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To me, Allison Walsh is e v e r y t h i n g a woman should be. She is classy, wise, kind, encouraging, intelligent, motivated, empowering, disciplined, authentic, giving, and hardworking. I first met Allison back in 2013 when I first got involved in the Miss America Organization. I was quite directionless and inexperienced when I sought out Allison for pageant coaching, and all I have to say to that is: thank goodness Allison worked her magic. I went on to be the youngest contestant at the Miss Florida Pageant in 2014! As I have gotten older, Allison has stuck by me, believing in me as much as my own mother (and to those of you who know Mama Sabet, you know that is a LOT). Allison has been nothing but a blessing. She asks questions that, when I find the answers to them, I also find parts of myself. I owe much of my success in my career to the boss-lady skills and practices she instilled in me. Because of her, I not only have the confidence I need to use my voice and establish my presence as a leader in a male-dominated field, but I can confidently live my purpose. Allison is a big part of my inspiration for Lift & Be Uplifted because she took her knowledge and passion for a cause, and not only turned it into a career, but she held the door open for other women to succeed through coaching. After serving the state of Florida as Miss Florida 2006, she utilized her personal challenges to launch her career in the behavioral healthcare industry. She also the founder of Allison Walsh Consulting, where she works with individuals on full service personal branding so they can reach their greatest potential. In addition to kicking booty in the professional world, she is a stellar mom to 3 beautiful children and a devoted wife. I admire Allison deeply and I am so excited for you to learn more about her perspective in this very special spotlight. If you are struggling with your purpose or brand, look no further - Check out her consulting services below! 1. Rarely is someone's journey linear. Can you explain what you wanted to be when you grew up, and how your career landed where it is at right now? My career definitely hasn’t been linear, more of a winding road that is just now starting to all make sense. When I was a child I wanted to be Miss America and on an anchor on the Today Show. While I definitely chased the Miss America dream, and love helping others to do the same, I realized television wasn’t for me after an internship at a local news station. I had started a nonprofit when I was a freshman in college that was focused on eating disorders prevention and awareness after recovering from a 3 and-a-half year battle. I had no idea how much I would learn from that passion project and I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been able to serve my community in that capacity for the last 18 years. That was also my entry point into the behavioral health world which is what I still do to this day. In 2013, I was the 2nd person hired to open a residential treatment program. Seven years later, we operate in 5 states (almost 6) and have almost 1,000 team members. It’s been an incredible experience and I have learned so much about leadership and how to scale a business. I find my greatest motivation, and sense of purpose in helping others achieve their goals, so I have also owned and operated several other businesses over the past decade that have allowed me to pour into others so they can be the best versions of themselves. My company, Allison Walsh Consulting, started off with the intention of me only working one-on-one but has evolved into a full service personal branding agency that also offers online courses as well.  2. Which single word do you most identify with? Empowered - My motto for life is: “the whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.” For the longest time I sought the approval of others, and at times what felt like permission, to step into who I was and what I wanted to become. While I still value and respect the opinions of others, I’ve realized that this is my one chance on this planet to make meaningful things happen and I refuse to let myself down by not going for it. 3. What is the biggest barrier you experienced as a woman in your career? I had to shift my mindset pretty early on in my corporate career. Looking back, I’m certain it was because I lacked confidence in myself and at times I even felt like I was undeserving to be sitting in the seat I was in at the table, with so much responsibility, at such a young age. As I invested more in my professional development, I realized that not only was I qualified and capable, I had the ability to shape the culture and create an incredible team. In our early days of the behavioral health start-up, women were underrepresented, but as we’ve grown, I’ve had the chance to work with some amazingly talented women that I greatly admire. I’ve also sought the support and mentorship of others outside of the organization so that I could gain additional perspective and guidance as I navigate my career and aspirations. 