High Performance & Fulfillment Strategist
Asha Honeysett’s early life experiences gave her a deep appreciation for the fact that the storms of life will hit, and it’s how you respond to them and more importantly, who you become, that makes the difference for long-term sustainable success, as well as living a fulfilled life.
Born in Darwin, Australia, Asha always felt deeply connected to others and the land, and believes those early years were central to how she grew up to see the world around her. When she turned 18, Asha’s father sustained a severe traumatic brain injury. “A life changing event where things were never going to be the same.” This catalyzed Asha’s decision to learn extensively about the brain, human behavior, and life following adversity. She thus pursued her Bachelor in Psychological Science (Hons I), Master’s in clinical psychology, and was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate for Advanced Studies in Psychology.
She now uses this psychological understanding as the foundation for her personal development company, Light Tower – the purpose within, teaching people how to transcend following difficult life events, and how to create thriving workplace cultures. “My passion goes back to my childhood, wanting to help others in times of hardship or emotional distress, and figuring out the best way that I can do that.”
As a psychologist and corporate consultant Asha has had the pleasure of working with a number of large organizations, including in male-dominated fields. Expressing appreciation for the women centric initiatives taking place, she says, “Being able to contribute to that with programs for developing women leadership through enhancing their psychology and understanding of why humans respond the way they do, seems to be again moving the needle on what is possible in creating deeply insightful and flourishing workplaces. There is always further work to be done, and I’m proud to be an active contributor to that.”
Asha noticed that one of the subconscious biases that played out in her early career was with respect to ethical dilemmas – the expectation that she would simply be agreeable to what had always been done. “Being confident in communicating your professional expertise is a necessary skill and one that ultimately serves to create progressive change for the organization.”
Speaking about what more women can do, she says, “Long-term career success really comes down to alignment. You can only know what you’re truly aligned with if you begin with the end in mind. Spend time to carve out your horizon vision and keep your eyes focused in times of troubled waters. Aligning with the organization you work for, or create, is the key to fulfillment.”
Asha’s teachings have seen her being included in the ‘Top 30 Entrepreneurs to Look out for’ by NYC Journal’, ‘Top 10 Life Coaches to Look out for in 2023’ by Entrepreneur Magazine, and many others.
What would she say is her biggest strength and weakness, we ask Asha. “My strength is also my greatest weakness, which is how much I genuinely care. It’s a switch that doesn’t seem to turn off. However, my greatest strength is probably my insight. If people would take the time to heal, learn more, and become more of who they truly are, I believe the world would be a better place. It’s only through awareness that real change happens.”
In Asha’s case, even her hobbies are closely linked to wellbeing. She loves going for nature walks, various meditation practices, writing, reading, gardening, and cooking, especially from her vege patch. Is it truly possible to find a balance between home and work, we ask her. “All of those late nights, writing theses, designing programs, figuring out the best course of action, are all the building blocks of becoming the leader, not only in your career, but in your personal life, too. When the focus is on who you’re becoming, and not what you’re achieving, what you have to show at the end of the day is a sense of being accomplished as a person, not just as a career person. So, in that sense, I’ve always had balance because in my view, they are one and the same.”
Where does Asha find this inspiration from? “My mum, whose grace, kindness, quiet grit and determination has an unprecedented track record in being able to move mountains when it counts. To me, she is the embodiment of female empowerment. Living by her own standards, being unfaltering in leading by example, and always finding a way. I am the woman that I am, and the woman leader that I am, thanks to the remarkable example she set for me and my brother, on how to live, love, and march to the beat of your own drum.”