1 00:00:00,142 --> 00:00:04,722 Welcome to Say More, the powerhouse podcast dedicated to elevating the voices 2 00:00:04,722 --> 00:00:09,062 and journeys of women striving for the C -suite and those who've already conquered 3 00:00:09,062 --> 00:00:09,572 it. 4 00:00:09,572 --> 00:00:14,142 Brace yourself for candid conversations, illuminating interviews and unfiltered 5 00:00:14,142 --> 00:00:19,002 insights as we delve into the triumphs, hurdles and invaluable lessons learned 6 00:00:19,002 --> 00:00:20,718 along the path to success. 7 00:00:20,718 --> 00:00:25,358 Join us on this empowering journey where inspiration meets empowerment and wisdom 8 00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:26,498 reigns supreme. 9 00:00:26,498 --> 00:00:30,958 Get ready to ignite your ambition, harness your potential and thrive alongside your 10 00:00:30,958 --> 00:00:33,432 sisters on Say More. 11 00:00:49,614 --> 00:00:52,674 to another episode of the Say More podcast. 12 00:00:52,674 --> 00:00:55,594 I am so glad to have all of our listeners here. 13 00:00:55,594 --> 00:00:58,694 This has been quite an amazing journey so far. 14 00:00:58,694 --> 00:01:02,454 I originally started with the notion of just, you know, putting it out there, 15 00:01:02,454 --> 00:01:04,274 perhaps on Facebook or LinkedIn. 16 00:01:04,274 --> 00:01:09,954 And my goodness, we are on Apple, Spotify, just iHeartRadio. 17 00:01:09,954 --> 00:01:11,754 I mean, and the list continues to grow. 18 00:01:11,754 --> 00:01:15,734 And it's all because of you, all because of the stories that we've heard and the 19 00:01:15,734 --> 00:01:16,942 amazing women that 20 00:01:16,942 --> 00:01:19,982 I know have some amazing journeys that we wanna talk about. 21 00:01:19,982 --> 00:01:21,852 Today is no different. 22 00:01:21,852 --> 00:01:22,832 We have Dr. 23 00:01:22,832 --> 00:01:28,402 Shante Friday Strout, an amazing leader, recognized across the country. 24 00:01:28,402 --> 00:01:34,402 She is definitely someone who I'd love to have you one here and certainly engage 25 00:01:34,402 --> 00:01:37,862 with along the way because you can find us, we're not hard to find. 26 00:01:37,862 --> 00:01:38,782 So Dr. 27 00:01:38,782 --> 00:01:41,322 Friday Strout, so glad to have you here. 28 00:01:41,322 --> 00:01:43,442 Thank you so much for saying yes. 29 00:01:43,442 --> 00:01:46,926 And I think to probably level set for our audience. 30 00:01:46,926 --> 00:01:51,386 I'd like to ask you, I mean, again, you're a distinguished leader in academia and 31 00:01:51,386 --> 00:01:51,946 business. 32 00:01:51,946 --> 00:01:58,666 What inspired you to pursue a career path that ultimately led to you running, again, 33 00:01:58,666 --> 00:02:03,366 nationally, globally recognized and being the Dean of the School of Business and 34 00:02:03,366 --> 00:02:04,666 Industry at FAMU? 35 00:02:04,666 --> 00:02:06,466 Well, thank you so much, Dr. 36 00:02:06,466 --> 00:02:07,496 Moore, for having me. 37 00:02:07,496 --> 00:02:09,566 And thank you for that question, right? 38 00:02:09,566 --> 00:02:13,766 I would say what inspired me, my parents. 39 00:02:13,774 --> 00:02:15,774 Both of them were educators. 40 00:02:15,774 --> 00:02:19,894 My mom was an elementary school teacher before she retired and my dad was a 41 00:02:19,894 --> 00:02:22,413 college professor before he retired. 42 00:02:22,914 --> 00:02:27,894 And so educating others, helping others has always been a way of life for my 43 00:02:27,894 --> 00:02:33,784 family and wanting to help and give back, right? 44 00:02:33,784 --> 00:02:38,814 So after being out there in the work world for a few years, recognizing that, yes, I 45 00:02:38,814 --> 00:02:42,958 could help a company, but really being able to help people. 46 00:02:42,958 --> 00:02:45,258 I think is at the core of who I am. 47 00:02:45,258 --> 00:02:53,138 And so going back and pursuing my PhD was that thing that could then help me do what 48 00:02:53,138 --> 00:02:53,918 it is I want to do. 49 00:02:53,918 --> 00:02:56,408 Because what I tell people, the degree is not me. 50 00:02:56,408 --> 00:03:00,498 The degree is what I needed to have to do what it is I wanted to do. 51 00:03:00,838 --> 00:03:02,228 I love that. 52 00:03:02,228 --> 00:03:05,978 And listeners, I hope that you hear that as well, because oftentimes we can get so 53 00:03:05,978 --> 00:03:10,758 caught up into becoming, whether it's a sorority, whether it's a degree or 54 00:03:10,758 --> 00:03:12,494 whatever case it may be, but. 55 00:03:12,494 --> 00:03:16,394 really it was the mark that allowed her to do the thing that she loved most and 56 00:03:16,394 --> 00:03:17,354 giving back. 57 00:03:17,354 --> 00:03:22,374 And I have to share with the listeners, you know, having been a part and seeing 58 00:03:22,374 --> 00:03:27,154 the interaction that you have, though this is a podcast that's focused on women and 59 00:03:27,154 --> 00:03:31,854 the journey of women, you know, I have to share with them what I've seen by way of 60 00:03:31,854 --> 00:03:36,474 commencement ceremonies where these students, you know, male, female alike are 61 00:03:36,474 --> 00:03:37,474 going across the stage. 62 00:03:37,474 --> 00:03:42,350 I've never seen so many students pick up and love on. 63 00:03:42,350 --> 00:03:46,650 their Dean like it happens with Dean Friday Stroud. 64 00:03:46,650 --> 00:03:48,910 I mean, just amazing rapport. 65 00:03:48,910 --> 00:03:54,510 And you can tell that it is heartfelt, heart -given, and that's what they feel. 66 00:03:54,510 --> 00:03:58,450 And that's what I'm hoping also that you will feel by way of this conversation and 67 00:03:58,450 --> 00:04:00,490 you'll be inspired by it. 68 00:04:00,550 --> 00:04:05,730 So, you know, the next piece, and I guess it's a great, great segue that many women 69 00:04:05,730 --> 00:04:09,198 encounter obstacles and setbacks on their journey to the C -suite. 70 00:04:09,198 --> 00:04:11,048 I know I have some of my own. 71 00:04:11,048 --> 00:04:13,298 I mean, everybody can talk about them. 72 00:04:13,298 --> 00:04:19,898 But could you share a challenge that maybe early on in your career that you had to 73 00:04:19,898 --> 00:04:23,798 overcome and even thinking about before you even wanted to pursue leadership? 74 00:04:23,798 --> 00:04:30,838 Yeah, so I would say I think the first biggest challenge that I had to overcome 75 00:04:30,838 --> 00:04:32,818 was age, right? 76 00:04:32,818 --> 00:04:36,462 Because people felt like, you haven't... 77 00:04:36,462 --> 00:04:40,172 done this long enough or you haven't been around long enough, right? 