Inspired!
“A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”
- Brené Brown, Dare to Lead
I have been inspired by many. When I was younger in my career, I used to believe that it only counted as inspiration if the spark came from those in higher positions than me, with more experience. I learned that wasn’t true - and that kind of thinking was limiting MY potential. I continue to be inspired in my career by the young people around me - those I work alongside and those who I have the pleasure of meeting simply because the world is small and we’re connected by some common thread. I felt compelled to write about this…
About a month ago, a colleague reached out to me about a former colleague trying to get in touch to talk about having me speak on a panel. It sounded interesting and the subject matter was relevant, timely and an area I have experience and knowledge about, so I obliged. The email exchange was cordial and straight forward - and we set up a video chat to get acquainted and talk more about the upcoming panel.
THE VIDEO CHAT! It was exciting to catch up with my former colleague and learn about the amazing work she has been doing since leaving Live Nation - opening Chicago’s first creative workspace designed for women, evolveHer https://www.evolveher.community/en. The video chat is where I met the woman who had come up with the concept for the panel and she told me how it came to be. She, like many of us, has been moving through life and career - ambitious and goal driven. Then Covid. Then…continued racism. The pause of Covid and the pain of racial trauma made her question: “When was the last time you felt seen? When was the last time your presence, experiences and contributions were acknowledged?” From these questions, and a bit of insecurity around her ‘place’ as a Black woman navigating through corporate America, SEEN was born.
Taylor Shine turned a low moment of hopelessness into an entire platform…curated deep and thoughtful panels and secured some top Black female leaders across industries to discuss purpose driven leadership, innovation, community and connection. She has already impacted women from all backgrounds, all ages, all levels of experience - all over the Globe through what she has taken from concept to completion in a few short months! I am so inspired by Taylor (and her last name is SHINE…I mean if that’s not the Universe…).
Taylor dared to lead. And she DID THE DAMN THING!!!!