4. What advice would you give other women going into the professional world? Don’t sell yourself short and always throw your hat in the ring. I have continued to see women mute themselves or not go for it because they didn’t feel like they were ready. On the other hand, I’ve watched my male counterparts chase down opportunities that they weren’t necessarily qualified for, but because they believed in their abilities to “figure it out” they earned additional opportunities. It’s really important that you show up for the position you want, do your best and demonstrate your desire to advance. Do not be afraid to ask for what you want and have difficult conversations. Nothing epic happens in your comfort zone so don’t be afraid to learn new things, take on projects that require you to stretch, or collaborate with team members in different departments. You’ll learn so much and be able to see opportunities through a different lens.  5. Go-to ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip 6. You have been a catalyst for growth in so many young women’s lives. Who is a mentor that made an impact on you? I have been blessed with amazing mentors, but there are two in particular who were game changers in my life. The first was the former CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, Lynn Grefe. I was in awe of her when I first met her when I was 18, but yet was bold enough to walk up and tell her that one day I wanted her job! Not my finest moment - but fast forward 5 years later, and she had completely taken me under her wing and allowed me to run point on a new initiative for the organization, the national Junior Board. The experience I gained and the network I developed was instrumental in leading me to where I am today. After running the Junior Board for 3-and-a-half years, I was invited to join the Senior Board and was the youngest member to have a seat at the table. In total, I served 11 years and I loved being involved in steering an organization that was instrumental in saving my life when I went through my own eating disorder battle in high school. Lynn was absolutely incredible throughout the process and allowed me to bounce ideas off of her any time and also provided candid guidance and feedback, not only regarding the nonprofit world, but also with life. When she lost her battle to cancer a few years back, I was devastated, but I was so incredibly grateful to have had her in my life for over a decade. Sure enough, shortly thereafter, an opportunity to bring in a consultant to help our sales team presented itself. After researching multiple companies, we brought in Beth Maynard to help our sales leaders better manage their teams. Beth and I had an instantaneous connection and she has become a true confidant, mentor and friend. As someone who had not had any professional sales training, my confidence wavered at times putting together an entire department from scratch and now managing a large, remote team. Not only that, but I was charged with the responsibility to build a massive sales engine that would generate 7 figures in revenue each month. Beth opened my eyes to what needed to be done and also pointed me in the direction to reach our goals. She is still one of the first people I call when anything good or bad goes down. She’s an amazing woman and I am beyond blessed to have her in my life.  7. What do you think holds women back in the professional world? There are two areas that come to mind. The first is confidence. I see this happen every single day. It takes guts to put yourself out there, but as Wayne Gretzky said so poignantly, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. The second is the lack of executive presence. Executive presence is critically important and encompasses everything from the way you represent yourself, to your communication style and your interpersonal skills. Spending time working on these skills will help you for years to come. 8. You are excellent at encouraging others to dream bigger. Can you tell me about a time when you pushed a client or mentee out of their comfort zone? I do this daily. I am 100% certain that every single client of mine over the last decade will attest to the fact that I have pushed them to dream bigger, chase larger goals and step outside of their comfort zones. I am also notorious for pushing my clients to be 1% better each and every day. Remaining stagnant is a no go for me and I take the responsibility seriously that my clients have hired me to help them be the best versions of themselves and I will always deliver. One of my favorite quotes, from Oprah of course, is that “the whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.” You can’t evolve if you’re standing still, so it’s important that I am up front with everyone I work with that the ideas will flow, the goals and game plan will be written down, but if they want to reap the rewards, they have to do the work. I will run this race as fast as they do but if I want success more for them than they want it for themselves, we have a problem. If that’s the case I am not a good fit and am happy to refer them elsewhere. It’s difficult for me to pinpoint just one, especially when I think about the monumental shifts my clients have gone through. I’ve seen them claim titles and accolades, create incredible nonprofit foundations and companies, develop ridiculously amazing partnerships, become spokespeople and brand ambassadors, redefine who they are and how they represent themselves to the world, and knock their goals out of the park. For me, the most rewarding thing about the work I do, is that I get to see them realize that they are absolutely AMAZING and can literally accomplish anything.  9. You have had enough accomplishments to fill a novel. Which accomplishment of yours are you most proud of?