78 00:04:40,172 --> 00:04:46,902 And so when I became the interim dean of the School of Business and Industry, I was 79 00:04:46,902 --> 00:04:50,142 actually like not even 42 yet. 80 00:04:50,142 --> 00:04:54,872 And people were saying, she's too young. 81 00:04:54,872 --> 00:04:55,852 She hasn't done this. 82 00:04:55,852 --> 00:04:57,262 She hasn't done that. 83 00:04:57,262 --> 00:05:02,606 But what I tell people is you have to put in the work. 84 00:05:02,606 --> 00:05:06,946 You have to put in the time and then you have to let it speak for you. 85 00:05:07,126 --> 00:05:14,366 And when you do that, people will recognize it and then they will come to 86 00:05:14,366 --> 00:05:14,866 you. 87 00:05:14,866 --> 00:05:21,746 And so I have to say that I have been fortunate enough where while there are the 88 00:05:21,746 --> 00:05:29,246 naysayers, that there have been people, leaders, bold enough to speak out for me 89 00:05:29,246 --> 00:05:31,406 in places where I wasn't. 90 00:05:31,406 --> 00:05:31,846 Right. 91 00:05:31,846 --> 00:05:32,718 And. 92 00:05:32,718 --> 00:05:34,618 And that's really the role of a sponsor. 93 00:05:34,618 --> 00:05:40,757 So we talk about having mentors, but really having sponsors and other people in 94 00:05:40,757 --> 00:05:42,018 your corner. 95 00:05:42,358 --> 00:05:46,098 And even many times when you don't realize that they're in your corner, because 96 00:05:46,098 --> 00:05:51,058 sometimes sponsors are unknown, but people may choose to sponsor you because of what 97 00:05:51,058 --> 00:05:52,558 they've seen in you. 98 00:05:52,558 --> 00:05:58,998 And so while age, I think was that first big factor that people were like, she's 99 00:05:58,998 --> 00:06:00,198 not ready for this. 100 00:06:00,198 --> 00:06:02,382 There were enough people. 101 00:06:02,382 --> 00:06:08,662 who saw what I had been doing at FAMU since I started there when I was 29 and a 102 00:06:08,662 --> 00:06:10,982 half years old as an assistant professor. 103 00:06:10,982 --> 00:06:20,962 And so age wasn't, it was an issue, but my work ethic, I think crowded out that noise 104 00:06:20,962 --> 00:06:28,442 and enabled me to get to the position where sponsors could say, no, we think 105 00:06:28,442 --> 00:06:30,312 she's the right person for the job. 106 00:06:30,312 --> 00:06:31,310 And then, 107 00:06:31,310 --> 00:06:35,270 The other piece is just doing the work, right? 108 00:06:36,430 --> 00:06:42,470 And I will tell you, one of the biggest things that I learned is you can do the 109 00:06:42,470 --> 00:06:51,250 work and it doesn't matter how good you are or how good of a job you do, but there 110 00:06:51,250 --> 00:06:57,166 are going to be people who, for whatever reason, and we call them haters, 111 00:06:57,166 --> 00:06:58,446 that are not gonna like it. 112 00:06:58,446 --> 00:07:03,996 And what I had to come to the realization of is that sometimes it's not about you, 113 00:07:03,996 --> 00:07:07,926 the person, it's you sitting in the seat that you happen to be sitting in. 114 00:07:07,926 --> 00:07:14,366 And so I've learned that they're gonna be a third of the people who are against you, 115 00:07:14,366 --> 00:07:18,246 no matter what you do or say, there will be a third of the people who will be with 116 00:07:18,246 --> 00:07:18,546 you. 117 00:07:18,546 --> 00:07:22,346 And then there will be another third that's sitting on the fence trying to 118 00:07:22,346 --> 00:07:24,566 figure out which way they're gonna sway. 119 00:07:24,566 --> 00:07:25,582 And... 120 00:07:25,582 --> 00:07:29,742 But at the end of the day, I can't work to try to satisfy 100 % of the people. 121 00:07:29,742 --> 00:07:35,682 I got to work to try to satisfy at least that 60, 70 % of people who can then help 122 00:07:35,682 --> 00:07:36,702 me move the needle. 123 00:07:36,702 --> 00:07:42,182 And some of the naysayers may come up, you know, switch sides and some may not, but I 124 00:07:42,182 --> 00:07:44,642 can't let them derail me in what I do. 125 00:07:44,642 --> 00:07:49,842 And so that's one of the things that I would say, you know, the challenge of age 126 00:07:49,842 --> 00:07:51,972 and you know, is she really ready? 127 00:07:51,972 --> 00:07:53,002 Can she do this? 128 00:07:53,002 --> 00:07:54,730 Can she not do this? 129 00:07:54,862 --> 00:07:55,662 You know what? 130 00:07:55,662 --> 00:07:58,632 People are going to say what they're going to say, but I'm going to put in the work. 131 00:07:58,632 --> 00:08:02,382 I'm going to put in the time and there's nobody who's going to outwork me. 132 00:08:02,522 --> 00:08:05,102 I love that listeners. 133 00:08:05,102 --> 00:08:08,962 So many great nuggets that came from that conversation. 134 00:08:08,962 --> 00:08:13,842 You know, everybody is searching for and running for mentors and you know, who's 135 00:08:13,842 --> 00:08:18,382 that A -list player that's going to be my mentor where in reality. 136 00:08:18,382 --> 00:08:22,602 what sponsors can bring to you and especially even in this conversation and I 137 00:08:22,602 --> 00:08:24,102 say the same for me. 138 00:08:24,102 --> 00:08:26,952 I mean, it's some that you'll never even know. 139 00:08:26,952 --> 00:08:29,652 So it's not about the loud ones that you're hearing. 140 00:08:29,652 --> 00:08:34,022 It's about the quiet ones that maybe you have not even heard, but they're standing 141 00:08:34,022 --> 00:08:38,112 up and putting your name in places that you may never ever even grace. 142 00:08:38,112 --> 00:08:41,342 And I think the other part of it is that you mentioned and I think it's important 143 00:08:41,342 --> 00:08:44,142 for our listeners too, is haters. 144 00:08:44,142 --> 00:08:48,238 You know, people that just aren't going to be on board regardless. 145 00:08:48,238 --> 00:08:53,938 And I think that too is a powerful piece to recognize regardless of where you are 146 00:08:53,938 --> 00:08:57,738 in your journey, whether you're in the C -suite or whether you're in your first job 147 00:08:57,738 --> 00:09:00,148 and you have it on your wishlist, your vision board. 148 00:09:00,148 --> 00:09:06,118 The whole idea is that you will not be 100 % liked and that's okay. 149 00:09:06,118 --> 00:09:10,818 Continue doing the job that you are destined to do and to not lose sight. 150 00:09:10,818 --> 00:09:14,658 So, I mean, again, it's almost like Mike drop on that, Dr. 151 00:09:14,658 --> 00:09:18,078 Friday Stroud, just amazing conversation there. 