EP 55 | Embracing Imperfection in Leadership with Jennifer Alton
Written by Tracy Spears on April 15, 2025
In this inspiring episode of Shift Out Loud, host Tracy Spears sits down with Jennifer Alton, a trailblazing leader in the medical device industry, to explore the power of imperfection in leadership and life. Jennifer shares her personal journey from a small town to the global stage, including the pivotal moment she delivered a TED Talk about embracing imperfection.
Together, they dive into the damaging effects of perfectionism in the workplace and how the practice of “working in draft” can unlock innovation, growth, and resilience. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of letting teams learn through failure, celebrating small wins, and fostering a culture of curiosity by asking powerful questions instead of offering quick fixes.
Listeners will gain valuable insights into authentic leadership, the role of vulnerability in personal development, and why progress—not perfection—is the real goal. Whether you’re leading a team or navigating your own growth journey, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on what it truly means to lead, learn, and shift out loud.
05:19 The First Shift: Leaving Small Town for University
12:35 Understanding the Medical Device Industry
13:54 The Birth of a TED Talk: Embracing Imperfection
18:14 Working in Draft: A New Approach to Productivity
27:42 Leadership Lessons: Letting Teams Fail to Learn
30:07 Embracing Failure and Learning
31:48 Overcoming Perfectionism
35:33 The Role of Leadership in Team Success
36:34 The TED Talk Experience
48:09 Celebrating Achievements and Future Aspirations
Guest Bio:
Jennifer has been with Alcon for almost 4.5 years as the Director of Surgical Marketing in Canada. She has spent most of her career in the medical device industry in sales and sales leadership, with the last 15 years focused on Ophthalmology. In 2018, she challenged herself to go back to school and complete a Global Executive MBA focused on Healthcare and Lifesciences from the Rotman School of Management in Toronto. She is a tiny, passionate human who lives large, innovates compulsively, and inspires those around her. Jennifer believes the key to achievement is not getting bogged down in the pitfalls of perfection but instead embracing the idea that, often, good is good enough.
Connect with Jennifer Alton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-alton/
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