Counting To 3
As a kid, I was terrified of speaking out about anything and everything; at home and at school. Counting was the only way I was able to muster up the courage to get my voice heard. I would count to 3, 5 or 10, pushing myself on the final count to say what I wanted to say.
Coming Out As LGBT+
I officially came out when I was 21 years old. Well, my mum helped me. It happened over Christmas dinner in the most loving way possible. When a family friend asked me “Do you have a boyfriend?” My mum simply replied “No, she has a girlfriend!” Turns out I didn't need to say anything. They already knew.
The Authentic Self Process
In a cold, bare probation office on a wet and windy day in West Yorkshire, England, I created the Authentic Self Process; an extraordinarily powerful 3 step system that empowers you to bring all of who you are to work and life. I was teaching adult ex-offenders at the time. The Authentic Self Process was developed as a result of my observations and interactions with ex-offenders and the work I did with them to release the masks they wore so they could reconnect to their Authentic and true self.
Workplace Bullying
I had a stalker. It really shook me up. I decided to leave my role teaching ex-offenders. I started teaching in a college but soon in to this role I experienced a series of LGBT+ related hate incidents at work, which included a significant period of bullying. This impacted dramatically on my physical health, which in turn affected my performance at work. The stress I felt, as a result of the hate incidents on a daily basis, resulted in me having IBS - irritable bowel syndrome. I wasn't able to teach classes in the mornings.
Wearing Masks
I began hiding who I really was behind a mask: at work, at home and with my loved ones. It reached a point where I became exhausted from pretending to be someone else. Someone I’m not. Self-censoring my behaviour and having to triple think everything I said before saying it was incredibly draining. I was tired, stressed and at breaking point. Something had to give.
Size 16 ... to Size 6
I went on a journey to get less stressed and healthier: body, mind and spirit. I learned simple and practical things that I implemented quickly and went from being a size 16 to a size 6. I have maintained my weight for 10+ years. I wrote a book about the strategies I used to go from a size 16 to size 6 (with no dieting or supplements) and to clean up my mind. It went on to become a best-seller!
Releasing The Past
In the process of getting healthier, I began to realise the power of my mind. I was caught up in past hurts, the expectations I had set for myself and old messages and conditioning from my childhood. I was letting other people's expectations of me, how I felt about myself (not good...) and not being able to express myself get in the way. It was dragging me down. It had to stop.
I Left Teaching
Enough was enough. I had internalised all those messages of hate, unconscious bias and judgement and they were slowly eating away at me from the inside out. I had made the decision. I was going to leave teaching and start my own business. Scared to death, no experience and not sure what I would do, I took the first step. As you do. I released my book. I took the leap and realised the other side was nearer than I could ever have imagined.
Accidental LGBT+ Expert
My book was the catalyst for a tidal wave of events. It was a best-seller. My mum was chuffed to bits. I went from counting to 3 in my head to speaking on global stages to 1000s of people. I had been acting since I was 11 years old, to overcome this fear I had of speaking out. I won a Speaker Of The Year Award and as I shared my story of workplace bullying, I was invited to work with more and more multinational corporations and Fortune 500s. I became a world-renowned consultant and trainer, specialising in being your Authentic Self, psychological safety and LGBT+ inclusion training.
The Media Takes Note
I was asked to be a contributor to leading global LGBT+ publications such as Pink News, Vice, Gay Star News, Diva Magazine + Curve Magazine. BBC journalists + Sky News started to contact me to advise them on potential news stories, to comment on current issues and to work with them to reach the LGBT+ community. Cosmopolitan wanted a piece on LGBT+ relationships. Psychologies wanted a piece on being your Authentic Self. Forbes, BBC Radio, BBC Three, The Telegraph, The Times, The Sun, Metro. All wanting to hear more from me about being your Authentic Self, psychological safety and LGBT+ inclusion.
Interviewing Celebrities
AND THEN.... I was asked to interview celebrities. I jumped at the chance. I want to have my own TV show and this, I thought, is perfect practice! I have interviewed Olympic Gold medallists, one of the busiest character actors in Hollywood, household name best-selling authors, world record holders, award-winning journalists, a celebrity dentist and the first primetime actress to come out as a lesbian. I learned so much about being your Authentic Self from the likes of Glenn Morshower, Dr Joe Vitale, Amanda Bearse and Sharon Lechter. I NEARLY interviewed Hayley Mills too. Ask me about that sometime...
Playing It Gay Guidelines
I was an actor when I was younger, starting when I was 11 years old. I joined the local theatre group and was in many theatre productions throughout my teenage years. I even toured a play to Hungary IN Hungarian. I devised a process for creating an authentic character. Since starting my own business, I've been working with actors and directors in TV and film on 'Playing It Gay' and creating authentic characters. I advise on and off set on how to create authentic gay characters, using the process I created as a teen. These have become known as the Playing It Gay Guidelines - for straight actors playing gay characters.
