In this interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Alessia Di Cecco, Peak Performance Strategist, Workplace Leadership Expert, and Human Connection Speaker, shares her journey from Junior Olympics gold medalist to a leader in workplace leadership. With over 20 years of experience in driving high-performing teams and building strong connections in the workplace, Alessia discusses her approach to creating resilient, balanced leadership cultures. She highlights the importance of psychological safety, setting boundaries, and prioritizing well-being for sustainable growth. Known for blending strategy with heart, Alessia’s insights offer a fresh perspective on unlocking team potential while fostering human connection in the workplace. In this conversation, she shares her experiences, the impact of her work at Cineplex Digital Media, and her entrepreneurial journey with Sweet Tavolo, demonstrating how slowing down and embracing creativity can redefine success and leadership.
Alessia Di Cecco is a Peak Performance Strategist, Workplace Leadership Expert, and Human Connection Speaker with over 20 years of experience leading high-performing teams and driving multimillion-dollar growth. As Strategic Growth Account Director at Cineplex Digital Media, she leads Canada’s largest digital out-of-home media network and knows what it takes to grow strong teams and build workplaces where people feel connected and supported.
You emphasize the importance of balancing performance and well-being in leadership. Can you share how leaders can craft their own “recipe for resilience” to prevent burnout and foster healthier workplaces?
Every leader needs their own recipe for resilience—and like any good recipe, it has to be intentional, personal, and nourishing.
Start with your non-negotiables. What do you need to feel grounded? Maybe it’s movement, creative time, or space to think. That’s your base. A strong base grounds you when things start to get busy and you may start to lose your way.
Add boundaries. Say no to what doesn’t serve you or distracts from your values. Protect your energy like it’s your most valuable asset—because it is.
Add in recovery. Burnout isn’t fixed by a vacation, it is not something that you can just fix; it’s prevented by daily rituals that restore you. Schedule white space like you would any critical meeting and protect this time.
Finally, sprinkle with self-compassion. You’re human. Resilience isn’t about being unbreakable—it’s about knowing how to come back to yourself when the pressure hits.
Leaders who create and honour their own unique recipe don’t just avoid burnout—they build cultures where others are empowered to do the same.
Your upcoming Speaker Slam focuses on the “Power of No.” Why do you believe setting boundaries is a leadership superpower, and how can leaders embrace this concept without fear of repercussions?
The Power of No isn’t about rejection—it’s about direction.
Boundaries are a leadership superpower because they clarify what truly matters. When leaders say no, they’re not closing doors—they’re choosing what to walk through with intention. That kind of clarity builds trust, focus, and sustainability.
But let’s be honest: setting boundaries can feel risky. Many leaders fear seeming selfish, unavailable, or uncommitted. The truth? Weak boundaries lead to weaker leadership. Overextension dilutes vision, fractures teams, and breeds burnout.
To embrace the Power of No, start with values. What’s non-negotiable for you? What does your “yes” actually cost if it’s not aligned?
The key to saying no with grace is to be able to articulate why you are saying no. In my experience just saying no without explanation can cause others to feel dismissed and unheard. It is important to offer context and grace. Model it consistently. When leaders draw clear lines, it gives others permission to do the same—and that’s how you build resilient, respectful workplaces.
Boundaries aren’t walls. They’re the frame that holds your leadership together.
Launching Sweet Tavolo was a turning point in your journey. How did baking and slowing down help you redefine success, and what lessons can leaders learn from this experience about creativity and connection?
Launching Sweet Tavolo wasn’t just a business decision—it was a boundary. It was me choosing presence over pressure, connection over constant achievement.
Baking slowed me down. It brought me back to my hands, my senses, and my breath. In a world obsessed with hustle, creating something simple and beautiful—without a deadline or KPI—was radical. It all fell together during COVID when the whole world shut down and we all had to stop.
It redefined success for me. Not as more, but as meaning. Not as speed, but as substance.
For leaders, creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s fuel. And connection doesn’t come from more meetings; it comes from making space to be human. Whether it’s baking, painting, or walking without your phone, slowing down expands perspective. It reconnects you to why you lead in the first place.
Sometimes, the most strategic thing you can do is step away—and return clearer, calmer, and more connected than before.
As a Workplace Leadership Expert, you advocate for creating environments where people feel connected and supported. What are the essential ingredients every workplace needs to foster both connection and peak performance?
The best workplaces are like the perfect brownie—rich, balanced, and made with care.
First ingredient? Psychological safety. It’s the base layer—without it, everything crumbles. People do their best work when they feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be real. Understanding that we are all human and not just numbers on a page is truly the difference that makes a rich work environment.
Next, fold in clarity. Clear roles, expectations, and boundaries act like structure in the batter—they keep everything from turning into a messy swirl. Teams can not be expected to perform if roles and expectations are not clear, it’s like baking a brownie with a blindfold on.
Then comes connection. That’s the sweetness. Real, human connection—not just Slack messages and team-building days, but genuine belonging. Talk to your team members, take interest in their lives outside of work. Find out what makes them tick and share what makes you tick.
And finally, the most underrated ingredient: rest. Just like a brownie needs time to set before you cut into it, people need recovery to sustain performance. No one can stay in the oven forever, or like the brownies they will burn(out).
Leaders who get the mix right don’t just boost output—they bake a culture of people who want to be part of. It’s not about adding more ingredients—it’s about choosing the right ones, in the right proportions.
You want something that lasts? Don’t rush it. Build it with intention.
What advice would you give small and medium-sized business leaders who want to unlock their team’s potential while prioritizing well-being and human connection?
Start by getting honest: Are you creating a culture where people feel safe, seen, and supported—or just stretched thin? Make this your north star and revisit your performance quarterly.
Unlocking your team’s potential isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about leading smarter. That starts with clarity: What are we actually trying to achieve, and what’s getting in the way? Often, it’s noise—too many tasks, unclear priorities, or a lack of trust. Unlock each team member’s potential and skills, they should be different from yours, never feel threatened by someone who has abilities better than yours.
Next, double down on real connection. Check in beyond the metrics. Listen without fixing. Celebrate the human, not just the performer.
And finally—protect well-being like it’s a business priority. Because it is. Boundaries, flexibility, recovery time—these aren’t perks. They’re the foundation of long-term performance. Build your business with well-being as a part of your success metrics.
Your people want to rise. Give them a culture worth rising in.