While I’ve definitely had some cool things happen, I’m most proud of my resilience. I’ve had to overcome challenges that I never thought I would face at unexpected times when everything seemed to be going beautifully. I’ve developed quite a bit of grit over the last decade and have navigated challenging times with the mindset of “everything is figureoutable” (thanks, Marie Forleo!). Right after my husband and I got married (2009), I quit my job and went to law school. Three months later, he lost his corporate law job at a prestigious firm due to the recession. At that moment we were staring at so much uncertainty but one of the things that I knew was that I could depend on was myself. I tapped into the skills I had and launched my first coaching business. I also started working full time during law school and believed with every fiber of my being that we could bounce back. I often look back to those times as a reminder that if I want something bad enough and I’m willing to do the work, not only will I get through it, I will emerge better than before. 10. You are so generous! What was the kindest thing someone has ever done for you? I have the most incredible team. This year, on my 7 year work anniversary, they shared a video with me that filled my heart with so much joy. They had coordinated amongst themselves (for several months prior) and filmed individual messages to me. I can’t even begin to express the emotion I felt then, and even now as I type. I believe in them so much and have watched them grow and stretch beyond what they probably anticipated when they signed up to be on the team. To hear from them in such a genuine and unfiltered way was a beautiful experience.
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Shira is a powerful example of a woman who embodies the Lift & Be Uplifted mission through her efforts to help people claim the life they deserve by blending her corporate career with a purpose-driven life. In this Spotlight post, she reveals learning to own her voice when expressing challenging opinions to leading effectively in male-dominated environments, in addition to being authentic in the workplace, and choosing to be her biggest advocate. Shira is an active writer, speaker, and coach for those struggling with self-doubt, in addition to paving the way for women in the professional world by serving as the Chief Communications Officer of a $2 billion supply chain management company. A few of her personal transformations include maintaining a 50-pound weight loss for over 25 years, transitioning from financial upheaval to prosperity, overcoming health challenges and embracing wellness and finding lasting love post-divorce. Shira's stories have been recognized in Shape, Health, First for Women, Quick & Simple, the Atlanta Journal – Constitution, Emory Magazine, bestselling business book The Power of Nice, and Trust Your Gut: How the Power of Intuition Can Grow Your Business. In one of her TedX Talks, she speaks about how constantly over-apologizing or making self-deprecating comments to hide your awesomeness, diminishes the value of your ideas and accomplishments in every part of your life. I see this all the time in my friend groups, but especially in the workplace. I have even been a victim of apology speak, myself! After you read through her Spotlight, check out one of her TedX Talks by clicking the button below! 1. Rarely is someone's journey linear. Can you explain what you wanted to be when you grew up, and how your career landed where you are right now? When I was a kid, I dreamt about being a space engineer. To my eight-year-old self, that meant designing rocket ships and then being the astronaut taking them into outer space - you know, the final frontier. That goal evaporated when it became apparent math was not my friend during middle school. Used to compete in debate in high school and college and got lots of pressure to become a lawyer, but it didn’t appeal to me. But then I lucked out into a part-time job with the NBC Southeastern News Bureau while still attending Emory University, which sparked my interest in working in communications. Spent the next decade doing corporate public relations work before starting my own boutique agency, Shira Miller Communications. Built it up with a great team working with major consumer brands but when the Great Recession struck in 2009, it killed my business along with nearly 200,000 others across the U.S. The next few years were really hard, as I detail in answering your question #3 below. But proving that old adage (and excellent Kelly Clarkson song) “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is true, I learned a lot about myself. When I discovered how deep my interest ran in helping others reach their full potential, it prompted me to become a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach. Then in 2014, I brought all of my interests in communications, culture and people development together and returned to return to Corporate America. Today I work as the Chief Communications Officer of National DCP, the $2 billion supply chain management company serving the franchisees of Dunkin’ Donuts. It is a great organization and I am glad to be there. 