I believe that leaders come in all shapes and sizes, genders, orientations, affiliations, abilities, races, ages, levels of experience...and that the world needs each of us to show up fully as the leaders we are here to be. Not as a copy of another, but rather the full expression of who you really are, free from limiting self-beliefs.
I’ve never been one to follow the traditional route. It didn’t feel right to me.
I wasn’t sure how to find the success I was looking for, but I was committed to leaving no stone unturned until I figured it out. I started out with a bachelor's degree in fine arts (B.F.A) from New York University and rose through the ranks in the business world to become an Executive Vice President, Global Director of Creative Management for one of the largest advertising agencies in the world.
With no apologies, I built a career being unashamedly myself.
I received the following advice from my father:
“In business it is more important to be respected than liked. It won’t always be easy, and it clearly won’t always be fun. Be true to who you are, consistent in your actions and over the course of time they will learn the truth of you and the value that you bring.”
I don’t think my father knew it at the time, but he was telling me to build a career based on being unashamedly myself, which is exactly what I did. By doing so I brought greater value to the companies I worked for and greater fulfillment to myself. The work I do today is the culmination of that training and 20+ years of experience helping both individuals and organizations.
Once I stopped trying to be what I thought I was supposed to be (to fulfill others definition of success) and gave myself permission to be “Unashamedly Me,” my career took off and my business found its greatest place of value for those I work with.
Be Unashamedly You! Understand all that your unique leadership style has to offer and share it boldly with the world! For it is where your greatest place of differentiation is, value lives and fulfillment thrives.