forum Radio: Lara Holliday

In this episode, entrepreneur and executive coach Lara Holliday (London) talks about her women's network ,Tide Risers, as well as the coaching and equine therapy retreats she holds at Shore Hall. 

"If the horse won't follow you willingly, I know that there's some kind of emotional blockage stopping you from being able to make the decision to go down that pathway towards that new career. And that just as an executive coach gives me immediate feedback to know that there's a problem."

Transcript

Lara Holliday 

Hello and welcome again to Foreign Radio, our ongoing series of interviews with foreign members all around the world, and today I'm delighted to be talking to Lara Holliday. Lara's a London member but with a background in Washington DC and New York. As president and founder of Tide Risers, Lara now splits her time between London and her grand country estate, Shore Hall, which we'll hear more about in a moment, and from there she delivers workshops, professional development programmes, and even equine therapy to visiting private and corporate groups. 

Lara specialises in helping women own their roles as leaders, and with Tide Risers she connects hundreds of women around the world. So thank you so much for joining us today, Lara, it's great to talk to you. Thanks for having me. 

With your passion for helping people become better versions of themselves, I'm very intrigued to know who is your inspiration? So I knew you were going to ask this question, and there are a lot of people who inspire me, but actually today I kind of felt like I wanted to talk more about a community that's inspired me and that I think has really like formed the basis of a lot of my work and my philosophy about learning and growth and decision-making, and actually that's the Quaker community. I'm a Quaker, I was born and raised Quaker. Quakers have a very interesting and sometimes tedious way of going about decision-making. 

All of our decisions in a sort of our business context are made as unity decisions, which means that everybody has to agree or agree to step aside from the decision. So it's an interesting, very sometimes complex and difficult process that can take a really long time, which makes it difficult to kind of like apply in a lot of different business contexts. But there's a lot of really interesting learning that can come from it, especially around how you build community around difficult decision-making, and that's a lot of the inspiration that I take from that community is what I've seen over the course of my lifetime of doing this work with them around finding the best solution to complex problems that really engage a full community in the actual solution that's determined. 

And that's something that I take into a lot of my work with both work teams and also with individuals who are trying to sort through what their next life steps are going to be or what they're doing with their career or major family decisions that they have to make. So helping people make better decisions, I'm starting to realize is kind of like forming the core of a lot of the work that I do. If I had to find like a theme amongst all the individuals and work teams and everybody that I work for and with, I think it would be really around that. 

It's like, how do we make good decisions? But I mean, people are always, I'm really interested in that because people are always terrified of making the wrong decision. The phrase that I always like is, worry less about making the right decision, just make the decision right. Yeah, that's right. 

So I mean, what is your process for working out the best decision? I'm sure you have to go down lots of different routes for different people and complex problems, but is there a little shortcut that you go to when it's feeling particularly complex? There is, there are a couple of them. I mean, first of all, I think there's a creative process that has to come into play. And I think that's the first part is just like creative exploration. 

And part of what I like to do at Shore Hall is really give people a lot of different opportunities for exploring creativity. So we do that in a lot very simple ways, actually. I mean, we have like sort of therapeutic art classes and sourdough baking, and even just walks in the woods. 

These are the types of things that we should all be doing regularly just to be able to tap into our creative core, because that sort of forms the basis of good decision making. You know, what I do with horses is really helpful for a lot of my clients who are struggling with decision making. And that's because horses reflect human energy and emotion in a really clean and unbiased way. 

They just feel what we're feeling. And so they can help reveal to us things that we often hide from ourselves. So more often than not, my clients who are stuck in a place where they don't know, you know, which pathway they want to take, they kind of actually know, they kind of know the right pathway for them. 

But there's something blocking them from making that choice and actually moving forward. And so what I can do with my horses is basically create a situation where they're walking next to the horse, beating them on a lead rein, and I can create, you know, sort of an obstacle course for them to help them. Because basically, the horse isn't going to follow somebody who doesn't believe where they're actually going. 

