Today we’d like to introduce you to AdaPia d’Errico.
AdaPia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In late 2016, I began an important life-transition when I left the company that I helped to build in the real estate fintech space. Because my entire identity and sense of worth were intertwined with that company and my 18-year career, I was blind to the internal evolutionary process that was actually asking me to break out of my career identity and find my authentic essence; a more permanent and unshakeable sense of self that could be, do and take on any role – without being defined by said role.
My outer life: career, husband, home (under construction), finances, social network, and family all came under pressure. How could I keep my life together when everything inside of me was falling apart? I couldn’t find meaning in almost anything that I previously valued, other than my husband’s love, but that relationship was straining, and I was terrified of losing him. There were moments when I thought I’d have no other option than to retreat to a monastery on a mountaintop to live out the rest of my days.
This process started unconsciously, was often brutal and torturous, and deeply cleansing. As my outer identity unraveled, I found a nuclear core within me that radiated strength, determination, and perseverance in figuring out what I was going through, how to move with it rather than resist it, and to embrace the transformation. I had to surrender to the process and trust the outcome.
I call the process, digging my soul out from under my ego.
With an empowered shift in perspective, I found tools, sources, knowledge, and allies that I needed to help me understand that I was going through the Defining Moment of my dark night of the ego (not the soul; my soul was fine).
For the past several years, I’ve engaged this process actively as a participant rather than a victim. I committed to figuring out how I could integrate what appear as polar opposites: the spiritually awakened Self and the persona that loves business and finance.
Today, I’m a partner and VP of Strategy at Alpha Investing; a boutique real estate private equity firm, a leadership facilitator, keynote speaker, and author. I am also still married and in fact, our relationship grew stronger over these years.
My first book is out now, called Productive Intuition: Connecting to the Subtle. In it, I share what I’ve learned about finding Inner Authority, being an authentic leader, unlocking intuition to unleash creativity, and connecting to transcendent intelligence and working with it consciously.
Has it been a smooth road?
Even before my awakening, which was precipitated by burnout, my path in life and career was never easy. Whether it’s my overly-independent streak, stubbornness, love of freedom, pioneering spirit, and even a good dose of naiveté, life has taught me a lot about myself.
I started working in a bank when I was 18; I understood the importance of financial independence, especially for a woman. I was equally interested in personal development, starting at 19 years old. So I had these competing ‘interests’ at play, which kept me internally in a constant, unconscious battle of wills and conflicting desires.
It took me a long time to figure out that I could integrate the two. It also took society a long time to make the collective shift to embrace this. We crossed that bridge over the past ten years, and the past three years have accelerated that for everyone.
I took unusual paths – going to Europe when I was 20, getting married at 23, adapting to new cultures, trying to fit in as an ambitious young woman who was always trying to be held back by others. I struggled with the drive and the doubts, the innovator and the ‘good girl’, the people-pleasing and the freedom-seeking.
Though it is easy to look at the outside and say ‘they’ did this or ‘that’ happened to me, in reality, it’s all a reflection of my inner world and the life lessons I had to embrace. When I got that part straight, the outer world changed in response.
Life has definitely handed me some challenging experiences, but I’m built to work through them and live to teach what I’ve learned to others. This is what I’m doing with my book, my workshops, teaching, and writing. I know that when I share my story and its wisdom, I heal myself and I may heal others.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
In everything I do, I want to make a meaningful contribution. It’s not enough for me to tick a box, hit a deadline, or achieve a goal. It’s the intention and the quality of what I put into it that matters more than the outcome.
To me, career can be a transformative experience. I believe that everyone wants to create and to contribute. Though we might get caught in the paradigm of ‘work’ and ‘working’ as a ‘worker’, what’s true for every individual is that we each have energy, gifts, talents, passion, interests and unique abilities that want to be expressed.
I want to help people see that they are the only authority in their own lives. I believe we are being called into awakened leadership and I call this ‘Authority through Authenticity’- self-mastery in action toward outcomes that serve others.
I put this principle into action with my firm, Alpha Investing. The partners are aligned to the same high degree of ethics and integrity, which shows up in who we work with and what projects we bring to our network of investors. I’m proud of the way we have grown through organic means; referral and recommendation, and our reputation for solid underwriting and genuine interest in our investor’s wellbeing, defines us in a crowded market.
With my book, Productive Intuition: Connecting to the Subtle, I take readers through powerful practices, scientific research and personal stories that invite them to connect to the intuition available through: the mind and brain, the nervous systems and emotions, the physical body and energetic body, and the most powerful element of all – the heart. The book invites a deepening into the inner world of spirit and soul, teaching readers how to anchor their newfound perceptual abilities through intention, alignment to their highest values, claiming of their sovereignty, and finally, connecting this all together through the power of community and collaboration, sharing our stories, and service-oriented leadership.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’ve lived in LA for just over eight years now! For most of my life, I never felt at home anywhere. I’ve lived in five countries, including nine years in Italy. LA has so much appeal to me for its openness and acceptance of people in all their unique glory. You can go to any area or neighborhood and get a distinctly different vibe. You can find your tribe, your place, your favorite spots. It’s a city that welcomes you and challenges you to bring yourself – your true self – out!
What I’ve liked least is the traffic. I know it’s cliché!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.adapiaderrico.com || www.productiveintuition.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adapiaderrico/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adapia/
- Other: www.alphai.com
Image Credit:
Jacob Bescherer (the picture with me in an orange dress and jean jacket)
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
