Five Ways the Acumen Academy Fellowship Stretched My Leadership
Dear aspiring change-maker, future and current social entrepreneurs
Tip no3: Stretch your leadership boundaries
Running or founding a social enterprise can be a whirlwind. There’s always something demanding your attention—a funding opportunity, a policy change, a safeguarding issue, or a colleague’s resignation. With so much to juggle, personal development often gets pushed to the bottom of the list, saved for “when there’s time.” In my experience, that time rarely comes.
For the first 8–10 years of leading Micro Rainbow, my focus was entirely on growing the organisation. Only when I started to slow down did I realise I was missing something—I wasn’t learning or growing in the way I wanted. I considered pursuing another master’s degree or even a PhD, but the level of commitment felt overwhelming. That’s when I realised what I truly needed: not another academic qualification, but a space to reflect on my leadership over the past decade and evolve both personally and professionally.
This led me to embark on three transformational experiences over the last two years:
- A diploma in coaching
- A diploma in group coaching
- A fellowship with Acumen Academy, the world’s school for social change
Each of these has stretched me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. As I return from a four-day immersive with Acumen Academy, I’m reflecting on how this fellowship immersive, in particular, has challenged and shaped my leadership. Here are my top five takeaways.
1. “Resistance to Change Is Resistance to Loss”
This statement was a revelation for me—both in my leadership role and personal life. It shifted my perspective, helping me see that when I struggle with change, it’s often not the change itself that I’m resisting, but the loss that comes with it.
Take, for example, a colleague resigning. While I might genuinely feel happy for their career growth, I could also be resisting the loss of:
- The comfort of working with someone familiar—the ease of routine.
- The emotional connection we’ve built over time.
- The operational stability their presence provided.
Exploring this idea has been staggering. I have enjoyed playing with this concept in relation to changes in government policy, to changes in funding streams or to operational challenges. It has also influenced my leadership style and how I might support my colleagues—encouraging them to acknowledge the losses they may be resisting, so they can move forward with greater clarity and resilience.
2. “Sometimes You Need to Become the Disturbance to Understand It Differently”
This concept intrigues me—and, if I’m honest, feels a little foreign. It came up during an exercise where we were asked to embody a person or behaviour we “hated” and physically act it out. The setting was stunning: the beautiful gardens of Penny Brohn UK, bathed in sunlight and fresh air. And yet, I found the exercise incredibly difficult.
I realised that I struggle to express emotions through body movement, which might limit my ability to process them from a different perspective. What an eye-opening discovery! The irony? One of Micro Rainbow’s most impactful programs is a national body-movement initiative in Cardiff, London, and Birmingham.
This is a growth edge for me, and I’m leaning into it. Over the next few months, I’ll be challenging myself to explore body movement as a way to deepen my understanding of my emotions—and I’ll report back on what I learn.
3. “Sometimes, All You Can Do Is Hold Tension”
This insight was both a stretch and a relief for me. My instinct is to solve problems—I thrive on challenges and finding solutions. But sometimes, there isn’t a problem to fix, only a tension to hold.
The liberating part? As a leader, I might not have to have all the answers all the times. What a powerful shift in perspective.
During the Acumen Academy immersive, I reflected on “How can I hold tensions differently?” For example, at Micro Rainbow, we constantly navigate the balance between prioritising self-care as a team and helping more people. There’s no simple solution, but we can be intentional about how we hold this tension—creating space for dialogue, awareness, and shared responsibility.
4. “Loosen Your Grip to Allow for Something New”
This concept wasn’t new to me, but reflecting on how much I actually practice it was a challenge. What holds me back? Who could support me in this?
I’m looking forward to working on this which will include pacing myself, pausing, stepping back to take a “balcony view,” and staying curious about what else might emerge. And, tying back to point 1: What am I resisting losing by holding on so tightly?
5. Honouring Recovery
The intensive was packed with frameworks, exercises, role-playing, and more. Stimulating yet exhausting. Meeting fellow leaders and learning about their work was exciting, but the travel and intensity took a toll.
Over four days, I stretched myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. A short morning run and two evening walks weren’t enough to counterbalance the intensity. A key learning for me: recovery needs planning. I didn’t schedule a day off afterward, and I felt it. Next time, I’ll be more intentional.
My takeaway? Every stretch should be paired with recovery:
- Because self-work is taxing. Growth often brings up past trauma, discrimination, or limiting beliefs. Recovery time allows space to honour and nurture those feelings.
- Because deep learning needs settling. Creating space allows the unconscious to process and integrate the experience.
Next time, I’ll plan for recovery as intentionally as I do for growth.
In conclusion…
Writing this blog, the strongest emotion I feel is gratitude.
I’m deeply grateful to Acumen Academy for selecting me for this year-long fellowship—an opportunity to pause, learn, connect, and grow into a stronger leader. It’s a privilege, and I intend to embrace it fully. Special thanks to Ben, Natasha and Clementine for facilitating this first immersive!
I’m equally grateful to my cohort for showing up with authenticity and vulnerability. We are a formidable group, each working to make the world a better place in our own way.
Finally, in a time often clouded by toxicity and division, I feel a renewed sense of hope. A future where everyone wins is possible—and many of us are already working hard to create it.
With my very best wishes for your purpose driven career
Sebastian
PS. Want to grow with more intention? Tip 1 on cultivating a coaching mindset is a great next step.
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@sebastianrocca @buildasocialenterprise