So if I say, all right, so you want to start this new career journey, like, let's say this obstacle over here, this chair that we're going to place over here is the new career pathway. Take this horse and walk it over to that chair. And if the horse won't follow you, you can't pull a horse. 

If the horse won't follow you willingly, I know that there's some kind of emotional blockage stopping you from being able to make the decision to go down that pathway towards that new career. And that just as an executive coach gives me immediate feedback to know that there's a problem, right? So then I can say, all right, well, let's like figure out what resources you need to make this decision. So how about like, if you need, you know, more coaching, or maybe you need to talk to a good friend, or maybe, you know, so we can put some obstacles around the arena that are like resources that could be useful, and see if that can build the person's confidence enough to be able to actually lead that horse down the new career path. 

Yeah, it's fascinating. It's efficient. And it's, it's something that I've been doing a lot of, I mean, and it's, it's a really unique experience. 

But it's actually really quite powerful. So that's been something that I've been able to, yeah, 

kind of add to my repertoire of ways to help people get to decision networks for individuals and for teams, actually. That's so wonderful. 

I love it. So I mean, the passion for what you do comes through in everything that you know, that you say, but, you know, what is that something kind of, is there a nugget of at the heart of what you love about what you do? What do you think it is? Oh, I love helping people make their own lives better. You know, and I have a real passion for entrepreneurs. 

And I know because I am one, how hard a journey that is. So I'm particularly passionate about working with businesses and business owners, who, who are trying to get somewhere and just feeling stuck. And like being able to find those hurdles that are usually hidden, you know, sometimes we think we know what the hurdles are. 

It's not actually what the hurdles are. So being able to find them and then find a way over them is really, I just love, I love doing that work. Yeah, yeah, I can imagine that's so rewarding. 

Um, so I mean, I know you and your husband have made a lot of big changes in the last decade, changing countries, you know, changing houses, you've got your family. And now you split this time between London and and Shaw Hall in the beautiful Norfolk. Can you tell us a little bit about something about where you are now with Tide Risers and where you hope to be in five years time, and maybe what you might need to get there? Maybe that's something that Forum can help you with. 

Yeah, I mean, in five years time, I hope to be doing exactly what I'm doing now. Honestly, I love it. For me, I am a city girl and a country girl. 

And so I really do like being able to spend my time in both places. I still have a lot of business in the US. And so I'm back and forth to New York a lot. 

And I, you know, New York is home. But right now, I prefer living here in the UK, it's working really well for my family. This was, you know, a complex decision making process for deciding to move abroad. 

And but it worked out really well for us. My children are thriving here. We love it here. 

But I miss New York. So I get to get back fairly frequently, which is important for me, I get to see my people, I get to eat my food, and then I know, I hope I'll just continue doing what I'm doing. Shore Hall is a new venture for us, we just bought it, it'll be two years next month. 

So that aspect of my business is still growing. And I'm looking for people who want to come and experience what I have to offer there, in terms of especially executive retreats, working with teams, you know, what I am doing now is I have a few clients who are recurring clients who come to me quarterly or twice a year, we do strategic planning, visioning, you know, sort of mission development, all of that. I do a lot of team building work with them. 

And basically, what's emerging is that Shore Hall is becoming the spot for them to gather in person in a meaningful way, to do the kind of decision making that isn't always best done, you know, in the work environment, or over zoom, where people aren't always at their best. So when you're making important decisions about your business, I think the environment and good facilitation is really important to be able to get the best outcomes and to be able to have you and your team really be able to come to a unity decision making process. Yeah, in a way that results in maybe some more better creative ideas than you might have had sitting in your conference room in a state of stress, you know, yeah. 

So that's, that's what's really happening now is that Shore Hall is becoming that place for a few businesses. And we'd love to find some more businesses to partner with in that way. This is work that I love to do. 

And typically, that takes place in terms of like a two day overnight retreat, we have an amazing chef. So it's a sort of blissfully luxury experience. And we get a lot of good work done in those two days. 

