#101: The Courage to Go Your Own Way
With Alexis Shepard
Join us on March 13th live in NYC for a day of connection, celebration, and boosting our collective courage to do big, bold things, because goodness knows we are gonna need to be brave this year!
Proceeds are going to Emma's Torch (empowering refugees through culinary education + catering our amazing lunch), 826NY (uplifting the voices of diverse young authors), and Lonely Worm Farm (an arts and ecology organization for people of all abilities).
We'll have an incredible Feng Shui master helping us optimize our energy for the year ahead, guided meditations, creative workshops, and intimate conversations over lunch.
It's going to be an amazing day, and I so hope you can join us.
Today’s Featured Uplifter: Alexis Shepard
As I sat down with Alexis Shepherd, even through the digital divide, her energy felt authentic and unfiltered. As a former educator turned higher education HR professional, Alexis has built a life around what she calls "going my own way, even when everyone else isn't."
She navigated our conversation with the same thoughtful confidence she brings to her career and personal choices. When describing her decision to leave teaching mid-year — a move many would consider taboo — she didn't shy away from acknowledging both the difficulty and the necessity of the choice. "I had this deep internal knowing that there was just something else that I needed to do," she explained, her voice carrying both certainty and vulnerability.
What struck me most was Alexis' profound understanding of what makes choices truly difficult. It's not just the decision itself but the absence of precedent. "When you are truly going against the grain and standing on your own," she reflected, "you don't necessarily have someone to look to and say, 'this person that I know, that I'm connected to, they did it, and they made it out okay.'" This absence of proof points makes the unknown infinitely scarier — whether it's choosing to be child-free by choice (as she and her husband have), leaving a teaching career mid-year, or showing up as her full, unfiltered self in professional spaces.
This wisdom wasn't theoretical — it was earned through repeated acts of courage, choosing integrity over conformity, and discovering that the path to impact doesn't always follow the well-worn road.
Her Courage Practice: The Full Disclosure
Alexis practices what I'd call "radical transparency" — a deliberate choice to reveal her whole self upfront, quirks and all, rather than gradually unveiling herself over time. When she met her now-husband twelve years ago, she felt an immediate impulse to tell him everything: "I have this disorder, I have this weird quirk. Here's my relationship history, here's where I struggle, here are my insecurities."
Friends questioned this approach, wondering if she was revealing too much too soon. But Alexis understood something vital to deep connection: real love requires real truth. "If he's going to fall in love with me," she explained, "he needs to fall in love with me for all of the things." This wasn't just about being known — it was about creating space for the other person to reveal themselves fully too, establishing a relationship foundation built on complete acceptance.
She's carried this practice into her professional life, refusing to code-switch or perform a more "polished" version of herself in corporate settings. With her tattoos, piercings, and occasional Southern vernacular, she challenges conventional notions of professionalism. The result? Not rejection, but recognition. Her authenticity has become her superpower, leading to greater impact and even promotion. "I'm bringing myself to the table with all of the risks," she shared, "and it's not only okay, but actually got me elevated into this space."
Listen to this if:
You're tired of wearing different masks in different areas of your life
You've ever wondered what it would be like to make a major life choice without having examples to follow
You're weighing decisions based on what's "right" versus what's expected
You want to build deeper, more authentic connections in both personal and professional realms
You're curious about navigating nontraditional life choices with confidence
Check out lots more stories of Trailblazing women in our episode directory.
More About Alexis
Alexis Shepard is passionate about helping others embrace their authentic selves and find courage in their unique paths. With a background in education and a deep commitment to personal growth, she believes in the power of mindfulness, connection, and community to uplift and empower. Alexis values relationships built on love, empathy, and honesty, and she’s dedicated to fostering environments where people can thrive by staying true to who they are.
The Uplifters Chain
Shayna was nominated by Kaitlin Johnstone who was nominated by Christina Testut.
Check out their stories:
Let’s keep rising higher together.
💓 Aransas
PS: Did you get your Uplifters Live ticket yet?!? I can’t wait to share this day with you!
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