The Authentic Self Suite
People learn, grow and develop in different ways. I wanted to create a suite of ways people could access the Authentic Self Process. I created the Authentic Self E-Learning Course, the Authentic Self Journal, live training, the Authentic Self 1-2-1 Program and the hugely popular Authentic Self Transformative Retreat. I am an educator at heart so I continue to write about how to reconnect to your authentic self. Having now published hundreds of articles in leading magazines and newspapers and being featured on TV and radio talking about authenticity, psychological safety and LGBT+ issues, I reach over 10 million people every week. The Authentic Organization: how to create a psychologically safe workplace, published by Wiley, is now available. The Authentic Self Process underpins the 1st of the 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety.
Psychological Safety
Working with multinational corporations, I devised a blueprint for creating psychologically safe workplaces. I call them The 5 Pillars Of Psychological Safety. These 5 Pillars are being used around the world to create fully inclusive workplaces. Lux, the diagnostic tool, provides organisations with robust data on how psychologically safe your workplace is (as assessed by your employees), as well as highlighting the Pillars you need to focus on and providing recommendations! Armed with this data, organisations can engage with the full suite of psychological safety products and services: the Thrive Program, Psychological Safety E-Learning Course, Toolkit for leaders and managers and live training for leaders and managers. Information about our methodologies and services can be found on www.thepsi.global.
MY OFFICIAL BIO
Gina Battye is the CEO and Founder of the Psychological Safety Institute.
She is a world renowned Psychological Safety Consultant and Trainer for Multinational Corporations, Fortune 500s, TV, Film, Radio and the Global Press.
15 years ago Gina Battye created the Authentic Self Process, and The 5 Pillars Of Psychological Safety.
Since winning a Speaker Of The Year Award, Gina Battye gained international recognition and a celebrity following.
She has been creating content since 2014 for her followers, with over 10 million people accessing her content and teachings each week.
Gina has interviewed Olympic medallists, Hollywood actors, household name best-selling authors, world record holders, award winning journalists, celebrity dentists, the first primetime actress to come out as a lesbian – to name a few.
More recently, Gina has been called upon to advise and consult on best practice for actors playing LGBT+ characters; to ensure authentic delivery of LGBT+ characters and LGBT+ relationships in film, TV, theatre and radio.
As a result of this work, Gina has created the Playing It Gay Guidelines, for straight actors playing gay characters.
Watching Gina at work is mesmerising. Working with C-suite execs, senior leaders, employees, actors, directors, celebrities, public figures and audiences around the world, Gina has the rare ability to electrify everyone on set and in the room whilst delivering original and useful insights that lead to individuals blossoming and reconnecting to their Authentic Self.
As a media friendly experienced expert, with an acting background, Gina's work has been featured widely in the media, including:
Sky News, BBC, Forbes, The Telegraph, BBC Three, The Times, The Sun, Psychologies, Cosmopolitan, Metro, The Stage, Pink News, Vice, Gay Star News, Diva and Curve.
Gina is an advisor for the BBC and ITV.
Conservation Work
Gina actively supports and works with several local, national and global environmental causes.
She is a passionate advocate and spokesperson for the environment, wildlife and nature; both on land and in the oceans.
Gina is committed to reforestation. She plants trees for every project that she completes. She aims to match the organisation she is working with, with the most suitable project (nationally or globally) and plants a number of trees to align with the size of each project. Gina loves you to get involved in the decisions and obviously, if you would like to match fund the trees planted, that would be great and very welcome.
By planting trees, together we are working to reduce emissions, as well as open up new habitats for wildlife and ensure many more people like you will be able to create new memories with their friends and family in leafy green spaces in the future.
These are Gina's chosen UK charities that she makes financial contributions to:
- Marine Conservation Society
- Galapagos Conservation Trust
- Yorkshire Wildlife
- Woodlands Trust
- National Trust
WHAT GINA’S CELEBRITY FOLLOWERS SAY
Dr Joe Vitale: Law of Attraction expert and featured in the movie The Secret.
“It was a joy to work with Gina. I highly endorse her and love her. I will work with her again. If you have the chance to work with Gina - do it. She’s the best!”
Roz Savage MBE: the first woman to row solo across 3 oceans.
“Gina is amazing. She’s an absolute bundle of energy and makes you feel like you can take on the world. She’s smart, sassy and wise. She initiated an incredibly powerful SHIFT in me. I’m so happy to have Gina in my life.”
Michelle Cameron Coulter: Olympic Gold Medalist and 6-time world champion.
“Rock Star Gina is so awesome. I love what she is doing. If you get the opportunity to work with her - DO IT!”
Glenn Morshower: Hollywood Actor – one of the busiest character actors in Hollywood today
“I highly recommend Gina to you. It was a pleasure to work with her.”
Joanne Harris: International Best-Selling Author
“Loved it, loved it, loved it! Finally, a self-help book that actually works”
Gina’s Passion Projects
Earth and the Planet
Sustainability, plastic pollution, animal conservation and protection, the ocean, reforestation, environment, pollution, global warming, climate change.
The LGBT+ Community
Creating breakthroughs globally for the LGBT+ community, combining world class training with a heavy dose of hindsight, Gina changes lives.
Turtle and Tortoise Protection
Coordinating a group of volunteers each year to engage in protection and conservation work overseas. Please enquire if you are interested in volunteering to support this work.
GINA'S LIKES
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