Alanna McRae is a marketing leader, team builder, and one of the most authentic humans I know. We worked closely together at HSBC and navigated a major transition side by side—the kind that tests what you're made of. Alanna has always had a gift for creating environments where people feel safe to do their best work, and she does it without fanfare or theory. She just shows up, consistently, as herself. She's now at a crossroads many of us know well: weighing what comes next after years in big corporate. I wanted to talk to her about authenticity, leadership, and how she's thinking about this next chapter.
Erin: You've built a reputation for being unapologetically yourself in corporate environments that don't always make that easy. Was that always natural for you, or was there a moment where you made a conscious decision to stop editing yourself at work?
Alanna: There was a moment, earlier in my career, when I noticed I was connecting with people better and getting more done as a result. That was my first point of positive reinforcement—I was actually doing better at work because I was being more myself. Before that, I think I felt I needed to be a specific kind of 'corporate' to fit in.
Once I gave myself permission to show up more authentically, I found I was more in my element, more productive, and honestly, I had more joy. The human element of work fascinates me. Recognizing that we're all just people rolling around the world trying our best became a guiding principle. It helped me continue to show up authentically and, as a leader, inspire others to do the same.
Erin: You have a real gift for building teams where people feel safe to be themselves and do their best work. What do you actually do to create that environment? Not the theory—the daily, practical stuff that most leaders overlook.
Alanna: I ask people how they're doing. Often. I leave it open-ended for them to share what they're comfortable sharing. If it's personal, I meet them there. If it's more professional, that works too.
I also make a point of stating when I don't know something, when I make a mistake, when I'm challenged. It gets the team comfortable to follow suit, and we can really get to some great work and collaborative problem-solving as a result. And team bonding.
I also like to laugh and remind my team: we are not saving lives. We really aren't. Yes, let's do great work and be reliable, collaborative humans—but let's not forget to put this in context of the greater scheme.
Erin: You and I navigated a huge transition together—HSBC to RBC, the uncertainty, the team changes, all of it. What did that experience teach you about staying grounded and leading others when the ground is literally shifting underneath you?
Alanna: The only constant thing is change. So cheesy, but so true.
I didn't attach myself to anything, and that made things easier when the plan shifted. I really focused on being a good team player and showing up with a positive attitude—those were the things I could control. And fiercely protecting and motivating my teammates to help them through major uncertainty.
Erin: You're at an interesting crossroads right now—you've left the big corporate world and you're weighing what comes next. A lot of people reading this are in that exact same place, or will be soon. How are you thinking about that decision? What's helping you get clarity, and what are you sitting with that doesn't have an answer yet?
Alanna: I could talk about this forever, but I'll start with a personal story because I think it's given me the perspective I've needed during this phase.
My dad was diagnosed with a terminal and degenerative illness last year. That diagnosis immediately made me laser-focused on time with family, being present, and enjoying the moment. It gave me perspective on the pressure I was putting on myself to pick a lane.
I shifted my focus to trying a lane, having fun in that lane, learning from it, and letting it give me information on what's next. I've removed timelines from my expectations on career advancement and turned inward—focusing on how I show up day to day and what I can absorb today to inform the future.
My non-negotiables are a job that gives me challenge, good stress, and flexibility to be an active member of my family. I trust that I have the goods to bring value to organizations, and I'm able to be flexible with the journey.
Erin: If someone reading this is feeling stuck—maybe they're holding back at work, or they know they need a change but can't quite make the leap—what would you want them to hear?
Alanna: A few things:
Think about what you do when you lose track of time.
Make an inventory of your non-negotiables for your ideal working environment.
Take stock of what's important to you—personal and professional.
Talk about your gripes to someone you trust.
Share your ambitions with someone who could be a sponsor or advocate.
And remember: every no, every misaligned moment, is a nudge toward where you belong.