Women are *Amazing*

This week I was able to meet with four women of different ages, backgrounds, and careers. Each one of them have made career transitions that allow them to reach new heights in their own personal journeys. One is a program developer for non-profit organizations, another a founder of her own non-profit, the third is a banker turned recruitment specialist for a university, and the last, a women working in cyber security who has just found a comfier fit in a new position. There were several points that came up when I was speaking with them that I would like to share, because it isn't everyday that one is able to meet with so many professional women.

One major point that I would like to bring up first is the power of networking. It isn't too surprising to hear familiar names in the non-profit world due to fundraising efforts and event planning, but there is a lot of value in making your name known throughout the whole community. My suggestion is to put yourself out there, brand yourself by taking the time to get to know yourself. Use your quirks, talents, and overall uniqueness to your benefit, because they will get you recognized! You don't have to sacrifice the qualities that make you different, use them to your advantage! The more people you meet, plus the amount of lasting impressions you make, equals more opportunities to shine at what you excel in.

Another thing we have to do is embrace change. As I mentioned before, these women I met are embarking on new missions to increase not only their success, but their happiness as well. Everyone has to take those initial steps to get to where they truly see themselves, and once they get to that point, it becomes a matter of self-evaluation and finding the best fit for their skills. One of the women took a very nice, high-paying job that seemed to offer her everything that she needed. After a while, though, she found herself thinking that she would rather start up a new project that she could take leadership on rather than working the job that utilized some of her skills but lacked creativity and excitement. She did end up finding a new position, but mentioned that the change was a huge one for her. As I mentioned in my Start blog post, taking that first step can be tough, but it can end up paying off tremendously.

The final discussion I'll highlight today is that of "earning your spot at the table". What this means is, learning to accept that your qualifications and experience do, at a certain point, entitle you to be where you are professionally. This may not seem to be very helpful advice to people like me who are just starting to make a name for themselves, so I want to change the narrative just a little bit. There is a great deal of gratitude and humility that comes along with starting off and meeting those big names in the community or industry you're interested in. It is recognizing that you are in the grassroots phase of your journey and looking up to the women(or men) that came before you, understanding that they have been in your shoes. Instead of comparing yourself to who they are now, take the time to learn the value and worth you offer and acknowledge the accomplishments that have led you to being where you are at any moment.