152 00:09:18,126 --> 00:09:24,926 But I will say to you, because of what you just said, fear oftentimes holds back 153 00:09:24,926 --> 00:09:27,066 people from pursuing their dreams. 154 00:09:27,066 --> 00:09:32,446 How do you advise women to confront and overcome their fears when it comes to the 155 00:09:32,446 --> 00:09:36,066 pursuit of even career advancement, getting started? 156 00:09:36,066 --> 00:09:40,286 So to that point, I would say first you have to get to know yourself, right? 157 00:09:40,286 --> 00:09:45,366 Many of us are very good at assessing other people, but we don't spend that same 158 00:09:45,366 --> 00:09:47,566 kind of time assessing ourselves. 159 00:09:47,566 --> 00:09:52,146 And I tell people, you know, I am fully aware of all of my weaknesses. 160 00:09:52,146 --> 00:09:55,635 And there are those that I have gone to choose to work on. 161 00:09:55,635 --> 00:09:59,836 And then there are those that I will say, you know what, this is just who I am. 162 00:09:59,836 --> 00:10:03,566 And then I'm gonna have to work to figure out one, how to get other people to help 163 00:10:03,566 --> 00:10:08,736 me compensate or plug in for that, but knowing yourself, right? 164 00:10:08,736 --> 00:10:13,766 And so once you know yourself, and then when you do the work, you put in the time 165 00:10:13,766 --> 00:10:15,290 and the dedication. 166 00:10:15,630 --> 00:10:19,230 You have to let those things speak for themselves, right? 167 00:10:19,230 --> 00:10:24,710 And what I say with fear, again, there are always going to be people who will be 168 00:10:24,710 --> 00:10:25,750 naysayers. 169 00:10:25,750 --> 00:10:31,290 You're never going to convince everybody, but you cannot let them lead you to 170 00:10:31,290 --> 00:10:32,650 paralyzation. 171 00:10:32,650 --> 00:10:33,770 You can't. 172 00:10:33,770 --> 00:10:35,750 You have to know who you are. 173 00:10:35,750 --> 00:10:37,950 You have to know what you can do. 174 00:10:37,950 --> 00:10:41,000 You have to let your work speak for itself. 175 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:44,494 And what I always say, my motto is I... 176 00:10:44,494 --> 00:10:52,094 whatever it is I do, I am fair, I do what's right, and I'm consistent. 177 00:10:52,094 --> 00:10:56,494 And so when you do those things, because I tell people, I don't have time to keep up 178 00:10:56,494 --> 00:10:56,844 with a lot. 179 00:10:56,844 --> 00:10:59,004 Like I can't keep, I got too many things to keep up with. 180 00:10:59,004 --> 00:11:04,314 So if I tell the truth in everything that I do, if I follow the book, if I follow 181 00:11:04,314 --> 00:11:07,954 the rules, if I'm fair, and then I'm consistent with people, right? 182 00:11:07,954 --> 00:11:10,574 And then also having empathy for others. 183 00:11:10,574 --> 00:11:15,834 It will help you and sometimes you will see, well, how does that impact my own 184 00:11:15,834 --> 00:11:16,614 personal fear? 185 00:11:16,614 --> 00:11:21,494 But when you can have a calm about yourself because you know what you're 186 00:11:21,494 --> 00:11:29,274 doing is right, fear subsides and you would be truly, truly amazed at how much 187 00:11:29,274 --> 00:11:30,674 it will subside. 188 00:11:30,674 --> 00:11:35,854 Usually fear is able to take over and conquer you because you're so worried and 189 00:11:35,854 --> 00:11:38,854 agitated about, you know, what other people are thinking and what other people 190 00:11:38,854 --> 00:11:39,758 are doing. 191 00:11:40,014 --> 00:11:41,274 Block all that out. 192 00:11:41,274 --> 00:11:46,774 Like you have to do what you know is the right thing to do, what's fair and 193 00:11:46,774 --> 00:11:49,154 consistent, and then doing it by the book. 194 00:11:49,154 --> 00:11:55,653 And so if you're prepared and you put in the time, you do the research, you know, 195 00:11:56,354 --> 00:11:59,614 those things will help alleviate fear. 196 00:11:59,614 --> 00:12:06,634 Don't allow other people's noise, right, to paralyze you to a point of non 197 00:12:06,634 --> 00:12:07,064 -movement. 198 00:12:07,064 --> 00:12:09,166 You have to know who you are. 199 00:12:09,166 --> 00:12:11,606 Know your strengths, know your weaknesses. 200 00:12:11,866 --> 00:12:17,146 Surround yourself with people who are going to help you solidify what your 201 00:12:17,146 --> 00:12:20,386 strengths are, as well as what your weaknesses may be. 202 00:12:20,386 --> 00:12:25,086 And then, you know, know you and do you. 203 00:12:25,086 --> 00:12:30,386 And I think when you do that, you take away a lot of the steam that the naysayers 204 00:12:30,386 --> 00:12:33,152 will have and the fear will subside. 205 00:12:33,614 --> 00:12:39,094 Such again listeners, I hope and I know that you're going to like press record 206 00:12:39,094 --> 00:12:43,874 like a bazillion times download it, subscribe and certainly share it with 207 00:12:43,874 --> 00:12:49,054 those that are in your circle and network because again, this is wisdom that comes 208 00:12:49,054 --> 00:12:50,314 by way of experience. 209 00:12:50,314 --> 00:12:53,854 Some of this stuff is innate, but a lot of it is because of, you know, when they say 210 00:12:53,854 --> 00:12:57,434 you got the tattoo and you're wearing them because it's because of what you've 211 00:12:57,434 --> 00:12:58,534 experienced. 212 00:12:58,534 --> 00:12:58,766 So. 213 00:12:58,766 --> 00:13:03,986 Please, if nothing more, what I hope gets taken from Say More is that we learn from 214 00:13:03,986 --> 00:13:08,606 each other, we grow here, but we also recognize that we can't stay in the spot 215 00:13:08,606 --> 00:13:12,326 that we're in because other people want you to be there. 216 00:13:12,326 --> 00:13:15,406 You have to move to where you desire to be. 217 00:13:15,406 --> 00:13:20,086 And I guess that goes to the point of a good segue about career planning and how 218 00:13:20,086 --> 00:13:21,866 crucial that is for success. 219 00:13:21,866 --> 00:13:25,518 What strategies do you recommend for women? 220 00:13:25,518 --> 00:13:29,678 to strategically plan their career trajectory, especially those aspiring to 221 00:13:29,678 --> 00:13:31,238 reach an executive position? 222 00:13:31,238 --> 00:13:36,518 Yeah, so what I will say is, one, study the people who are in the positions that 223 00:13:36,518 --> 00:13:38,358 you say you want to be in, right? 224 00:13:38,358 --> 00:13:40,218 And look at their career paths. 225 00:13:40,218 --> 00:13:46,278 The other thing I will say is sometimes you have to be prepared to do lateral 226 00:13:46,278 --> 00:13:52,898 moves and step back moves to learn enough to set you up for the big move. 227 00:13:52,898 --> 00:13:54,894 And so I think... 