Unwavering

CHAPTER 6Asserting Yourself Through Your Brand

As a frequent participant on panels, I often hear this question: “What word best describes you?” I have heard a wide range of responses from fellow panelists. Hopeful, passionate, motivated, determined, and resilient are among the most common. And while I can align with all of these, my response is always “Courageous.” There are a few ways to define this word, but the one that best drives my connection with it is this: “having or showing the ability to meet danger and difficulties with firmness.” That one line encompasses exactly what it takes to navigate through change. There have been times when my decisions have been “dangerous” to my career. I would question how they might impact my performance evaluation or promotion prospects. And there have been times when the journey has been difficult. After all, not everyone was aligned to the change I was advocating. But every step of my journey has required firmness in my decisions with no turning back. It has required finding those incredible leaders, colleagues, and peers who were on board to support the platform I was representing and aiming to deliver on.

My Brand of Courage

I received a text message late in the evening from a mentee who had recently risen to a leadership role saying, “Time for a quick chat?” The conversation was familiar to what I have heard from other women of color: “I'm being told by one of the leaders that she is supportive of me in my new role. Yet each ...