2. Which single word do you most identify with? Gratitude. Just saying it makes me smile. Being grateful for the positive developments, people and experiences in my life has helped me overcome so many challenges and continues to help me maintain a balanced perspective each day. I’ve also found that gratitude is something you can learn and created a complimentary Gratitude Rocket Fuel Exercise that anyone can download from my website at https://shiramiller.com/  3. After watching your TedX Talk, I learned that you overcame a multitude of barriers in your life. What is the biggest barrier you experienced as a woman in your career? There have been a number of barriers along the way, from learning how to “own my voice” when expressing challenging opinions to leading effectively in male-dominated environments. But the biggest barrier was forgiving myself after my business failed during the Great Recession. I had to fire good people. I racked up over a hundred grand in business debt and was on the hook for another $60,000 for an office lease with no escape clause. I handled the entire client workload - by myself - for the next four years to pay it off. That stress did a nasty number on me. When I could finally breath again in 2013, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. It was an ugly time. But once I started forgiving myself, after much coaching, reflection and journaling, it opened up a whole new world of possibilities. I’m a lot happier now with my multi-hyphenate career as a corporate executive, a certified professional coactive coach and writing about well-being. 4. What advice would you give other women to determine if they are "on the right path" in their professional life? What does being "on the right path" mean to you? The most important thing you can do is to trust your gut. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what your parents, professors, mentors or conventional wisdom says about your career – you are the only person who knows what is right for you. I define the right path as that which resonates with your mind, body and spirit. For example, let’s say you are at a career crossroads, trying to decide between two new job opportunities. Your brain has urged you to create a pro and con list about each role. On paper, one job clearly looks better than the other – greater compensation package, the company has a more recognizable brand that would impress friends, and free lunches are served in the employee cafeteria. However just thinking about that job makes your stomach hurt and causes a spike of anxiety. The other role offers slightly less money with a smaller organization, but you smile when considering it, and your whole being feels lighter. That is your gut (intuition) giving you clues about which path is in your best interests. Hey, I practice what I preach. On my birthday in 2014, I was offered two jobs – one with a $2 billion company that acted like a start-up, which would require lots of work, and the other with a huge corporation less than two miles from home where I’d be part of a larger team. My inner voice knew the first job would be harder, but so much more interesting and exciting that the other “cushy” job. So, I took it. That proved to be absolutely the right move.  5. You are a loyal follower of pop-culture! Who is your favorite female celebrity/public figure to keep up with? It’s so hard to pick just one! I’m a big fan of JK Rowling, Taylor Swift, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez. But the one person I enjoy keeping up with the most on social is Jennifer Garner. I always liked her as an actress and now adore how much she shares of her authentic self – whether it is embracing goofy Halloween costumes, loving her kids, helping worthy causes and so much more. Hanging out with her would be a blast. 6. How do you define what it means to be a woman? For me, being a woman means empowerment. We can be incredibly resilient and wise. Our ability to form meaningful relationships in our personal and professional lives literally transforms the world – improving society, redefining what’s possible, creating more successful business outcomes and raising the next generation. While grateful for the progress that women have made in the workforce since taking my first corporate job 30 years ago – back in the days when fax machines were cutting edge technology – it is frustrating that females overall are still struggling for equal pay, recognition and compensation. According to Women In the Workplace 2019, the study done by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org, more women have entered senior leadership positions but gender parity remains out of reach for most, especially women of color. 