228 00:13:54,894 --> 00:13:56,974 People underestimate that a lot. 229 00:13:56,974 --> 00:13:59,794 Everybody wants to move up, move up, move up. 230 00:13:59,794 --> 00:14:06,634 But it's those lateral moves where you learn about the overall organization and 231 00:14:06,634 --> 00:14:10,774 not just one narrow area that can really set you up for success. 232 00:14:10,774 --> 00:14:19,554 I will say that putting in the work and the grind, for me, a lot of it was titles 233 00:14:19,554 --> 00:14:23,598 that people didn't know that I had and, you know, 234 00:14:23,598 --> 00:14:28,418 doing like the university's sex accreditation liaison role. 235 00:14:28,418 --> 00:14:36,458 That role gave me like a deep in -depth knowledge of the entire campus operations. 236 00:14:36,458 --> 00:14:41,908 I'm not gonna get that from being just the department chair or being just the dean, 237 00:14:41,908 --> 00:14:42,098 right? 238 00:14:42,098 --> 00:14:47,598 Because you're gonna know those areas kind of in a silo perspective, but putting 239 00:14:48,038 --> 00:14:52,426 myself in a position to learn about the entire university. 240 00:14:53,262 --> 00:15:00,062 I believe is what has set me up to be able to navigate the roles that I have been 241 00:15:00,062 --> 00:15:02,622 blessed to assume. 242 00:15:02,942 --> 00:15:07,262 And it also helps you to get to know people in different places because the 243 00:15:07,262 --> 00:15:12,322 other thing that you can never underestimate is the power of people in 244 00:15:12,322 --> 00:15:13,182 your team. 245 00:15:13,182 --> 00:15:19,654 And I tell people, for me, it is not just... 246 00:15:21,646 --> 00:15:23,356 what I can do as a leader. 247 00:15:23,356 --> 00:15:26,086 As I tell people, I don't do any of this by myself. 248 00:15:26,086 --> 00:15:30,146 I have an awesome and amazing team of people behind me who help make these 249 00:15:30,146 --> 00:15:30,986 things happen. 250 00:15:30,986 --> 00:15:37,706 And really being a good leader is also knowing when to be a good follower, right? 251 00:15:37,706 --> 00:15:40,366 So I don't have to lead on everything. 252 00:15:40,366 --> 00:15:45,566 I am perfectly fine with tapping my team members who have skills and strengths and 253 00:15:45,566 --> 00:15:49,326 then acknowledging and celebrating them for the things that they do. 254 00:15:49,326 --> 00:15:51,906 I don't take credit for things that I didn't do. 255 00:15:51,906 --> 00:15:54,426 I give credit where credit is due. 256 00:15:54,426 --> 00:15:59,626 And when you do that, people will work harder for you than what they may 257 00:15:59,626 --> 00:16:03,466 otherwise do because they feel recognized and appreciated. 258 00:16:03,466 --> 00:16:09,046 And so again, remember I said, I am fully aware of not only my strengths, but my 259 00:16:09,046 --> 00:16:09,606 weaknesses. 260 00:16:09,606 --> 00:16:15,846 And so when I build a team, I build a team of people who can also help me with areas 261 00:16:15,846 --> 00:16:18,894 that I have identified can help move the needle. 262 00:16:18,894 --> 00:16:20,974 but I may not be the strongest in. 263 00:16:20,974 --> 00:16:25,254 I don't have a problem bringing somebody else who's stronger than me in something 264 00:16:25,254 --> 00:16:30,694 and elevating them and giving them the freedom, the flexibility and the latitude 265 00:16:30,694 --> 00:16:35,534 to accomplish what needs to happen to move the team forward. 266 00:16:35,534 --> 00:16:42,074 And so I always say like one of the best things about being a good leader is 267 00:16:42,074 --> 00:16:44,594 knowing also when to be a good follower. 268 00:16:44,594 --> 00:16:46,798 But you first have to understand yourself. 269 00:16:46,798 --> 00:16:50,778 and then also understand your team members and know what their strengths and 270 00:16:50,778 --> 00:16:55,978 weaknesses are and then help elevate everybody because you're only as strong as 271 00:16:55,978 --> 00:16:56,768 your weakest link. 272 00:16:56,768 --> 00:16:59,998 So if I can make my entire team strong, then guess what? 273 00:16:59,998 --> 00:17:03,138 Collectively, we will be stronger together. 274 00:17:03,378 --> 00:17:08,278 Again, you cannot, though there's some amazing learning. 275 00:17:08,278 --> 00:17:11,878 I've seen it firsthand, school of business and industry, but again, this conversation 276 00:17:11,878 --> 00:17:14,990 here, you could not pay for it. 277 00:17:14,990 --> 00:17:20,050 one -on -one because it takes into account what she mentioned, the self -awareness 278 00:17:20,050 --> 00:17:25,350 piece, the recognition that you don't have to have 100 % of all the pieces. 279 00:17:25,350 --> 00:17:29,970 And I think sometimes, oftentimes, not even small times, but oftentimes, there's 280 00:17:29,970 --> 00:17:34,450 this whole notion that if I'm not bringing 100 % of it to the table, then I must not 281 00:17:34,450 --> 00:17:35,930 be an effective leader. 282 00:17:35,930 --> 00:17:40,430 The fact that you have a self -awareness that others have things, strengths, that 283 00:17:40,430 --> 00:17:43,246 they can bring it at too, and it's about the collective. 284 00:17:43,246 --> 00:17:49,166 versus the I, then that in and of itself breeds and I think speaks to leadership. 285 00:17:49,166 --> 00:17:54,006 Now you've said something and I know that listeners are tuned in and they're gonna 286 00:17:54,006 --> 00:17:57,766 want you to spend some more time on this one about mentorship. 287 00:17:57,766 --> 00:18:01,746 So mentorship, it's oftentimes put out there as a key factor in career 288 00:18:01,746 --> 00:18:02,126 advancement. 289 00:18:02,126 --> 00:18:03,366 We've heard it over and over. 290 00:18:03,366 --> 00:18:04,166 Who's your mentor? 291 00:18:04,166 --> 00:18:05,266 Who's your mentor? 292 00:18:05,266 --> 00:18:10,266 Can you share the role of mentors that they've played in your journey and how 293 00:18:10,266 --> 00:18:12,334 women leaders can find and cultivate? 294 00:18:12,334 --> 00:18:16,234 meaningful and I'm going to underscore meaningful because you've talked about the 295 00:18:16,234 --> 00:18:18,594 difference, mentor relationships. 296 00:18:18,594 --> 00:18:19,194 Yeah. 297 00:18:19,194 --> 00:18:28,294 So, and I would say this, I think there is what I would call spontaneous mentors. 298 00:18:28,294 --> 00:18:32,694 And then there are those that are planned mentors. 299 00:18:32,714 --> 00:18:39,496 And then there are some that are silent and unspoken mentors. 