Alexandra Philipps, Commonwealth Holdings: The Interview
This episode is a heart-filled, strength-fueled reunion between Sarah, Bill, and one of Sarah’s former career coaching clients turned certified CliftonStrengths coach, Alex Philipps. Alex shares her powerful story of transforming her career by leaning into her strengths—going from feeling unfulfilled to pitching and landing a role that didn’t even exist yet. Today, she’s bringing strengths to life at a company with over 1,500 employees. Whether you’re curious how to use your own strengths more intentionally, create a dream job inside your current company, or simply love a good competition-meets-harmony story, this one’s packed with wisdom, humor, and proof that investing in your strengths truly changes everything.
Takeaways
- Your CliftonStrengths can help you identify roles that better match your skills and passions—even if they don’t exist yet.
- When you truly understand your talents, you can advocate for yourself with confidence and clarity.
- Competition doesn’t have to be cutthroat; it can drive performance, recognition, and self-belief.
- Harmony isn’t about avoiding conflict—it’s about addressing it to return to peace faster.
- When Harmony and Competition work together, you get someone who wants to win the right way.
- Individualization is a superpower for coaches, managers, and anyone who wants to truly see people.
- Relator can sometimes overshare—know when it’s building connection vs. derailing conversation.
- You don’t have to have high Strategic Thinking themes to be strategic—Futuristic plus Executing themes can do the job.
- Discipline and Consistency can turn dreams into action steps.
- Mature Harmony runs toward conflict—not away from it—to create lasting alignment.
- When you read fiction or choose podcasts, your dominant domains might show up in your preferences.
- Interns benefit from strengths development early—setting them up for long-term confidence and success.
- Knowing your partner’s strengths can help you navigate everyday tension with more grace.
- Creating habits tied to your strengths leads to more sustainable growth.
- Your strengths don’t have to be perfect—they just need to be understood, developed, and used intentionally.
Sound Bites
- I don’t start anything with the intention to lose.
- If I tell you I’m going to do it, it’s going to get done.
- I pitched a job that didn’t exist—and they said yes.
- I literally have a folder for kind emails—I go back to them when I need to refuel.
- My Harmony makes me want to fix the conflict fast, so I can breathe again.
- I plan a vacation while I’m on vacation.
- Individualization would win tug-of-ware—it’s my superpower.
Alexandra’s Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Competition
2) Harmony
3) Relator
4) Individualization
5) Consistency
6) Responsibility
7) Futuristic
8) Maximizer
9) Belief
10) Discipline
Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Competition
2) Harmony
3) Relator
4) Individualization
5) Consistency
6) Responsibility
7) Futuristic
8) Maximizer
9) Belief
10) Discipline
Bill's Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Individualization
2) Developer
3) Activator
4) Woo
5) Restorative
6) Empathy
7) Harmony
8) Connectedness
9) Relator
10) Learner
Sarah's Top 10 CliftonStrengths
1) Positivity
2) Woo
3) Communication
4) Harmony
5) Activator
6) Developer
7) Input
8) Individualization
9) Responsibility
10) Arranger
Official Strengths On Fire Website: https://strengthsonfire.transistor.fm
GET MORE FROM BILL AND SARAH:
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/
Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/
Bill's info:
https://billdippel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamdippel/
https://www.instagram.com/billdippelcoach/
Sarah's info:
https://www.wearecollinsco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcoachcollins/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahcoachcollins/
Creators and Guests
Host
Bill Dippel
Bill Dippel is a certified, professional Strengths coach with a 35-year career in nonprofits and higher education. His passion is working with organizations, teams, and individuals to ensure they are performing and communicating at the highest levels. As president of Bill Dippel Strengths Coaching, he travels frequently for large events and public speaking, as well as working with whole companies through their management teams.
Host
Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins is a certified CliftonStrengths coach and founder of Collins Collective, with over 12 years of experience in strengths-based coaching and leadership development. Her passion lies in empowering businesses, teams, and individuals to communicate and perform at their best by focusing on what they do well. As the leader of Collins Collective, Sarah combines engaging workshops, high-impact keynotes, and in-depth coaching to foster growth and connection. Based in Nebraska, she partners with businesses to drive meaningful change and create high-performing teams.
Guest
Alex Philipps
Alex Philipps is an in-house certified Strengths coach at Commonwealth Holdings, Inc. specializing in strengths-based coaching and leadership development. With a background in Human Resources, Alex manages Commonwealth's internship program and coordinates the mentorship program which includes leadership development. At Commonwealth, Alex focuses on facilitating large group sessions, one-on-one coaching sessions, and team sessions. Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, Alex is passionate about fostering growth and development within Commonwealth. Alex helps individuals find passion in their work through a strengths-based approach, helping create empowered employee-owners and high-performing teams. Commonwealth is a 100% Employee Owned, full-service electrical and low voltage contractor located in Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah. From commercial work to industrial work, and everything in between, Commonwealth is an expert in handling challenging and highly technical projects.
