Ashley Scotland is founder and CEO of the Thriving Survivors charity which is based in Scotland. Thriving Survivors provides men, women, and children who are affected by trauma with access to services that are inclusive and restorative that will promote healing, no matter where they are in the world.
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I used to be a workaholic. As the founder of Thriving Survivors, I lived and breathed my business, working 60 hours a week, convinced it was the only way to keep everything afloat. Taking time off felt impossible, like the whole thing would crumble without me. I felt trapped in a cycle of constant hustle, neglecting myself and my family in the process.

Then came my experience with the' Leadership Development Intensive (LDI), created by Dr John Scherer, delivered and facilitated by Limen Associates. This wasn't your average leadership training. It's a transformative, four-day retreat that dives deep into your challenges and helps you become a truly authentic leader. It's about embracing your whole self – the light and the dark – and it made an enormous difference to my life, almost instantly.

Let me tell you about my journey:

From Nervousness to Gratitude: Arriving at the beautiful venue, Ardoch Loch Lomond, my first thoughts went to how lucky I was to be staying in such a lovely part of the Scotland for four days, this sort if time out was unthinkable for me! I felt a mix of nervousness and awe. The stunning views from my room were a welcome distraction from the apprehension I felt about the intensive. I arrived late and everyone was already sat down to lunch. I instantly had ground to make up. Little did I know that this wonderful group of individuals would be such a big part of my transformation.

The Power of Deep Presence: The LDI taught me the importance of deep presence. We practiced an exercise where one person spoke while the other listened at only 25%, highlighting how easily we lose focus and neglect those around us. It made me realise how often I say "just a minute" or only half-listen, prioritising multitasking over genuine connection. This newly found awareness has made a significant impact on my interactions with my family, allowing me to be more present and engaged.

Questioning My Paradigms: The intensive challenged my thoughts on "intention" versus "perception". It became clear that to me that our interpretations are rarely straightforward, and that even with the clearest of intentions, the way we perceive and understand information is completely subjective. This realisation has helped to broaden my understanding of communication and the power of individual perspectives.

Discovering My "Running Me": Delving into my past, I uncovered how my early years have shaped my leadership style. Understanding the roots of my actions, both conscious and unconscious, helped me understand myself better. The programme pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me question my automatic responses and embrace new possibilities.

Facing My Tiger: This was one of the most powerful exercises that we undertook, and it challenged me to confront a daunting situation that I was facing. While my first instinct was one of fear, I chose to face my "tiger" head-on – a complex, sensitive situation that threatened to completely overwhelm me. My worry was that my passion would lead to impulsive actions, but throughout the process, a profound realisation appeared: the biggest obstacle wasn't the situation itself, but my own self-doubt and fear. Over the four days, I began to realise that the biggest tiger I would ever face, was me. Once I came to recognise this, I was able to step into my power and have faith in my own abilities.

Embracing My Shadows: We all have parts of ourselves we hide, hoping they will never surface. LDI taught me to recognise those shadow parts and acknowledge them, understanding that embracing them has helped me to begin moving through life with ‘purpose, power, and peace.’

The Transformation Continues: Since taking part in this programme my life and my leadership have changed significantly. I made a commitment to myself to establish a healthy work-life balance, spend more time with my family, and step into my power as a leader, not just a busy founder. Whilst I am still navigating some of the changes, the impact is undeniable. I am more present with my family, embracing challenges instead of dreading them, and becoming a more authentic leader. By staying open to change, I was able to come home to myself, confront my inner tiger and finally step into my true potential.

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