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Irina Alexander on The C.A.R.E.S.™ Approach to Real Resilience
Manage episode 508142753 series 2968201
Business leader and mentor Irina Alexander joins Rich to unpack a neuroscience-rooted framework for staying regulated under pressure—especially in high-stress fields like first response and frontline leadership. She explains her C.A.R.E.S.™ approach (Communication, Awareness, Resilience, Emotional literacy, Self-mastery), why “knowing isn’t enough,” and how resilience is the byproduct of daily practices. Irina also shares candid stories of burnout, recovery, and the practical tools that help people shift from reactivity to regulation.
Sponsored by Maryland Pickers
Guest Bio:
Irina Alexander is a businesswoman, investor, and international speaker who founded The Academy of MotivAction, a neuroscience-based training company serving first responders, corporate teams, and entrepreneurs. An MBA by 21 and certified NLP trainer, she’s built and sold companies (including in HVAC), mentors’ founders, and now focuses on scalable training that equips people to communicate better, regulate emotion under stress, and lead with integrity.
Main Topics:
· Irina’s path from the former USSR to global entrepreneurship and mentorship
· Language learning and early international experiences (incl. China, Mandarin)
· Building in male-dominated industries and using “what makes you different” as an advantage
· Burnout: causes, warning signs, and honest self-assessment
· The C.A.R.E.S.™ Approach: Communication, Awareness, Resilience (as byproduct), Emotional literacy, Self-mastery
· Practical tools for emotional regulation vs. em
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Chapters
1. 10 Years (00:00:00)
2. Meet Irina Alexander: mission, background, and scope of work (00:01:29)
3. Growing up in the USSR, curiosity, early travel to China & Mandarin (00:04:03)
4. Dancing, entrepreneurship sparks, and early lessons learned (00:08:46)
5. Stereotypes, standing out in male-dominated rooms, owning it (00:11:51)
6. HVAC: scaling fast, hiring challenges, and exit (00:13:59)
7. Other ventures: boutique, Amazon store, real estate license (00:14:54)
8. Founding Motive Action Academy; why mentorship over “programs” (00:16:13)
9. The anatomy of burnout: family load, overwork, and honesty (00:20:50)
10. Big misconception: “knowing isn’t enough” in mental health (00:22:14)
11. The C.A.R.E.S.™ Approach explained (and resilience as a byproduct) (00:25:43)
12. From reactivity to regulation: awareness & self-honesty practices (00:27:17)
13. Delivery model: speaking, workshops, and word-of-mouth mentorship (00:29:57)
14. Sponsor: Maryland Pickers ad break (00:31:08)
15. Client turnaround: from cancer & COVID losses to thriving growth (00:32:18)
16. Mission: train 1M people; parenting & standing up to bullies (00:35:51)
17. Skip small talk: meaningful conversations and time integrity (00:40:46)
18. Changing systems: leadership’s role in frontline mental health (00:43:35)
19. Why proactive tools beat one-off “mandatory” therapy checkboxes (00:45:16)
20. Meditation finally clicks: BrainTap and quieting the inner noise (00:48:29)
21. What’s a zero-gravity chair (and is there a weight limit)? (00:52:30)
22. Shedding fear of rejection → “Everything is possible (00:53:54)
23. For the burned-out high achiever: start with the mirror (00:55:08)
24. The random question: life purpose in one sentence (00:58:53)
25. Outro & supporter roll (Real Life Prosthetics, Full Circle Boards, Sincerely Sawyer Photography) (01:00:45)
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