Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carla L Picardi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

When I moved to Italy over 23 years ago after working like a crazy woman, directing complex real estate development projects, I decided it was time for a total change in my life. Certainly a period of deep rest was required and during that time, what unfolded was vastly more organic than I would have ever expected. Since there were so few executive female role models in Leadership, especially in mega projects and iconic buildings, I was asked to present some lectures to an International MBA program CIMBA, which happened to be nearby. I realized that my ideas about leadership were very different than many of my male colleagues. I was asked to help create and implement a behavioral-based Leadership and Coaching program for the International MBA, Executive and Undergraduate Exchange Programs and that year I became a Certified Professional CoActive Coach (CPCC) as well. After the teaching experience, I wrote the book: The World According to YOU! – How Our Choices Create It All as an easy way to introduce these profound leadership principles to people of all ages and to help them understand their role in the events of their lives and how to learn to make the kinds of choices which support their dreams. This opened up a new world where I was still doing what I love: leading people to create a vision for their project, be it a design of a space, a building or development of the urban realm, and to make that vision a reality. However, to this list of property development, concept development and project management, I added the most essential ingredient: people development

Carla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Let me step back a bit … I have a degree in Architecture and Design, and over 40 years of experience leading people to create a vision and to make that vision a reality. I have been a Vice President for Citibank – Director of Facilities for Private Banking and Investments; awarded the prestigious Loeb Fellowship for Advanced Environmental Studies at Harvard University Graduate School of Design for my work on Canary Wharf, London UK, where I was one of the original eight people who created its concept and one of the Project Executives who implemented 4.5 million square feet – Phase 1; Project Director for the iconic Gherkin in London, which received the first planning permission in over 30 years for a tall building in the City of London and won the 2004 Stirling Prize for architecture; Strategic Development Adviser to the BBC, Member of the BBC Architectural Design and Workplace Advisory Council (ADWAC) and Workplace Futures Forum (WFF). Today I am an author, consultant, lecturer, TEDx and keynote speaker

When I began to teach Leadership, many could not see the connection to architecture, design, mega projects, property development, concept development and project management. To me it was very clear. I had managed thousands of people on complex projects which came in on time and budget, and that only happens when people are inspired, have their energy set on the same vision and are in harmony as to how that will be achieved. Today, I help people create a vision for their life, and then ensure that they understand how to make their vision a reality, and also if required, coach and mentor them until it becomes real for them. To me this seemed like the logical next step. I had been leading people all along to create a group vision, why not do the same for their individual lives.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My passion and aim is to help people realise that we each create our own personal reality … Each of us plays a key role in our life – we create it all – the good, the bad and the ugly. Every relationship, event, and drama in our lives reflects back to us who we are being. We are essentially generating our reality, moment to moment through our feelings of worthiness or unworthiness, and the thoughts, words and actions that arise as a result. When we are capable of seeing ourselves clearly and recognising that our choices create our lives, we can begin to understand that we actually have a role in creating our micro and macro world after all. So understanding how we create our world – through the choices most of us never recognize we make, can be very powerful. With some clarity and discipline all of us could have richer, more powerful and joyous lives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding moments are witnessing the transformation that unfolds when we truly understand and apply these principles. We step into a more expansive space in which we live our lives, and therefore we:

• attract more positive
• cultivate happiness
• recognize the illusions we create
• take responsibility for our choices
• shift our perspective
• acknowledge our role in our relationships
• establish new habits
• become the change we desire in the world

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carlapicardi.com
• Other: TEDx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kd09B-1loQ

Image Credits
ONLY standing image on mirror floor: San Youkilis all other images are mine