Meet Axelle Flemming BA '03

Meet Axelle Flemming BA ’03
Vice President of Talent + Transformation, K2 Services

Axelle Flemming, Vice President of Talent and Transformation at K2 Services, reflects on how her King's education shaped her personal and professional growth, the importance of community, and her passion for supporting the next generation of leaders.

How did your King's education impact your personal growth?

King's provided me with a strong foundation in education, economics, and business while showing me how a community and faith-based environment can impact success and personal growth.

From frosh week to graduation, I always felt part of a family at King's. I was supported, cared for, and challenged in a way that helped me build strong values and character, which have been key to my personal and professional growth.

I began at King's studying Childhood and Family Relations with a minor in Economics, hoping to open my own Montessori school one day. In my second year, I was thriving in Economics, and one of my professors encouraged me to apply to the Richard Ivey School of Business. I was hesitant, especially because I didn't want to take the infamous Business 257 course with its high failure rate. After several talks with my professor, who saw something in me that I couldn't see at the time, I enrolled in Business 257 in my third year.

Through case studies in that course, along with my Economics and Finance classes, I discovered a passion for problem-solving and strategic analysis. This led me to apply to Ivey, and by the end of my third year, I graduated from King's with a BA in Economics and was ready to start my journey at Ivey.

King's provided me with a great education and helped shape my personal and professional growth.

Tell us about your career journey since graduating and how you arrived in your current position.

During my time at Ivey, I honed my problem-solving, project-planning, teamwork, and leadership skills, which led me to pursue a career in Management Consulting. After graduating, I joined a consulting firm in California, where I deepened my abilities in analysis, project management, client relations, and presentations. Later, when I moved to HBR Consulting, I focused on strategic change management and organizational transformation. My passion for challenging the status quo, partnering with leaders, and driving meaningful change became central to my work.

About a decade into consulting, I realized that strong leadership is the key to successful organizational change. This led me to pursue certifications in Leadership Coaching, Instructional Design, Training, and Mindfulness, which were inspired by King's emphasis on lifelong learning.

Now, as Vice President of Talent and Transformation at K2 Services LLC, I continue my consulting work while focusing on empowering leaders and teams to succeed, achieve their goals, and lead change. The sense of community and service I experienced at King's has shaped how I build teams and cultures. I believe that intentional leadership and true collaboration can achieve remarkable results. This mindset has driven the success of the projects and organizations I've been a part of.

What motivated you to start King's Kids, and what skills did you take away from this leadership role?

I cannot be more honoured to talk about King's Kids. It has been one of my greatest heartfelt accomplishments in my life. So, how did I start it…

In my first year at King's, I attended an event at Big Brothers Big Sister, where I met and engaged with many local children. Upon returning to campus and seeing the privilege of my King's classmates, a thought occurred to me – how much would it mean to these local children if King's students spent a few hours with them and shared new and different experiences, perspectives and support that they might otherwise never experience? I talked to other students, professors and staff about how we could truly impact the community by sharing just a small amount of time, experience and resources. I advanced the proposal to Students' Council and the relevant administration, outlining the program, the financial resources needed and my commitment to lead the club.

…And that was the birth of King's Kids.

By my third and final year at King's, King's Kids was the largest club on campus, with active monthly events and a partnership with the Big Brother Big Sister of London Association. King's Kids continued for years after I graduated, impacting hundreds of local children.

The leadership experience with King's Kids has been foundational in my professional journey. It gave me a real-life experience of taking a vision through execution and success. It taught me how to mobilize others and allowed me to work through annual proposals, financial analysis, and live operations. This experience taught me foundational skills that have empowered me through my consulting and transformation career and inspired me to advance matters that have purpose and serve others for good.

I would love to support a reunion of our King's Big Brothers and Sisters and King's Kids through the years! I wholeheartedly thank all the King's Kids leaders who carried the torch through the years and positively impacted, who I believe is the most important group, the next generation!

Describe your experience with the HR Capstone course in 2023-24 and volunteering with King's while living in a different country.

I was invited to support senior students with their capstone project and be a guest speaker in their HR course. I love contributing to the growth of our next generation, and this experience was fulfilling and gave me great joy and admiration for the King's student body. Their hard work, curiosity, research and presentation skills were excellent and notable.

Our world continues to get 'smaller' with our virtual and remote connectivity. Professor Hina was incredible with coordinating, setting up, and leading the HR Capstone project and course. The engagement of both my HR team and King's students was seamless and mutually beneficial. The full class engagement through the HR topic discussions was fruitful and valuable. I look forward to continuing to contribute in any way to King's and any relevant courses and/or programs.

As someone who works internationally, what skills and qualities do you think King's students should develop to succeed in a global career?

To succeed in a global career, I think King's students need a balance of confidence in their existing knowledge and skills, along with curiosity and openness to learn new things.

Working in the United States while managing and overseeing global teams and operations allows me to continue learning daily. Being successful requires a quick learner skillset, openness and agility to professionally and appropriately flex given differences, and a strong muscle to ask questions.

Foundationally, not just for global success, I believe that a successful career requires one to own their journey, vision, career and ultimately success.

What is your favourite memory from your time at King's?

King's has a very special place in my heart. The memories of life on campus during my first year at King's (and my first year away from home) are probably some of my most memorable moments. I remember the simple daily experiences and interactions the most – the interactions with professors and administrative staff, time spent with college-mates in the dorm, cafeteria and the TV room, attending Sunday mass in the chapel and taking the bus to and from main campus. It's hard to call out one favourite memory, as the whole experience of living on campus still brings a smile to my face today.