When I started Allara, I thought I was just building a business. What I didn’t realise then was that I was building a mirror. One that reflected every lesson, every scar, and every ounce of strength I’d gathered along the way.

The first few years were all heart and hustle. I was running on pure purpose and caffeine, trying to keep up with the speed of my own vision. But as the business grew, I realised something important. Success doesn’t happen by accident. It has to be intentional. You can’t scale chaos, and you can’t grow a company that outpaces your own personal growth.

That was the moment I started learning how to operate in what I now call my genius zone, the space where I’m doing the things that light me up and move the business forward in ways that matter.

Strengthening the Foundation – Building an Executive Leadership Team

A major turning point for me this year was expanding Allara’s Executive Leadership Team. Bringing on a Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer instantly transformed the way we operated. Their experience, steadiness, and strategic thinking created clarity almost overnight. For the first time, I felt supported at the level the business required. It freed up space for me to focus on what I love; my family, my creativity, and the big ideas that help shape the future of our sector.

Soon after, I added a Chief Financial Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, completing a leadership team that brings depth, expertise, and alignment to every corner of Allara. Building this ELT team was about building smarter, leading with intention, and surrounding myself with people who believe in the vision as strongly as I do. With this team, Allara isn’t just growing; it’s evolving into its next, stronger chapter.

Finding My Genius Zone

People often ask how I manage to juggle everything. The businesses, the podcast, the events, the travel, the constant flow of new ideas. The truth is, I don’t do it all, and I don’t try to anymore.

In the early years, I thought being a good leader meant having all the answers and doing everything myself. I was terrified to let go because I’d spent so long proving I was worthy of the seat I was sitting in. But I learned very quickly that leadership isn’t about control, but clarity.

My genius zone sits in creativity and connection, dreaming up ideas, building strategies, and inspiring people to see what’s possible. I’ve built a team around me who are experts in their own zones, and together we’ve created a rhythm that works. When everyone is in their lane, doing what they do best, the whole organisation moves forward with energy and ease.

Evolving Beyond Allara

As Allara grew, I started to realise that my impact could reach beyond one business. I didn’t want to just run a successful organisation; I wanted to help reshape the way the disability sector saw leadership. That’s how the Rachel Carey brand came to life.

Through personal coaching, keynote speaking, and events, I’ve been able to share my journey in a way that hopefully helps others lead with more intention and less fear. The NDIS space can be very clinical, it’s full of incredible people, but it can sometimes feel black and white, with little room for creativity or emotion. I wanted to change that.

That’s why I created What Are We Drinking? A podcast that brings real stories and real conversations to the table. It’s not polished or rehearsed; it’s raw, funny, and deeply human. I wanted to show that leadership doesn’t have to look perfect to be powerful. You can be strategic and still have heart. You can be ambitious and still be kind. You can run a business and still be completely yourself.

Building with Intention

One of the biggest shifts I’ve made over the past few years is learning to slow down and lead from alignment instead of adrenaline. I’ve done a lot of self-reflection work such as attending workshops, retreats, and diving deeper into fitness and wellness – not to perfect myself, but to understand myself.

Those practices are about survival. They’re the reason I can show up for my team, my community, and my family without burning out. Every decision I make now, whether it’s a new business venture or a creative project, starts with one question: Does this align with who I’m becoming?
That question has become my compass. It’s helped me say no to things that don’t fit, and yes to the things that feel expansive, even when they’re scary.

Being in business means you’re constantly evolving, and I’ve learned to embrace that. The person who started Allara isn’t the same woman leading it today, and I’m proud of that. Growth isn’t comfortable, but it’s necessary if you want to build something that lasts.

The Recognition That Matters

This year, being recognised as a finalist in the CEO Awards and the Australian Women in Small Business Champion Awards has been incredibly humbling. But this isn’t the first time we’ve been acknowledged for doing things differently. Over the past five years, Allara has been recognised across multiple national platforms, for leadership, culture, innovation, and our unwavering commitment to participant-led support.

Each award represents a chapter of growth and It’s all about what those moments stand for; proof that heart-led leadership works, that empathy belongs at the boardroom table, and that a company built on lived experience can change an entire sector.

When I look back on those milestones, I’m proud of how far we’ve come, but even prouder of what we’ve stayed true to along the way.

Looking Ahead

As I look to the future, my focus is on growth that feels good for myself, for my team, and for our community. I don’t want to build faster; I want to build better.

I want to continue creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired. I want to challenge the way our industry thinks, not for the sake of being different, but because I know it can be better.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in these five years, it’s that success doesn’t come from doing it all. It comes from knowing who you are, standing by your values, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision just as much as you do.