300 00:18:40,078 --> 00:18:43,378 And so the spontaneous ones are people who you're going to meet. 301 00:18:43,378 --> 00:18:47,838 And I need people to understand a mentor can be older than you, but a mentor could 302 00:18:47,838 --> 00:18:50,658 also be your same age or they could be younger than you. 303 00:18:50,658 --> 00:18:50,858 Right. 304 00:18:50,858 --> 00:18:53,458 Because what I tell people is I try to learn from everybody. 305 00:18:53,458 --> 00:18:57,038 And again, other people have skillsets that I may not have. 306 00:18:57,038 --> 00:19:00,798 So I may need them to mentor me on some things just because that's not my strong 307 00:19:00,798 --> 00:19:01,148 suit. 308 00:19:01,148 --> 00:19:01,688 Right. 309 00:19:01,688 --> 00:19:05,138 And then there's the formal mentoring where we have this relationship and we 310 00:19:05,138 --> 00:19:08,338 schedule meetings and we do this and we do that. 311 00:19:09,166 --> 00:19:15,576 And we talk about very specific things and that takes a different type of level, 312 00:19:15,576 --> 00:19:15,766 right? 313 00:19:15,766 --> 00:19:20,646 Because that mentor also wants to know not what just are you trying to get from them, 314 00:19:20,646 --> 00:19:23,586 but what are you also giving to the relationship? 315 00:19:23,586 --> 00:19:30,506 And so you have to be really mindful that it is a real reciprocal two -way street 316 00:19:30,506 --> 00:19:34,666 relationship and not where you're just given, I mean, taken, taken, taken and not 317 00:19:34,666 --> 00:19:35,626 given, given, given. 318 00:19:35,626 --> 00:19:37,776 And then there are the silent ones, right? 319 00:19:37,776 --> 00:19:39,206 The ones who... 320 00:19:40,078 --> 00:19:45,338 I probably have just as many silent mentors who we've never spoken the word 321 00:19:45,338 --> 00:19:51,358 mentorship with each other, but I learned from them. 322 00:19:51,718 --> 00:19:59,078 And so you can find mentoring in to me many different facets, but it is what do 323 00:19:59,078 --> 00:20:02,958 you take from it to then help make you better? 324 00:20:02,958 --> 00:20:06,478 And then also what do you give to it? 325 00:20:06,478 --> 00:20:09,808 to help feed and nurture the relationship, right? 326 00:20:09,808 --> 00:20:15,358 So the people who I would say are kind of like my silent mentors, I may never tell 327 00:20:15,358 --> 00:20:20,118 them you're a mentor, but I can promise you that I have watched and observed 328 00:20:20,118 --> 00:20:27,638 everything that they do, and in some cases that they didn't do, to really help me 329 00:20:27,638 --> 00:20:29,808 navigate different waters, right? 330 00:20:29,808 --> 00:20:35,534 I will also say mentoring is not just always what's finding out about what is, 331 00:20:35,534 --> 00:20:40,234 the right way to do something, but it's also learning some lessons about what not 332 00:20:40,234 --> 00:20:40,974 to do, right? 333 00:20:40,974 --> 00:20:43,834 And so my daddy used to say this when we were growing up. 334 00:20:43,834 --> 00:20:47,934 If, you know, five people walk around the corner and bump their head, I don't have 335 00:20:47,934 --> 00:20:50,194 to be the sixth one to walk around the corner and bump my head. 336 00:20:50,194 --> 00:20:51,294 I'm gonna learn from them, right? 337 00:20:51,294 --> 00:20:53,424 Like, I don't, let me turn and go the other way. 338 00:20:53,424 --> 00:20:57,074 Let me take another path because I know this path is gonna lead me to a bumped 339 00:20:57,074 --> 00:20:57,984 head, right? 340 00:20:57,984 --> 00:21:03,340 And so I think a lot of times people don't put enough value in... 341 00:21:03,630 --> 00:21:08,620 the lessons that can be learned from the not so good things, right? 342 00:21:08,620 --> 00:21:10,360 Or the not so positive things. 343 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:15,610 And so what I say is you try to use, and I try to use everything as a learning 344 00:21:15,610 --> 00:21:16,230 lesson. 345 00:21:16,230 --> 00:21:22,470 And so I try to learn as much about what to do as I do around what not to do based 346 00:21:22,470 --> 00:21:27,430 on those that are my formal mentors, that are my silent mentors, and that are kind 347 00:21:27,430 --> 00:21:28,910 of my spontaneous mentors. 348 00:21:28,910 --> 00:21:32,870 Because mentoring relationships, they can be long. 349 00:21:33,422 --> 00:21:35,302 or they can be short, right? 350 00:21:35,302 --> 00:21:43,362 And you have to understand that there's no like one right way to engage in a 351 00:21:43,362 --> 00:21:45,142 mentoring relationship. 352 00:21:45,142 --> 00:21:51,742 And to me, I think when you get the best interaction is when the roles between 353 00:21:51,742 --> 00:21:59,682 mentor and mentee actually flip in fluid fashions that really gives that reciprocal 354 00:21:59,682 --> 00:22:02,670 and mutually beneficial 355 00:22:02,670 --> 00:22:07,210 respect and understanding that comes from, you know, just being in mentoring 356 00:22:07,210 --> 00:22:08,510 relationships. 357 00:22:08,530 --> 00:22:13,270 I love how you describe that because oftentimes, you know, especially whether 358 00:22:13,270 --> 00:22:16,140 it's mentor mentee, people really take on those titles. 359 00:22:16,140 --> 00:22:19,290 They're like, if I'm a mentee, then you're just pouring, pouring, pouring. 360 00:22:19,290 --> 00:22:22,580 But no, it's not like that really should be a two way street. 361 00:22:22,580 --> 00:22:26,370 You know, one may be if you're a mentee and you're younger and you're a digital 362 00:22:26,370 --> 00:22:28,210 native, then technology is your thing. 363 00:22:28,210 --> 00:22:29,294 I might ask you that. 364 00:22:29,294 --> 00:22:34,024 Whereas on the other side, you know, life and time, you might ask me the other. 365 00:22:34,024 --> 00:22:35,794 So thank you for sharing that. 366 00:22:35,794 --> 00:22:40,034 What do you think about, because you mentioned it earlier about the importance 367 00:22:40,034 --> 00:22:45,614 of having sponsors and, you know, even supporters, how have, what role have they 368 00:22:45,614 --> 00:22:46,914 played in your journey? 369 00:22:46,914 --> 00:22:50,606 And what advice do you have for women seeking to build their? 370 00:22:50,606 --> 00:22:52,966 support or sponsor network. 371 00:22:52,966 --> 00:22:54,006 How does that happen? 372 00:22:54,006 --> 00:22:57,066 I'm sure because again, everybody understands they could just pick up 373 00:22:57,066 --> 00:22:59,946 mentors, at least a name only that they pick up around the corner. 