About
DR GRATITUDE
From Rock Bottom to Radiance
I didnβt set out to become a global speaker, a published author, or the founder of a life-changing movement. I set out to survive.
What I discovered along the way is that gratitude doesnβt just heal, it transforms.
And it became my compass, my superpower, and my lifeβs work.
The Early Years
Creativity, Courage & Cracks in the System
Iβve always been a doer. A dreamer. A creator.
From the time I was a little girl dancing in The Pyjama Game, to raising the most money at school for the Red Cross, I had a big heart and big energy. But that didnβt mean the road was easy.
Growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, I was told Iβd struggle in school, in writing, and in the structured world. But I didnβt let that stop me. Instead of shrinking, I got louder. Instead of giving up, I got resourceful. And every time life handed me a βno,β I found a way to say βwatch me.β
In high school, I began mentoring younger students and diving into art, performance, and design. I placed third in the Young Achiever Designer Award and earned a spot at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney in 1999. But even then, something inside me longed to be of deeper service to lead with meaning, not just talent.
The Educator Era
Purpose in Practice
By 2002, I had completed a Diploma in Childrenβs Services, followed by a Bachelor of Teaching. Over the next decade, I built a strong career in early education earning awards, scholarships, and recognition for innovation in the workplace.
I became a centre manager, led teams, mentored educators, and even featured on the front page of local newspapers as an Educator of the Year Finalist. But behind the scenes, I was burning out. Overgiving. Running on empty. The system I once believed in was breaking me. I climbed the corporate ladder to Operations Manager with one of the biggest Early Childhood Corporations in Australia.
In 2019, I hit my limit.
That was the year everything cracked open: physically, emotionally, spiritually.
And it became the moment that changed everything.
Rock Bottom
The Breaking That Birthed the Work
When I hit the wall, I knew something had to shift not just in my work, but in me.
I let go of the old titles, the identity, the pressure to be perfect.
And thatβs when I found gratitude.
Not the fluffy kind.
The kind that holds you in your darkest moments.
The kind that teaches you to breathe again.
The kind that transforms pain into purpose.
Gratitude didnβt just save me. It rebuilt me.
And I knew I had to bring that power to the world.
Rebirth
The Gratitude Methodβ’ Is Born
Out of my healing came a vision to create a model of leadership, coaching, and transformation rooted in appreciation, science, and soul.
Thatβs how The Gratitude Methodβ’ was born.
Since 2018, Iβve become an internationally published author with over 30 books and journals distributed globally. Iβve spoken on a TEDx stage, run global workshops, mentored womenβs groups, created a franchise coaching model, and led retreats to reconnect people to their power through presence and gratitude.
Along the way, Iβve collected awards, ran marathons, climbed mountains with my daughter, and raised thousands for charities. I became a Certified Professional Coach, earned diplomas in Fitness, Business, and Training & Assessment, and am now completing my Masterβs in Positive Psychology.
Iβve been honoured as a Youth Mentor, Be You Leader for Beyond Blue, a United Voice Leader Delegate, and in 2019, was recognised by the Affinity Education Group as a Shining Star.
My life is now a beautiful blend of impact, imperfection, and intentional living.
From Rock Bottom to Radiance
I didnβt set out to become a global speaker, a published author, or the founder of a life-changing movement. I set out to survive.
What I discovered along the way is that gratitude doesnβt just heal, it transforms.
And it became my compass, my superpower, and my lifeβs work.
The Early Years
Creativity, Courage & Cracks in the System
Iβve always been a doer. A dreamer. A creator.
From the time I was a little girl dancing in The Pyjama Game, to raising the most money at school for the Red Cross, I had a big heart and big energy. But that didnβt mean the road was easy.
Growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, I was told Iβd struggle in school, in writing, and in the structured world. But I didnβt let that stop me. Instead of shrinking, I got louder. Instead of giving up, I got resourceful. And every time life handed me a βno,β I found a way to say βwatch me.β
In high school, I began mentoring younger students and diving into art, performance, and design. I placed third in the Young Achiever Designer Award and earned a spot at the College of Fine Arts in Sydney in 1999. But even then, something inside me longed to be of deeper service to lead with meaning, not just talent.
The Educator Era
Purpose in Practice
By 2002, I had completed a Diploma in Childrenβs Services, followed by a Bachelor of Teaching. Over the next decade, I built a strong career in early education earning awards, scholarships, and recognition for innovation in the workplace.
I became a centre manager, led teams, mentored educators, and even featured on the front page of local newspapers as an Educator of the Year Finalist. But behind the scenes, I was burning out. Overgiving. Running on empty. The system I once believed in was breaking me. I climbed the corporate ladder to Operations Manager with one of the biggest Early Childhood Corporations in Australia.
In 2019, I hit my limit.
That was the year everything cracked open: physically, emotionally, spiritually.
And it became the moment that changed everything.
Rock Bottom
The Breaking That Birthed the Work
When I hit the wall, I knew something had to shift not just in my work, but in me.
I let go of the old titles, the identity, the pressure to be perfect.
And thatβs when I found gratitude.
Not the fluffy kind.
The kind that holds you in your darkest moments.
The kind that teaches you to breathe again.
The kind that transforms pain into purpose.
Gratitude didnβt just save me. It rebuilt me.
And I knew I had to bring that power to the world.
Rebirth
The Gratitude Methodβ’ Is Born
Out of my healing came a vision to create a model of leadership, coaching, and transformation rooted in appreciation, science, and soul.
