2021 Influential Businesswoman Awards

40 Acquisition International - Influential Businesswoman Awards 2021 Business Growth CEO of the Year 2021 (UK): Ali Powell & Best Business Growth Accelerator 2021 - UK ounded in 2017, Commercial Acceleration Ltd is an independent provider of growth expertise. The company specialises in helping businesses maximise profits and create value. Taking a holistic view of each client’s business, Commercial Acceleration is able to provide help and advice in many areas including marketing, sales, pricing, brand, strategy and revenue opportunities. With over 25 years of experience in senior commercial roles and a number of prestigious awards already under her belt, CEO Ali Powell is a strong ally to any business in these turbulent times. Ali describes herself as having “a head for numbers and a heart for customers”. Astrategic thinker with extensive experience in the hospitality, leisure and real estate sectors, Ali starts any process by clarifying exactly who the customer is. Her core background is based on the analysis of customer insights and data, and this continues to drive her processes today. Havingaproven track record indiagnosing issues, andbeing instrumental in turning around clients’ fortunes, Ali has developed Profit Max®. The programme is a 6-step plan that Commercial Acceleration tailors to fit the specifics of any business. It starts with a strategic review of the current business. It then moves through logical steps to identify improvements and growth opportunities that unlock value for her clients. Of all her achievements so far, Ali is particularly proud of winning the Business Woman of the Year award for Retail & Consumer in 2017. Being viewed as a role model has led to her reflect on what she wishes she’d known when she started out. She shares some of her key points with us. First is being visible to stakeholders. Making sure the right stakeholders know about you is key. There’s no point in chaining yourself to your desk working every hour if no one knows what you’re doing. Then, be authentic; don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. If you’re not appreciated for who you are, then perhaps it’s time for a change. Although much of Ali’s advice is relevant for both men and women, a couple of points may resonate more with women. For example, 6 out F of 10 women experience imposter syndrome which saps confidence and can cause crippling self-doubt. Ali suggests using positive affirmations, power poses and focusing on role models who ooze confidence to get through those tough moments. She’s also a big believer in women supporting each other in business. She tells us: “What kills me is when I see other women being nasty or not sticking up for each other. There are enough difficulties and inequalities inside and outside of work as it is. We are only harming ourselves by not supporting one another.” Learning resilience is important too. The world of business can be tough, so being able to pick yourself up after experiencing adversity is essential. Being true to yourself, and being able to focus on what’s important in your life sometimes takes time to learn too. Ali advocates finding ways to release stress, not being afraid to speak up for yourself, and making sure you save your energy for your loved ones as all being essential in the recipe for success. With so much wisdom to share it’s good to know that Ali plans to provide some free mentoring via the non-profit organisation, Women in Hospitality. We conclude by asking Ali about her projects and goals for the future: “I’ve worked on some brilliant projects this year including rebrand transformations and loyalty programmes. I look forward to supporting many more businesses with commercial projects that will make a big difference to their bottom line.” From time to time, every business benefits from a fresh perspective. Inviting someone to provide honest feedback from a customer viewpoint can be an invaluable starting point to making key business improvements. Even more so if that person happens to be Ali Powell, founder and chief trouble-shooter at Commercial Acceleration Ltd. Jul21158 Contact: Ali Powell Company: Commercial Acceleration Ltd Web Address: www.comaccel.co.uk Email: [email protected]