So yeah, so that's what I'm looking for more interesting, sort of small to medium sized businesses, or smaller teams within larger businesses, who are looking for that kind of experience. So tell us a little bit more about Shore Hall, you know, to paint a little picture, because I know it sits in the middle of beautiful countryside, but it isn't difficult to reach. No, no, we're actually, so we're easy to reach by London, we're about 25 minutes from Stansted. 

We're 25 minutes from the oddly end train station, which is this adorable British countryside train station that it was like sort of like the train station of every American's dreams, you know. So very easy to reach for about 45 minute drive from London. So I have clients who come out from London for the day. 

I have clients who fly over from the US. And but once you're there, it's 22 acres, that just feels like you're in the middle of nowhere, you can hear no road traffic, which was really important to me. All you hear is the sounds of nature. 

So we have really beautiful gardens that were established years ago by a quite a notable gardener, who is now my neighbor and gardening mentor. We have paddocks, we have horses and sheep, we have orchards, a very large, beautiful vegetable garden. We have woods, lots of great walking, beautiful vistas. 

And the house itself is a 500 year old manor house that has been very lovingly maintained over the years. We also have two separate cottages on the property. So a lot of different accommodation opportunities. 

The house is full of character, the beams were apparently brought over from France by the person who we think was the favorite chef of somebody whose name will come to me soon. Anyways, these beams from the ship were apparently sort of like deconstructed on the shore, 

dragged overland somehow, and used to build Shore Hall 500 years ago. So that's why it's called Shore Hall then, presumably? It's actually not. 

So interestingly, it was called Wood Hall throughout its history until at some point, and I'm unsure of the date, at some point a man bought the property for his wife, and his wife's maiden name was Shore, so he renamed it Shore Hall, which I think is really lovely. Yeah, it is nice, it is nice, that's a sweet story. Yeah, that sounds lovely. 

Now I know you joined for him, I think, as a London member, didn't you? Not long after you arrived in the UK. Has anything surprised you about your time at Forum since you've been here? You know, I think I've been surprised that it has not just been a business networking opportunity for me. I've made real friends through Forum, like important friends. 

And you know, I think when you get to our age in life, like that gets harder and harder to do, like making true friends. And that has been a surprise and a delight. And I think it's something about, you know, the way you and Simon find people and bring people in, they're good people, and they're interesting people. 

And you make thoughtful connections amongst people. And that just sort of lends itself to, you know, these friendships being able to be formed, which is really, I think, different. I'm a member of lots of membership communities, I run my own membership community. 

You don't often see this in many communities. Thank you. It's been lovely. 

Thank you very much. And you've been a wonderful friend to Forum as well. What's always so nice that the most successful members are the ones who give as much as they get from it, you know, and you're definitely an example of that, which is so nice. 

How has Forum helped your growth, either professionally, or personally, do you think? You know, introductions to people who, like I said, who I enjoy spending time with personally, has helped with my personal growth, for sure. And then I've had some wonderful introductions to people who have helped connect me with other people who have helped my business in measurable ways. I've found clients through Forum connections, I have found advisors and kind of, you know, strategy partners, and I love a good strategy session. 

So yeah, Forum has helped me enormously in that way. I think it's also just, there's an element of fun to Forum that I think is so important. I talked earlier about how important creativity is for the decision making process, but fun is, is part of creativity, right? So like, being able to like, go, you know, on these, like, super fun, like San Maritz was so fun. 

I mean, you know, everything that we do, but I think especially the kind of getaways that Forum hosts are just like, great fun. And that's really important. And I think underestimated, undervalued too often. 

Yeah, yeah. No, that's wonderful to hear. Thank you so much. 

Well, thank you so much for speaking with us today, Laura. I could have talked to you for much longer, but I sadly have to finish it there. But thanks to everyone for listening to Forum Radio. 

Please remember that you can connect directly with all members, including Laura, wherever they are, through the Forum website on forum.club. Just search through to find people either by their professional or personal interest in the members directory. And also you can go there to keep an eye on the newsfeed for member news, as well as events happening in the chapter where you are or where you might be travelling to. So once again, thank you very much, Laura. 

You're very welcome. Thanks for having me. It's been a pleasure. Until next week, everyone. Thank you. Goodbye.