Lydia Alexandra Renders

Lydia Alexandra Renders (formerly Dest) is the Founder/CEO of Willow, a certified B-Corp and a designated WBE (Woman Based Enterprise) investment firm, located in Berkshire County, one of just a few firms with this distinction in the USA. As Chief Investment Officer and Strategist, Alexandra is known for her keen intuitive calls around thematic trends and market cycles. Living her values, Alexandra founded Willow pioneering Caring Capitalism, known for her core values of honesty, love, and making decisions that care for all of humanity. In her free time, she offers mediumship and channels.

Where did the idea for Willow come from?

It came from L. Alexandra Renders for Willow Investments. It came from my inner knowing that there had to be a way to marry spiritual principals with investments. So, I explored my inner truths, as hard as it was and brought them to light. No leader can progress in my company if they do not illustrate the value of Love.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My days starts at around 4:30 am with a series of meditations, breathwork and tapping into my intuition – what is it telling me? All this sets my day in motion.
A typical workday is unpredictable in the investment industry, but I start with data and charts showing me the newly printed economic numbers. I work with capital markets, mostly publicly traded, there is a great deal of volatility in this market. We make it productive by quickly culling through data and sitting with our intuition and understanding to map the story and direction. From here a plan of action is created and followed succinctly. But the magic in our days starts with the cohesion of the team, the open, honest raw dialogue that occurs naturally now that we are all taking full responsibility for all of our feelings and triggers.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I am a deeply introspective, I find what is true for me which makes it easy to execute any new ideas. When I am highly convicted, I move to action. I engage my team, for gut checks, and then we are off to the races from there.

What’s one trend that excites you?

People are becoming more curious, more interested in learning deeper aspects of themselves. It seems that the consciousness is rising. This will create a more peaceful and cohesive world.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Listening – not only to those around me but to my own inner knowing. In this way, I don’t waste my time on things that just will not work out in the end.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Allow yourself to fully embrace your feminine in a way that is truly authentic to you – do not try to fit in with the masculine. See the value in this authenticity, your intuition is your superpower, use it often and wisely. Embrace your masculine to help you execute but recognize the power of the feminine. One cannot exist without the other.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

It is important to acknowledge and embrace your anger. Proper expression is appropriate, it helps to set boundaries of what is proper for you and what is not. And most important LOVE does belong in corporate America, and it can be done!

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Look inside, determine what I feel, this sets my day in motion. If there is something bothering me, I must address it immediately with myself and others. If something is not working, it must be tackled right away and looked at objectively. I take full on responsibility for my feelings. To bury this or to deny this will take up bandwidth that can otherwise be used for something productive. Ask yourself questions, am I acting in accordance with my truth? Is something not working optimally here?

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I showed up for who I am with absolutely no pretenses. Showing my love and concern for others is always at the forefront.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I was apologetic for my power which led me to sometimes give away my power to others who were threatened or envious of my position. It was in an effort to pull them along; it was to encourage them. Along the way, I learned that I cannot drag people along but rather they must carry themselves.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

If you are in the service industry, conduct monthly group client zoom calls as an open forum, CLIENTS love to be informed.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I was away on a jammed packed business trip with one meeting after another and severe jet lag, this was in 1993. I was driven, focused, and worn down. I needed a massage; I opened the phone book (yes the yellow pages) and looked up healing/energy work/massage. I found a Reiki Master – I had no idea what that was, but I called and had a session. That moment changed my life. It was then that started my journey to learn to bring caring, loving practices to my business. Not simply stated BUT LIVED.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

My outlook calendar. I cannot organize without it. And of course, our trading software that helps roll up trades very quickly.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

BREAKING THE HABIT OF BEING YOURSELF by Joe Dispenza
This book helps you uncover the ways you limit yourself and how to overcome this habit.

What is your favorite quote?

“As I change the inner landscape inside of me, the world around me changes”

Key Learnings:

• Know yourself, inside and out. Understand what makes you happy, understand your boundaries, accept your feelings whether negative or positive. This will ensure you are on the right track with your business and in your life. This will help you realize whether you have a job, a career, or if you are living your purpose and your passion.
• You have power, a ton of it. Don’t underestimate the power of your mind to set life in motion. Don’t be afraid of your power and do not give it away. Know the value of your thoughts, your words, and your actions. All of this creates outcome.
• Enjoy and embrace being different. Be a unicorn in your industry, stand out and relish in the delight of simply being you, unapologetically.
• Listen, deeply listen. Do not speak. Let another fully express, repeat what they said back. Do not give an opinion, do not try to fix it, just deeply listen. That alone is healing.
• Standing in your truth, in love, and in power will likely invoke criticism and jealousy. Stay in your truth anyway and truly love yourself for having the courage to do so! We need more of you!!!!