374 00:22:59,946 --> 00:23:04,286 But what about sponsors and supporters? 375 00:23:04,306 --> 00:23:10,065 Yeah, I would say I have just been very, very fortunate that. 376 00:23:11,186 --> 00:23:20,262 Sponsors, I think, have found me and I truly believe that. 377 00:23:20,654 --> 00:23:29,274 In some cases, the best sponsors and mentors find you, not that you go out 378 00:23:29,274 --> 00:23:30,894 seeking them. 379 00:23:30,894 --> 00:23:38,374 And I think that a lot of that comes as a result of the work that people see that 380 00:23:38,374 --> 00:23:39,534 you put in. 381 00:23:39,534 --> 00:23:46,014 And so what I will say is, is that a lot of times, and don't get me wrong, because 382 00:23:46,014 --> 00:23:50,062 again, I told you I was young and age was an issue, right? 383 00:23:50,062 --> 00:23:55,722 I am all for the A -type personality who was saying, I want to get to this goal by 384 00:23:55,722 --> 00:23:56,252 this time. 385 00:23:56,252 --> 00:23:58,662 And I'm not saying that you don't do that. 386 00:23:58,662 --> 00:24:07,462 But what I'm also saying is you also need to build in knowing that it may not happen 387 00:24:07,462 --> 00:24:08,862 on that time. 388 00:24:09,782 --> 00:24:15,862 I'm a firm believer that the Lord makes things happen for a reason and in His 389 00:24:15,862 --> 00:24:17,762 time, not always our time. 390 00:24:17,762 --> 00:24:20,014 And every now and then we'd like to try to help the Lord out. 391 00:24:20,014 --> 00:24:26,414 But sometimes he has to make us recognize that, again, he's the one in control, not 392 00:24:26,414 --> 00:24:26,614 us. 393 00:24:26,614 --> 00:24:31,874 And we have to figure out and actually get OK with that timing. 394 00:24:31,874 --> 00:24:39,878 And so I think in times of trying to find sponsors, find mentors, what I say is, 395 00:24:41,966 --> 00:24:43,372 put in the work. 396 00:24:45,454 --> 00:24:50,434 put in the outcomes and the diligence. 397 00:24:50,434 --> 00:24:54,954 And I promise you, the sponsors and mentors will find you. 398 00:24:54,954 --> 00:25:00,834 And I believe that it's gonna be more genuine if they find you than if you're 399 00:25:00,834 --> 00:25:03,034 going out to seek them. 400 00:25:03,034 --> 00:25:07,384 Because then you're not putting in the time to do the work. 401 00:25:07,384 --> 00:25:12,110 And I tell my students, right, that they have to learn my favorite quote. 402 00:25:12,110 --> 00:25:14,930 which is luck is when preparation meets opportunity. 403 00:25:14,930 --> 00:25:17,730 And I say it's really not luck, it's really success. 404 00:25:17,730 --> 00:25:21,190 So you're most successful and it's an equation, right? 405 00:25:21,190 --> 00:25:23,470 You put in the work, that's the preparation. 406 00:25:23,470 --> 00:25:28,670 You add that to opportunities when the two meet, that is when you actually have 407 00:25:28,670 --> 00:25:29,650 success, right? 408 00:25:29,650 --> 00:25:31,530 Not luck, but really success. 409 00:25:31,530 --> 00:25:37,926 And when you put in the work, when people have opportunity to see you, 410 00:25:38,446 --> 00:25:44,426 they will then speak up for you in ways that you couldn't pay them, because you 411 00:25:44,426 --> 00:25:46,326 wouldn't even know that they would do it. 412 00:25:46,326 --> 00:25:54,506 So really spend the time investing in yourself and investing in the preparation. 413 00:25:54,506 --> 00:26:00,526 I can't say that enough because when you think about all the greats, whether it be 414 00:26:00,526 --> 00:26:06,766 Beyonce, whether it be Michael Jordan, Magic John, these people, they put in 415 00:26:06,766 --> 00:26:07,430 work. 416 00:26:07,502 --> 00:26:10,062 When we're asleep, they're working. 417 00:26:10,062 --> 00:26:10,502 Yeah. 418 00:26:10,502 --> 00:26:10,982 Right. 419 00:26:10,982 --> 00:26:13,172 And so people are like, they're so, they're so lucky. 420 00:26:13,172 --> 00:26:13,922 They're so lucky. 421 00:26:13,922 --> 00:26:15,582 No, they put in the work. 422 00:26:15,582 --> 00:26:20,182 And when the opportunity presented itself, they were ready to cap on it. 423 00:26:20,642 --> 00:26:25,602 So, so I, again, so many people and so many women at different stages of their 424 00:26:25,602 --> 00:26:26,162 careers. 425 00:26:26,162 --> 00:26:31,282 And the fact that we're saying, you know, some of it may appear microwave ready, 426 00:26:31,642 --> 00:26:36,270 just because of what we see with social media, but work has to come. 427 00:26:36,270 --> 00:26:37,990 and you have to do the work. 428 00:26:37,990 --> 00:26:42,110 You don't want, as you mentioned, those kind of spontaneous where you're out there 429 00:26:42,110 --> 00:26:47,190 trying to grow and navigate this just to say that you have this person in your 430 00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:47,600 corner. 431 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,730 And when everything comes to a head, they're not going to be there because it 432 00:26:51,730 --> 00:26:53,570 wasn't a genuine relationship. 433 00:26:53,570 --> 00:26:55,950 So again, lesson to be learned there. 434 00:26:55,950 --> 00:26:59,680 What in your experience has been the best piece of advice? 435 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,638 And it sounds like that's given some amazing advice. 436 00:27:02,638 --> 00:27:07,058 but that you've received regarding career advancement and how has it influenced your 437 00:27:07,058 --> 00:27:08,688 approach to leadership and mentorship? 438 00:27:08,688 --> 00:27:10,198 What was that advice? 439 00:27:10,718 --> 00:27:12,078 Wow. 440 00:27:13,418 --> 00:27:14,418 So. 441 00:27:17,326 --> 00:27:26,766 I would say the best piece of advice that I received was when somebody told me, it's 442 00:27:26,766 --> 00:27:29,726 not personal, it's strictly business. 443 00:27:29,726 --> 00:27:35,232 And it stunk at the time. 444 00:27:37,570 --> 00:27:46,370 But hindsight 2020, it was the best piece of advice that that person could have ever 445 00:27:46,370 --> 00:27:47,590 given me. 446 00:27:49,470 --> 00:27:55,990 But it was the timing of when they gave it to me that made it one sting, but also 447 00:27:55,990 --> 00:27:58,190 probably made it sink in, right? 448 00:27:58,190 --> 00:28:03,630 Because if they had said it at any other time when things were going great, I would 449 00:28:03,630 --> 00:28:04,556 have. 450 00:28:04,814 --> 00:28:07,774 It would have gone as mom and dad say, it would have gone in one hand and come out 451 00:28:07,774 --> 00:28:08,494 the other. 