Is it just me or is everyone talking about ‘A Star is Born’? In a recent interview, Bradley Cooper was explaining how he wanted to tell a story about finding your voice. He said ‘The world is often trying to tell us what we are, who we are supposed to be and what we can or cannot do’. Judging by the box office figures, this story resonates with many people.

But let’s imagine this story was told in a corporate setting (stay with me!)

Let’s imagine that an employee is diligently sitting at their computer working away and productively getting things done. This employee is such a hard worker and produces high quality work. In spite of outward appearances, they know they are capable of so much more. But everyone else around them seems so much more clever, more charismatic and more confident.

But then, one day, the company’s President flies in from overseas. It just so happens, the President joins a meeting where the employee is presenting. And this President sits up and pays attention to this unassuming employee. The President starts asking the employee’s view on the way things are run around the company. The President is so impressed, this Leader will stop at nothing until the employee joins the Board.

I know, never happens! But if it did, would’t that be great?! But then you’d have to question who is the star. The employee? Or the President, for being brave enough to speak up and champion the employee almost everyone else has overlooked?

The alternative storyline could be the employee speaking up. The employee daring to stand out by speaking up. That film has already been made several times: ‘Jerry Maguire’ and ‘Working Girl’ to name a couple. But wouldn’t it be great if life could more frequently imitate the courage we see in art?

Go on. Speak up.