Rory Alec - the most inspirational leader I've ever worked with.

In 2013, I got to work Rory Alec. Rory and his then wife Wendy Alec founded the TV channel, GOD TV. This couple, with no money, built a TV channel that was broadcasting across the globe. 

This is not a post about my faith or religion, so don't worry, keep reading.

I worked more so with Rory than Wendy and I have to say, I found Rory to be one of the most crazy visionaries I've ever met. His drive, his energy, his determination was inspiring.

I'm from a working class family, so working at the highest level of a global organisation like that, some of the conversations blew my mind. The scale, the perspective - it was a jolt to my experience of life thus far.

I remember being sat in meetings and he'd share, on the face of it, impossible ideas, but somehow he inspired you and made you feel it was possible.

I was brought in to help launch their lives events centre in Plymouth. That's how I ended up living in Plymouth. Rory had the idea of bringing viewers from around the world to Plymouth, to celebrate the project together. We hired the Pavilions, booked out hundreds of hotel rooms over 1,700 people came from across the world.

But, Rory went one further. He decided we would do a live show from the building site. No power. No internet. No heating. We figured it out and did 5 nights of live TV from a building site. We even put a live call centre in there.

What seemed impossible became figure-out-able. That's the power of visionary leaders.

Sam Altman said, "it surprising how often, the universe will bend to your will". I'd say it was clap trap, except, I've seen how someone with a vision, energy and the passion to pursue it, actually can make crazy things happen.

I found working with Rory to be a growth experience, seeing someone build something of that size and scale from nothing - it is an awesome achievement. I also saw first hand how, despite setbacks and difficulties, he handled them with a cool head. Was he perfect, no. Did he make all the right decisions, probably not, but who does?

Despite the stereotype perceptions of religious tv.

I found that everyone working there wanted to make a difference. Genuine people wanting to help other people. If you don't have a faith, I can see how you may not see it the same way. But everyone I met had a sincere belief in the mission.

That period working with Rory Alec, helped me see what I was capable of achieving. 

One of the saddest moments for me, was when I left GODTV. I'd ploughed everything into building that events centre. Sadly, when the leadership changed, Rory stepped down, so did the vision. The events centre was no longer a priority.

When you become so invested into something, there is a feeling of loss when you have to let it go.

Years later, I still think of how energising and exciting it was to work for a visionary like Rory.