7. How can we best encourage young women to advocate for themselves in the workplace and to not be afraid to speak up? The early part of your career is really critical, as that is where leadership and compensation gaps typically start to form. Giving yourself permission to be your own best advocate is an excellent place to start. Speaking up is about building your courage muscles and the more you do it, the easier it will become. Pay close attention to your workplace environment and notice who is effectively “heard” and how they communicate. Whether she is a co-worker or a leader in another area, consider expressing your admiration and asking her for advice/mentorship as you learn to speak up. A note of caution here too; don’t talk just for the sake of hearing your own voice or become super assertive in a culture that values nuanced behavior or vice versa. Be thoughtful and confident in how you express your words in the manner that will be most effective in your culture. Finally, be true to yourself. I’m outgoing and appreciate a good laugh. So throughout my career, I’ve often used humor to speak up and diffuse tense situations, which works because it is part of my core identity.  8. As the Chief Communications Officer of a large corporation, what do you think is the most effective leadership trait you've utilized to lead your team to success? The most effective leadership trait I’ve used to lead my team to success is the ability to see possibilities - in people as well as situations. In spotting opportunities, even in the midst of crisis situations, I see how my team can rise to the occasion with the right level of support, encouragement and an environment where difficult conversations can be productive. Plus, I walk my talk. While strategy is my favorite place to hang out at this time in my career, I’m happy to roll-up my sleeves and do what it takes to get things done. Well-being is a key priority for me and I ensure my team has the time and flexibility to create a fulfilling work-life blend for themselves as well. 9. You have had a list of accomplishments in both your personal and professional life! What one thing are you most proud of? I am most proud of my ability to get unstuck, even when the odds are against me. My personal transformations include maintaining a healthy 50-pound weight loss for over 25 years; transitioning from financial upheaval to prosperity; overcoming health challenges and embracing wellness; finding lasting love post-divorce (my husband Justin is the coolest person I know); and blending a corporate career with a purpose-driven life. Now I’m trying to help others do the same through the articles I contribute to Thrive Global, Arianna Huffington’s online community that helps people unlock their greatest potential and the book project that I’m currently working on to help people get unstuck and unleash their inner rock star. 10. What is your "mantra," or personal "motto" that keeps you motivated and focused? The most important relationship in your life is the one you have with yourself. One of my favorite quotes reinforcing that comes from Sex and the City, which I was a total fan girl over back in the day. During Carrie Bradshaw’s final voice-over at the end of the series finale, her character said: “The most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love, well, that’s just fabulous.”  Lin began her career in a male-dominated industry, the world of tech. Through her experiences in this field, she overcame countless moments of self-doubt and feeling the need for validation. As she grew as a young professional, she gained the confidence she needed to begin her own businesses surrounding her true passions. I reached out to Lin when I came across her profile because she embodies the Lift & Be Uplifted mission by utilizing her business to uplift women from all different backgrounds who share a common passion: embracing beauty through ethical wellness practices lead by women. Lin is the Founder and CEO of Pink Moon, consulting for elevating women-owned mission-driven, eco & ethical wellness brands through strategic consulting, marketing and overseas expansion. Lin has chosen to create a lifestyle career around empowering those who have bravely chosen to build their careers in eco-beauty and wellness in a way that prompts more free time for their other responsibilities and passions – whether that’s motherhood (many brands in the Pink Moon collective are mom-founded), formulating, or something else entirely. Get to know more about Lin's experience as a successful professional through this Spotlight post! 1. Rarely is someone's journey linear. Can you explain what you wanted to be when you grew up, and how your career landed where you are right now? I had so many career aspirations... from chemist to actress, photographer to veterinarian. While these career aspirations were very different, I had one mission: to help people and bring joy into people's lives. And, that is what I do today. Both my businesses support women and help them flourish. 2. Which single word do you most identify with? Resilience.  3. What is the biggest barrier you experienced as a woman in your career? Having to validate myself to doubters. Doubters including society, former managers, and at times, myself. 