What would you do if opportunity knocked at 9am and you had to deliver perfection by 7pm, in a different city, live on TV to the world?
Imagine this: You’re enjoying a quiet evening with friends when, the next morning, your phone rings.
By nightfall, you’re on stage at the Sydney Opera House performing Mahler’s Second Symphony, a piece you’ve never sung in full, live to a sold-out audience and global broadcast.
This isn’t a movie script; it’s the real-life story of Mezzo-Soprano Deborah Humble who rose to the challenge in July 2022.
Her experience is packed with lessons for corporate leaders and teams navigating high-pressure situations:
👉 Preparation + Opportunity = Success
👉 Trust in Leadership to Inspire Confidence
👉 Collaboration is Key to Overcoming Challenges
👉 Resilience is Built Over Time
👉 Calculated Risks Can Lead to Transformative Outcomes
Deborah’s story reminds us that success doesn’t happen by accident – it’s the result of years of preparation, adaptability, and trust in yourself and your team.
Here are key takeaways from this story for corporate leaders and teams:
🏗️ Preparation Creates Opportunity
Deborah’s ability to rise to the challenge wasn’t just luck, it was the result of years of preparation. Her deep expertise and sight-reading skills allowed her to adapt quickly. In business, this underscores the importance of building foundational skills and being ready when unexpected opportunities arise.
✅ Leadership Inspires Confidence
Simone Young, the conductor, exemplified exceptional leadership by instilling calm and trust in a high-pressure situation. A simple whisper: “Don’t panic. Just watch me” helped Deborah focus and perform at her best. Great leaders know how to steady their teams and provide clarity during moments of uncertainty.
👏 Collaboration is Key
From the orchestra to backstage staff, everyone worked together seamlessly to make the performance a success. In corporate terms, this highlights the power of teamwork and trust in achieving shared goals, even when time is short.
❓Embrace Calculated Risks
Deborah initially hesitated but ultimately trusted her instincts and said yes. The result? A career-defining moment that led to further opportunities. For organisations, this is a reminder that taking calculated risks can lead to transformative outcomes.
🎶 Resilience is Built Over Time
Deborah’s ability to overcome self-doubt stemmed from years of navigating challenges in her career. Similarly, businesses build resilience by learning from setbacks and adapting to change.
Whether you’re leading a team or stepping into an unexpected role, remember: “If you don’t let doubt get in the way, you can achieve anything.”
What would you do if faced with your own “Mahler moment”?
Find out more about Deborah Humble on her website.
Listen to the recording here.