452 00:28:08,494 --> 00:28:21,294 But it came at a time when things were rough about 15, 10, 15 years ago. 453 00:28:21,574 --> 00:28:22,278 And... 454 00:28:24,014 --> 00:28:29,334 It that circumstance needed to be that circumstance for me to hear it in the way 455 00:28:29,334 --> 00:28:31,334 that it was delivered. 456 00:28:31,334 --> 00:28:34,054 But it has been the best piece of advice. 457 00:28:34,054 --> 00:28:39,233 And so I think a lot of times we as women try to internalize things and make it 458 00:28:39,233 --> 00:28:40,354 personal. 459 00:28:40,554 --> 00:28:45,254 And don't get me wrong, there are some things that are personal, so I'm not 460 00:28:45,254 --> 00:28:46,674 saying that they're not. 461 00:28:46,674 --> 00:28:52,194 But I also think that from that, what I realized and what I took away from it is 462 00:28:52,194 --> 00:28:53,030 that. 463 00:28:53,486 --> 00:28:56,766 set the personal stuff aside and now get down to business, right? 464 00:28:56,766 --> 00:29:01,866 Like you can have that sting for a moment, but then you gotta get back up, dust 465 00:29:01,866 --> 00:29:07,986 yourself back off and say, okay, let me put my business hat on and let me work 466 00:29:07,986 --> 00:29:12,106 through this from a professional perspective, not from the personal 467 00:29:12,106 --> 00:29:12,596 perspective. 468 00:29:12,596 --> 00:29:19,686 And I think that that's really important because especially as women, we... 469 00:29:20,238 --> 00:29:28,798 get saddled with the, we're emotional and you know, you're just taking it personal 470 00:29:28,798 --> 00:29:30,658 and you know, all of that stuff. 471 00:29:30,658 --> 00:29:36,598 And so this is when you gotta like, you know, tighten up the bootstraps and you 472 00:29:36,598 --> 00:29:42,118 know, get back on the saddle and say, hey, you know, like, I gotta, I hate to use 473 00:29:42,118 --> 00:29:44,558 this term, but I'll use it. 474 00:29:44,558 --> 00:29:46,528 I was going to say, I got a man up, but now I got a woman up. 475 00:29:46,528 --> 00:29:50,588 Like I got a woman up and I got to let the personal stuff go by the wayside. 476 00:29:50,588 --> 00:29:52,718 And I have to deal with it professionally. 477 00:29:52,718 --> 00:29:54,568 I love that. 478 00:29:54,568 --> 00:29:58,858 And I know that there are probably going to be some women on heat listening that 479 00:29:58,858 --> 00:30:02,918 will say they've done just that, but that's also been something which goes to 480 00:30:02,918 --> 00:30:04,258 the point of what you said earlier. 481 00:30:04,258 --> 00:30:09,038 You're not going to win favoritism and excitement from everyone that have gone 482 00:30:09,038 --> 00:30:12,366 through an experience where they said you work too business like. 483 00:30:12,366 --> 00:30:15,406 and that you didn't give the emotional piece of it. 484 00:30:15,406 --> 00:30:18,666 So really it's knowing you, knowing the situation. 485 00:30:18,666 --> 00:30:20,106 And as Dr. 486 00:30:20,106 --> 00:30:24,086 Shante Friday -Strauss just mentioned, it really is having that awareness that 487 00:30:24,086 --> 00:30:27,026 you're not gonna win over 100 % of the people. 488 00:30:27,026 --> 00:30:30,946 But I did want to put that out there because I absolutely know that that's 489 00:30:30,946 --> 00:30:32,846 sometimes a conversation too. 490 00:30:32,846 --> 00:30:37,546 So what do you think about, again, as a leader in both academia and business, you 491 00:30:37,546 --> 00:30:39,182 are a hybrid out there. 492 00:30:39,182 --> 00:30:43,602 How do you balance your professional responsibilities while also supporting and 493 00:30:43,602 --> 00:30:45,052 empowering women in their careers? 494 00:30:45,052 --> 00:30:48,922 And I've heard a whole lot about what your belief is regarding culture. 495 00:30:48,922 --> 00:30:50,542 And that's great. 496 00:30:50,542 --> 00:30:53,942 Anything else that you want to point out specifically to supporting and empowering 497 00:30:53,942 --> 00:30:55,582 other women in their careers? 498 00:30:55,582 --> 00:30:58,662 Well, I think for me, what I try to do is listen, right? 499 00:30:58,662 --> 00:31:00,602 I try to be accessible to people. 500 00:31:00,602 --> 00:31:02,542 And people always say, I know you're really busy. 501 00:31:02,542 --> 00:31:03,402 I know you're really busy. 502 00:31:03,402 --> 00:31:07,726 But look, we can all make time for whatever it is that we choose to. 503 00:31:07,726 --> 00:31:11,186 What I tell people is, now I might not be able to get back with you right when you 504 00:31:11,186 --> 00:31:15,626 want me to, but you know, give me a couple of days and we can make that happen. 505 00:31:15,626 --> 00:31:22,186 But I really think listening to people and empathizing with people, because I don't 506 00:31:22,186 --> 00:31:26,446 think we have enough empathy in this world, but empathizing with people. 507 00:31:26,446 --> 00:31:29,966 And then, you know, at the end of the day, they're going to have to make their own 508 00:31:29,966 --> 00:31:37,446 decisions, but giving them constructive feedback, some of which... 509 00:31:37,646 --> 00:31:40,106 They may not like, right? 510 00:31:40,106 --> 00:31:43,146 Because what I also tell people is you have to own your part in the process. 511 00:31:43,146 --> 00:31:46,026 I always tell my team, look, we're all human. 512 00:31:46,026 --> 00:31:47,306 We can all make mistakes. 513 00:31:47,306 --> 00:31:51,716 I just say, when you make the mistake, you know, let's, let's discuss it. 514 00:31:51,716 --> 00:31:54,596 Let's figure out how to, how to move past it. 515 00:31:54,596 --> 00:31:54,816 Right. 516 00:31:54,816 --> 00:32:05,726 And so, really for me with other women is trying to be a sounding board, right? 517 00:32:05,726 --> 00:32:07,406 To give people. 518 00:32:07,406 --> 00:32:12,806 an outlet, and to have a no judgment space, right? 519 00:32:12,806 --> 00:32:18,586 Because again, when we're out there in these positions, there is judgment 24 520 00:32:18,586 --> 00:32:24,536 seven from people on the outside and every now and then, you know, and I tell you, 521 00:32:24,536 --> 00:32:27,676 like, my sister becomes that sounding board for me. 522 00:32:27,676 --> 00:32:31,706 I tell her, look, I'm about to, I need to talk to you about this and I don't need 523 00:32:31,706 --> 00:32:32,446 any judgment. 524 00:32:32,446 --> 00:32:34,086 Like, let me just get it out. 525 00:32:34,086 --> 00:32:35,630 And then, you know, 526 00:32:35,630 --> 00:32:38,590 I can take your thing, but don't judge me in the process of while I'm getting it 527 00:32:38,590 --> 00:32:39,220 out, right? 