From Trailer park to Trailblazer with Alicia King

If you met Alicia King today, you might assume the road to her success was paved for her. She's one of only a handful of women who’ve made Microsoft MVP. She’s a technology leader, podcast host, storyteller, and one of the leading voices in her field. But what you don’t know is that Alicia grew up in a trailer park without much money.  In this episode of *Ideas Love Community*, Jacquelyn Fletcher Johnson talks with Alicia about the beliefs that shaped her life, learning how to learn, being the odd one out, listening to the quiet whispers that lead us toward unexpected opportunities, and finding the courage to do the hard things instead of playing small. It's a conversation about where we start, what we believe is possible, and what happens when we use our voices to help other people. \_\_\_\__ Here’s what you’ll walk away with:  - Learn how to stop letting your past define what’s possible for your future. - Discover how to listen to the quiet nudges that can lead you toward unexpected opportunities. - Build the courage to lean into hard things instead of playing small or avoiding them. - Learn how curiosity and asking better questions can accelerate your growth. - Speak up and use your voice to help model how others can use theirs, too. \_\_\_\__ About Alicia King: Alicia King is a Microsoft MVP, technology leader, podcast host, and storyteller with more than 15 years of experience leading complex ERP implementations across 14 countries. Her work focuses on helping organizations and their leaders navigate high-stakes Microsoft ERP transformations while managing risk, aligning stakeholders, and creating long-term business outcomes. In 2023, her team received the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award for a complex international ERP implementation. But Alicia's work reaches beyond technology. She is passionate about changing how people show up at the table, helping women use their voices, bringing different perspectives into the rooms where decisions are made, and showing other people what's possible when we stop playing small. \_\_\_\__ At the heart of this conversation is a powerful idea: Where you start doesn’t determine where you end up. You get to determine how you use your voice. Ideas don't change the world alone. Ideas love community. **Ready to be HUGE?** I coach extraordinary voices. I can help you find your mission and message, build your thought-leadership platform, and launch your voice into the world. I earned the nickname "speaker whisperer" as a conference designer so I created a whole new event to help you get in front of the trail angels who can open doors to bigger stages and broader impact at the Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest. The Gathering includes information and inspiration on public speaking and getting seen and a pitch fest...(think Shark Tank!) Come for the learning or raise your hand to pitch the head of all TED conferences, literary and speaker agents, entertainment execs, and more. Follow me on [LinkedIn](www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelynfletcherjohnson). Sign up for my newsletter. Apply for coaching. Get on the waitlist for the next Gateway Gathering & Pitch Fest.