Meet Alicia Thompson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alicia Thompson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alicia, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?

I’ve been laid off three times. The first time, I took it personally. The second time, I regrouped. The third time, I pivoted with purpose.

Here’s what I’ve learned:
– Your value isn’t tied to your title.
– Disruption can be the greatest teacher.
– Self-trust is the most powerful tool a leader can have.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At Signature Leadership, I help senior leaders step into the fullest expression of who they are so they can lead with more clarity, presence, and power. After more than 30 years in corporate communications, I realized that the conversations I valued most were the ones where leaders trusted me with their fears, their goals, and the realities they didn’t always feel safe voicing in the room. Coaching became the natural evolution of that work.

Today, I partner with VPs, SVPs, C-suite leaders, founders, and high-potential women in transition who are navigating complex, high-stakes environments. My role is to help them zoom out, shift perspective, and see themselves—and their leadership—through a more grounded, intentional lens. I challenge their assumptions, help them untangle the stories holding them back, and guide them toward the behaviors and mindset shifts that create real impact.

What excites me most is witnessing the moment a leader stops performing leadership and starts inhabiting it. When they find their voice. When they recognize their own agency. When they lead with a presence that’s unmistakably theirs. That transformation is why I do this work.

Right now, I’m especially excited about the Signature Leadership Women’s Roundtable, launching soon. It’s a 6-month, coach-led peer experience for women who are leading through uncertainty and want a confidential space to think strategically, build community, and strengthen their executive presence. It’s intentionally intimate, high-touch, and rooted in the belief that resilience is built in community—not isolation.

I believe leadership is personal. It’s shaped by your values, your experiences, and the perspective you choose to bring into every room. My mission is to help leaders rise with intention—and to create spaces where they can grow, reconnect to their power, and lead the way they were meant to.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were self-awareness, resilience, and the ability to communicate with clarity and intention.

First, self-awareness.
I learned early on that you can’t lead well if you don’t understand who you are—your patterns, your triggers, your values, and the impact you have on others. Self-awareness is the foundation of leadership. It’s also a lifelong practice.
Advice: Make reflection a habit. Ask for real feedback. Notice your reactions instead of explaining them away. The better you know yourself, the more effectively you can lead others.

Second, resilience.
My career includes triumphs, pivots, and a few layoffs that changed the trajectory of my life. Each challenge taught me how to rebuild, reimagine, and rise stronger. Resilience isn’t about being unshakable—it’s about learning how to get back up with more wisdom and less fear.
Advice: Build your resilience before you need it. Create a support system, develop healthy coping strategies, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Strength grows in community.

Third, strategic communication.
Thirty years in corporate communications taught me that your voice is one of your greatest leadership tools. How you frame a message, how you show up in the room, and how you influence without forcing—all of that shapes the trust and credibility you earn.
Advice: Pay attention to how your message lands, not just what you intended. Practice storytelling. Learn to communicate in a way that aligns with your values and advances your goals.

If you’re early in your journey, remember this: careers aren’t built by accident. They’re shaped by intention, courage, and the willingness to grow through every season—even the difficult ones. Develop those three muscles, and you’ll lead with far more presence, confidence, and power.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes—I’m always looking to partner with leaders and organizations who are ready to invest in real, meaningful growth. My ideal clients are senior and emerging leaders who are navigating transition, leading through uncertainty, or stepping into roles with elevated expectations. They’re smart, driven, and high-performing—but they’re also self-aware enough to know that the next level requires something different from them.

I particularly enjoy partnering with VPs, SVPs, C-suite executives, founders, and high-potential women who want to strengthen their executive presence, communicate with more influence, build trust with stakeholders, and lead with greater clarity and impact. These are leaders who are ready to think differently, be challenged, and do the inner and outer work that creates sustainable change.

I also collaborate with companies and HR/People leaders who want to develop their talent in intentional ways. Whether it’s executive coaching, leadership roundtables, or corporate workshops, I bring a blend of strategic thinking, deep perspective, and practical tools rooted in real-world leadership experience.

For those reading this who feel a pull toward this kind of work—or are curious if now is the right time—I’d love to connect. You can reach me through my website at www.signatureleadershipllc.com, on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarthompson/), or directly via email ([email protected]). If you’re ready to expand your perspective, elevate your presence, and step into your power as a leader, let’s explore what a partnership could look like.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.signatureleadershipllc.com
• Instagram: @aliciarthompson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarthompson/