Resilience is often described as strength. But real resilience is far less polished.

In this episode of Leading You, Julie Hyde sits down with Australian entrepreneur, author, and founder of Runway Room, Alex Fevola, for a powerful and deeply grounded conversation about rebuilding when life changes overnight.

At 22, Alex became a young mum. Weeks later, she lost her partner. On the same day, she experienced a medical emergency that resulted in major surgery and waking with a colostomy. It is an extraordinary chapter of loss, trauma, and shock, but this conversation is not about drama. It is about what happens next.

Alex speaks honestly about grief, journalling, hope, and the truth behind the question, “How did you cope?” There was no magic trick. There was support, feeling what needed to be felt, and choosing, when she could, to move forward.

From there, the episode moves into entrepreneurship. How working with women in hair and makeup became a source of independence and purpose. How spotting a gap in the market led to the creation of Runway Room. And what it really takes to build a beauty brand in a competitive industry without cutting corners on ethics or performance.

This is a conversation about tenacity over talent. About long-term thinking. About authenticity in a filtered world. And about leading yourself through seasons you never planned for.

If you are navigating change, building something meaningful, or rebuilding after disruption, this episode will resonate.

Key Themes

• Resilience beyond clichés
• Navigating grief and medical trauma
• Journalling as a tool for processing
• Choosing hope without denying pain
• Building purpose through meaningful work
• The founding of Runway Room
• Ethical product development and long-term growth
• Tenacity in competitive markets
• Authenticity in the age of filters and AI
• Believing in your capability as a woman in business

 

Time Stamps

00:00 Opening mindset moment
00:05 Meet Alex Fevola
01:30 Young motherhood, loss and medical trauma
04:42 Why she wrote Silver Linings
06:54 Coping tools, hope and not getting stuck
09:44 Sponsor message
10:49 Rebuilding through beauty and independence
12:33 The Runway Room concept
17:06 Product development and clean formulas
19:18 Tenacity, patience and long-term growth
21:06 Authenticity in the public eye
24:48 Final message to women and closing

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here

Connect with Julie:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

 

Connect with Alex:
Website: https://www.runwayroom.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexfevolamakeup/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-fevola-159aa529/

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