Welcome to my new blog! This blog is an opportunity to pen my own personal thoughts, my musings about world events, and to explain the services that I can offer you and your organisation. More importantly, it is chance for you to get to know me, as I embark on my own journey of running my own business. All of which is going to be scary, but a challenge. However, I love a challenge, so let's head in...
How Drew Dalton Consulting started:
The story really began after I took voluntary redundancy as a Senior Lecturer in Sociology, leaving behind a successful ten year career in academia. I was excited about the future as I had my book contract with Bloomsbury Publishers for 'Broken Rainbow?' to write (check it out on my website) and so I spent a month in Bosnia and Herzegovina, putting pen to paper. I also had my global LGBTQ+ human rights organisation, ReportOUT, to run, which kept me sane. However, I scanned across the job market, and other than a few roles, nothing quite appealed to me. I was left with the questions, what happens next to me? Where do I go now?
I was lucky in that I was offered some contracts from networks, and I found that I was enjoying it. Working with organisations such as Ability Consultants and OUT North East boosted my confidence and I was getting a taste for being my own boss.
Then something happened, which at first, didn't seem so unusual when I was asked to deliver a masterclass by Pride in Leadership at their upcoming conference. I was honoured and excited to do this, but I have delivered sessions at countless events like this before, yet this one changed my whole way of thinking...
Thank you Pride in Leadership Conference!
So, in November 2024 I delivered a masterclass on 'Queering the Sustainable Development Goals' at the first ever, and frankly phenomenol, Pride in Leadership Conference. As I sat in the room and was surrounded by inspiring LGBTQ+ business leaders, I started to ponder questions in my head. First of all, I thought:
"I could also run my own business full-time. Why haven't I done this already? I could make something like this work!"
But then, the imposter syndrome crept in:
"No Drew, you are not cut out for this. You are too 'Third Sector.' You don't know enough about business. Anyway, nobody will buy into what you can offer, surely?"
But I couldn't stop thinking about it as the day went on. I could be my own boss. I have a load of skills that I can offer and bring to the table. As I attended a masterclass on designing my own 'personal brand' my thoughts were racing ahead of me, so I pushed that imposter syndrome to the side and started to write down a rough plan, including what my own personal brand could be. I was becoming a Company Director in my head. I am my own brand, so what do I bring? My mindset started to instantly change:
"I can do this. I will do this. I can make this work."
Becoming a Company Director. But what could I offer?
Now, Drew Dalton Consulting was born (in my head). But, I needed to think carefully about what I could offer. Throughout my years as a teacher and lecturer, I always said to my students that "all skills are transferrable" so it was time to listen to my own mantra, and that mantra kept ringing in my head. It was time to put my money where my mouth was. So, with that in mind, I started to feverously write down all of my skills, knowledge, and experiences, from over 20+ years, and a business plan started to appear in front of me.
Drew Dalton Consulting was born on paper* (and now, a flashy website and LinkedIn page!)
*Actually, it was born on Microsoft Word, but let's not be pedantic...
So, it is a risk. But it is a risk I am willing to take. It is time to both make change happen and break boundaries, like my company slogan says and what I have done all of my life to date. Remember that mantra, 'skills are transferrable.' So, what will happen next?
The next steps, but shhhh, it is a secret...
I can let you in on a few secrets. In January, Drew Dalton Consulting will be launching the first of many online taught modules and online masterclasses. The first one offered to the public will be about global LGBTQ+ human rights. This will bring together my knowledge and experience of activism at a local, national, and global level, alongside my own academic specialisms in this area. This will be a weekly course for those people who want to know more about global LGBTQ+ human rights, and for those who feel it would help them to progress further in their careers, studies, or for those who simply want to learn more. It is also a great course for allies who want to deepen their understanding about what is happening to LGBTQ+ people across the world. It is very exciting to do this, and I hope you are as excited as I am! Very soon, the course booking page will be advertised on my website and so you may want to follow my LinkedIn page where I will announce it (or use my contact Drew page).
I am also fully open for business. Whether you need a speaker, trainer, facilitator, or anything else for you, or your organisation, check out my services here.
But, I could not do this without you...
I am a huge traveller and I adore nothing more than travelling and seeing other cultures. I love the motto "a journey is best measured in friends and loved ones, not in miles." I couldn't agree more. So, I thank my friends, family and husband for all of your support, as I enter the world of business and exciting ventures ahead!
Thanks for reading my first blog, I hope to see you at my next one.
Drew Dalton
Director
Change maker.
Perspective shaker.
Boundary breaker.