4. What advice would you give other women going into the professional world? Have no fear to pursue your passions and dreams. When you're doing something you're passionate about, you feel a strong joy. One of my favorite quotes is: "When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy," - Rumi. This quote has been in the back of my mind since I left my corporate job in tech.  5. Go-to ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip! 6. How do you define what it means to be a woman? Being a woman goes beyond biology, femininity, politics and whatever society tells us to be. I have various identities: I'm a girlfriend, daughter, a sister, a cousin, a friend, a small business owner, a creator. I'm also Taiwanese American. But who I am goes beyond these identities, too. I am strong and resilient, and I am me. 7. What do you think holds women back in the professional world? I think self-doubt often gets in the way of many. 8. Who is your female icon? Maya Angelou. Her beautiful words are so inspiring and make me feel like a phenomenal woman. Maya persistently worked hard to stand up for women's rights, and her impact was/is global.  9. Which accomplishment of yours are you most proud of?
I am proud of the two companies that I have built to support women and make a genuine change in the beauty industry. Three years ago, I launched my first business: Pink Moon, a boutique consultancy for female-founded sustainable + ethical beauty brands. I've intentionally built a business that works solely with female-founded brands that value sustainability, philanthropy, and holistic wellness because I believe that these values are key to creating a more conscious and empowering beauty space. Today, I've been lucky enough to work with 20 various brands in different stages of their growth. The second business is also called Pink Moon, and is essentially an extension of my consultancy. Pink Moon is now also a modern retail, well-care + community oasis created by women, for women – of every life stage. Self-care is necessary for holistic well-being, and every woman should have access to self-care products. For our team, self-care is anchored in our skincare routines; unfortunately, the self-care industry can be far from kind. It often ignores, excludes, and shames women. We at Pink Moon are actively working against the prohibitive nature that tends to be associated with self-care. A huge part of that is embracing and celebrating women from all walks of life. As a woman, you deserve support and we want to facilitate moments that remind you of your magic and inherent worthiness. Currently, Pink Moon is an online shop where I curated a selection of skincare, lifestyle, and eco home brands – products for the whole family and for every life stage. The brands we partner with are ethically + sustainably made, cruelty-free and female-founded. They are also active financial contributors to various causes regarding environmental sustainability, humanitarianism, and animal rights. 10. What was the kindest thing someone has ever done for you? My mom's parents passed away when she was very young, so I never met them. I never got to know my dad's parents either. However, my mom's host family during college (in Kansas) offered to be her future kids' grandparents. Till this day, they have made a big impact in my life. They were there for the big moments in our lives. My grandpa came to visit me in college several times. And they send cards for every holiday, which is always a treat. SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT: Juliette Holder | 2020 Lift & Be Uplifted Scholarship Recipient | Ponte Vedra High School At a Lift & Be Uplifted Presentation given to the Miss PVHS 2020 Pageant contestants, I gave personalized Lift & Be Uplifted journals to each of the 25 girls competing. I encouraged them to utilize list-making to accomplish their goals, in addition to journaling learning experiences, and recording both small and big "wins". The scholarship was presented to the contestant who submitted the journal entry that embodies the the values of grit and perseverance that upholds the Lift & Be Uplifted mission to challenge bias that holds women back and to stand up for ourselves and others. The first annual Lift & Be Uplifted Scholarship Award was presented to Juliette Holder at the Miss PVHS 2020 Pageant on Saturday March 7, 2020. Believe me when I say... She. Is. OUTSTANDING. Her responses to my questions not only reveal her intelligence, but her forward-thinking mindset, her maturity, and her intense ambition. She is an incredibly strong role-model for both her high school peers, and for girls who want to pursue a career in STEM! #TeamJuliette & #GIRLPOWER Read more about Juliette's perspective in this post!  1. What is your earliest memory of when you felt marginalized for being a girl? It was all the way back in elementary school when my teacher would only pick boys to do the “heavy lifting” chores, such as moving chairs and desks, and then only allow girls to partake in the dainty tasks, such as handing back papers. Although it may seem like a small event, these daily occurrences in the classroom have an impact on a young girl’s mindset, often in a negative way. The repetition of it instills the mindset of feeling, being viewed as, weak and helpless within a young girl. 2. Why did you decide to pursue a career in engineering? Did someone or something inspire you? Science and math have always intrigued me. Science explains the world around us and the math we learn in school is mirrored in the natural world. When I was young, I attended a STEM conference for young girls where I was able to unleash an immense amount of creativity and discover how rewarding a career in STEM could be. Ever since that conference, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in engineering. 