Thatβs how The Gratitude Methodβ’ was born.
Since 2018, Iβve become an internationally published author with over 30 books and journals distributed globally. Iβve spoken on a TEDx stage, run global workshops, mentored womenβs groups, created a franchise coaching model, and led retreats to reconnect people to their power through presence and gratitude.
Along the way, Iβve collected awards, ran marathons, climbed mountains with my daughter, and raised thousands for charities. I became a Certified Professional Coach, earned diplomas in Fitness, Business, and Training & Assessment, and am now completing my Masterβs in Positive Psychology.
Iβve been honoured as a Youth Mentor, Be You Leader for Beyond Blue, a United Voice Leader Delegate, and in 2019, was recognised by the Affinity Education Group as a Shining Star.
My life is now a beautiful blend of impact, imperfection, and intentional living.
Legacy in Motion
Leadership, Motherhood & Movement
Whether Iβm hiking Mount Coolum or Mount Walsh or Mount Batur in Bali, speaking on stage to hundreds of corporate leaders, or guiding a woman back to herself in a coaching session my mission is the same:
To help people feel seen, heard, and supported.
To guide others home to themselves.
To prove that your past doesnβt define you your presence does.
Iβve built The Gratitude Methodβ’ into a global movement, a life coaching franchise, and a leadership philosophy. I continue to expand this work across schools, businesses, and communities especially through initiatives like Womenβs Walk & Talk, which I founded to help women heal through movement and connection.
My volunteering, media features, and community efforts are showcased on my volunteering page, and Iβm proud to be recognised on Google Public Profile: Click here as a voice for resilience, reinvention, and gratitude.
Qualifications & Recognition
Qualifications & Certifications
- 2002 β Diploma in Childrenβs Services
- 2011 β Bachelor of Teaching (0β5 Years)
- 2015 β Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
- 2016 β Certificate IV in Fitness
- 2016 β Diploma in Business
- 2018 β Certified Professional Coach
- 2025 (In Progress) β Masterβs in Positive Psychology
- Certified Positive Prime Coach & Facilitator
- Founder β The Gratitude Methodβ’ Life Coaching Franchise
- Author β 30+ Published Books and Journals (including international best-sellers)
Awards & Recognition
- 2002 β High Achievement Award for Innovation in the Workplace (TAFE NSW)
- 2010 & 2011 β Scholarship Recipient, SDN Childrenβs Services
- 2013 β Educator of the Year Finalist (featured on two front pages of local newspapers)
- 2014 & 2015 β Centre of the Year Finalist
- 2016 β Best Bomber Award, MS Swim-a-thon
- 2016 & 2017 β Chunky Dunk Team β Raised $6,000 for MS Queensland
- 2017 β Daughter awarded Effort Trophy for 12-hour continuous swim
- 2018 β Be You Leader β Wide Bay Region (Beyond Blue)
- 2018 β United Voice Leader Delegate
- 2019 β Affinity Education Group Shining Star Award β Centre Manager
- 2019 β Youth Mentor Recognition
- 2019 β Collaborated with Channel 7βs Joanne Ellias (Bride and Prejudice)
- 2020 β International Life Coach of the Year
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Silver Winner β People's Choice Making a Difference (Local Community)
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Finalist β Emerging AusMumpreneur of the Year
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Finalist β Product Award
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Finalist β E-commerce Award
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Finalist β People's Choice Influencer
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Finalist β Making a Difference Business
- 2022 β AusMumpreneur Finalist β Making a Difference Health & Wellness
- 2022 β Seventh Effect Awards β Winner β Love Award
- 2022 β Seventh Effect Awards β Finalist β Structure Category
- 2022 β ROAR Awards β Bronze Winner β Making a Difference
- 2022 β ROAR Awards Finalist β Best Blogger/Writer/Author
- 2022 β ROAR Awards Finalist β Best Regional/Rural Business
- 2022 & 2024 β Zonta International Women β Yellow Rose Awards Finalist (Hervey Bay)
- 2023 β AusMumpreneur Awards β Winner β People's Choice Local Community Award
- 2023 β AusMumpreneur Awards β Winner β Author of the Year
- 2023 β Seventh Effect Awards β Winner β Goals Club
- 2023 β Seventh Effect Awards β Finalist β Results Category
- 2023 β BEAM Awards Finalist β Regional, Remote Business of the Year
- 2023 β Australian Womenβs Small Business Awards β Finalist β Coaching Category
- 2023 β Australian Small Business Champion Awards β Finalist β Psychology Category
Volunteering & Community Leadership
- Founder / Director β Womenβs Walk & Talk Herveyβ―Bay (2024βPresent)
- Mentor β Bayside Transformations (Womenβs House) (2023β2025)
- President β Myriam Cottage (2022β2023); Member (2021β2022)
- Advocacy Leader & Member β Zonta International Women (2021β2022)
- President β QCWA β Queensland Country Womenβs Association (2021β2022)
- Youth Mentor β Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre (HBNC) (2019β2020)
- Fundraiser β Red Cross (1998)
My Qualifications & Awards
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
ENQUIRE NOW
Itβs time to give your leaders something real. If you're seeking a keynote speaker who cuts through the noise, creates genuine transformation, and equips your people with practical tools that last you're in the right place.
Alicia Ann Wade delivers more than inspiration. She delivers impact.
To check availability for your event or explore how Dr. Gratitude can elevate your audience, reach out today.
Email: [email protected]
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