3. In your opinion, what is the best part about being a girl? The surrounding community of support. I believe that girls have a unique innate connection to each other where we not only want ourselves to achieve, but we want our peers to as well. Every girl is passionate about something and pursues everything with an overwhelming amount of heart. Although as girls we are different in our own ways, at our cores we are relatively similar and want to support those around us. 4. What would you tell another girl who is told that she isn’t “built” for a certain task or role? What advice would you give that girl who is told “no”? The advice I’d give her would be this: The people in the world that don’t believe in you and want to tear you down are part of your journey for a reason. People’s opinions can become more motivation to work harder and improve yourself. It is fuel that ignites the fire that will burn with you all your life. I would also tell her to have compassion for those people and be hopeful that whatever is tearing them down themselves gets better in their life. Oftentimes, people’s opinions of you are just a reflection of how they feel about themselves.  5. How do you feel we can best encourage girls to pursue careers in male-dominant fields such as management roles, science-based careers, engineering, etc.? Strong role models and exposure to the STEM subjects are the best ways to encourage young girls to pursue careers in the male-dominated careers. As I mentioned, the reason I became interested in engineering was because of a STEM conference. I think if we expose more young girls to experiences like that, that could inspire them to take charge of their interests. 6. Who is your female role model? Hands-down, Sylvia Earle. She was the former chief scientist of the NOAA and pioneered many deep-sea explorations. She is such an influence on my life since she took charge of her career goals regardless of what others said. She was the only girl on many ocean explorations and blew away the public world since she was both pretty and smart (an unbelievable combination according to the world). When I think of pursuing a career in a male-dominated field, I look up to Earle and aim to be as driven and confident as her. 7. Has anyone ever discouraged you from pursuing a career in engineering? How did you react? Yes - When I was a sophomore in high-school I had the opportunity to attend a dance intensive and was able to meet the director. The director and I struck up a conversation, and then he asked me what I wanted to pursue when I was older. I told him that I was interested in the field of engineering. He was visibly shocked. His entire face was clouded in a haze of confusion, and he stumbled over his next sentences to me. While I felt awkward about his response, I responded by laughing it off. I learned to have compassion for that man because it is not his fault, it was just simply what he was taught culturally. That experience will stick with me throughout my life and push me to be a better version of myself. 8. What are your your future/long-term goals? In the future, I aim to attend university and acquire a master’s degree in environmental engineering. I hope to spend my post-grad years traveling the world to third-world countries and implement an affordable and sustainable infrastructure that allows for clean water and effective sanitary programs. I would also want to inspire change within more developed countries by coming up with sustainable ways together as humanity we can reduce our carbon footprint.  9. What single word best describes you? Reliable. A reliable person is someone you can always depend on and trust. I have the honor of being the captain of my track team, and through that experience, I have gained so many good leadership skills including being there for my teammates and being the teammate, they can count on. On top of pursuing track, I dance on my studio's competition team. Being an older girl on a team of over 60 girls I have learned to help the teachers out by taking on responsibilities. I think reliability is a great characteristic, and I aim to embody that quality throughout my life. 10. From your experiences in high school so far, what do you think holds girls back from succeeding the most? The culture built around a woman’s success. Running track, I constantly hear, “You’re fast for a girl” and “I can do that faster than you” from my male teammates. I think that the culture that is instilled in men is that girls succeeding is taboo and that men shouldn’t get “chicked” or shown up by a girl. The stigma around successful girls is a tough one to eliminate but I have hope that every empowered woman will do everything to break that gender stereotype.  |