528 00:32:39,220 --> 00:32:41,590 And then she'll come back and say, well, you know, you should have thought about 529 00:32:41,590 --> 00:32:41,770 this. 530 00:32:41,770 --> 00:32:42,630 And did you think about that? 531 00:32:42,630 --> 00:32:47,110 And it's like, okay, yeah, now I can get back and, you know, get back on the saddle 532 00:32:47,110 --> 00:32:50,590 and, and, and, and get back in the game. 533 00:32:50,590 --> 00:32:54,230 But I think letting people know that we are human, right? 534 00:32:54,230 --> 00:33:00,350 We are, even though people might not think that we are, but you have to have that 535 00:33:00,350 --> 00:33:04,078 space, a place where there are people that you feel like you can have. 536 00:33:04,078 --> 00:33:05,628 some genuine conversations with. 537 00:33:05,628 --> 00:33:07,958 And I will tell you, Dr. 538 00:33:07,958 --> 00:33:11,418 Moore, that I thank you, right? 539 00:33:11,418 --> 00:33:19,358 Because in the years that I have known you, you know, you, I think also one of 540 00:33:19,358 --> 00:33:21,958 those people that you're approachable, right? 541 00:33:21,958 --> 00:33:30,498 And that people can talk to you and they can get an idea or sense of what your 542 00:33:30,498 --> 00:33:32,918 thoughts would be, right, around something. 543 00:33:32,918 --> 00:33:33,838 And so, 544 00:33:33,838 --> 00:33:39,018 I thank you for being approachable, for being somebody that, you know, will, you 545 00:33:39,018 --> 00:33:42,778 know, you're not always out there in the front saying a whole lot, but you are 546 00:33:42,778 --> 00:33:48,658 quietly behind the scenes, you know, giving, you know, thoughts of 547 00:33:48,658 --> 00:33:55,698 reaffirmation, confirmation, and that's, we don't have enough of us doing that for 548 00:33:55,698 --> 00:33:56,098 each other. 549 00:33:56,098 --> 00:33:59,698 So again, I just want to say thank you because over the years you have always 550 00:33:59,698 --> 00:34:01,038 done that. 551 00:34:01,326 --> 00:34:02,936 And I appreciate that. 552 00:34:02,936 --> 00:34:08,526 I mean, a lot of what you have shared, even to the point of, you know, this whole 553 00:34:08,526 --> 00:34:13,226 balancing piece and having a space for grace, because oftentimes, you know, 554 00:34:13,226 --> 00:34:21,386 people are trigger happy for judgment and not reflecting on what other factors and 555 00:34:21,386 --> 00:34:23,486 just, we just don't take that into account. 556 00:34:23,486 --> 00:34:27,757 And oftentimes, you know, we, we expect it from one group. 557 00:34:27,757 --> 00:34:31,217 but we get it also from the same group. 558 00:34:31,217 --> 00:34:34,617 And that is a piece that is disheartening. 559 00:34:34,617 --> 00:34:39,597 And so the whole idea of having this conversation that I am hopeful that the 560 00:34:39,597 --> 00:34:43,857 listeners that are taking part in it and certainly those that will share it is that 561 00:34:43,857 --> 00:34:49,477 we reflect on that, that we really do have to allow for grace and that we have to 562 00:34:49,477 --> 00:34:51,534 allow for the what ifs. 563 00:34:51,534 --> 00:34:55,194 not even that big a what if that we oftentimes look at when we are in the 564 00:34:55,194 --> 00:34:58,774 mirror that what if it were you, what would you have done? 565 00:34:58,774 --> 00:35:01,174 You know, without knowing all of the pieces. 566 00:35:01,174 --> 00:35:04,874 So really it's, I mean, again, so many important pieces and nuggets coming from 567 00:35:04,874 --> 00:35:06,974 this and thank you for what you share. 568 00:35:06,974 --> 00:35:10,024 That's what I try to do and be. 569 00:35:10,024 --> 00:35:14,194 If I've never gotten it, I tell people I said, I haven't necessarily had a whole 570 00:35:14,194 --> 00:35:16,814 bunch of mentors, but. 571 00:35:16,814 --> 00:35:20,734 For those that did invest in me, I knew that I wanted to do that same thing and be 572 00:35:20,734 --> 00:35:23,504 that for other people and be very genuine in that. 573 00:35:23,504 --> 00:35:25,274 So thank you for that. 574 00:35:25,274 --> 00:35:26,364 What do you see? 575 00:35:26,364 --> 00:35:31,094 Because there's so many that we can talk about, but some of the pressing challenges 576 00:35:31,094 --> 00:35:36,574 for women aspiring to leadership roles today, and what can organizations kind of 577 00:35:36,574 --> 00:35:40,814 work towards as far as creating this environment that is supportive of doing 578 00:35:40,814 --> 00:35:44,846 just that, kind of nurturing that next, the future leaders. 579 00:35:44,846 --> 00:35:52,066 Yeah, so I think with that it becomes, you know, making sure that people's skills and 580 00:35:52,066 --> 00:35:54,686 tools are sharpened, right? 581 00:35:54,686 --> 00:35:59,226 Because what was needed yesterday is going to be totally different than what's needed 582 00:35:59,226 --> 00:36:00,486 tomorrow, right? 583 00:36:00,486 --> 00:36:02,046 For people to be successful. 584 00:36:02,046 --> 00:36:11,046 And I think creating situations for women to gain the experiences that are necessary 585 00:36:11,046 --> 00:36:14,226 to put them in a position to be 586 00:36:14,606 --> 00:36:16,606 Considered for leadership positions, right? 587 00:36:16,606 --> 00:36:22,566 Because all too many times women will be put into roles that 588 00:36:24,686 --> 00:36:31,966 for lack of a better term, are traditional roles that are not necessarily the power 589 00:36:31,966 --> 00:36:37,026 roles that set people up for certain leadership positions. 590 00:36:37,026 --> 00:36:41,446 And I think creating situations where women can... 591 00:36:43,310 --> 00:36:50,550 have different experiences where they're able to gain the knowledge that they need 592 00:36:50,550 --> 00:36:56,510 to, the self -awareness that they need to, and the skills and training that they need 593 00:36:56,510 --> 00:37:01,930 to have in their bag so that when positions do become available, they're 594 00:37:01,930 --> 00:37:02,670 ready, right? 595 00:37:02,670 --> 00:37:06,180 And they're not thrown into something where they're being thrown to the wolves, 596 00:37:06,180 --> 00:37:09,870 but that they have actually received the necessary training. 597 00:37:09,870 --> 00:37:13,198 And I think that's the piece for me. 598 00:37:13,198 --> 00:37:19,418 is for women to be able to have meaningful training experiences that actually set 599 00:37:19,418 --> 00:37:31,638 them up for the powerful positions, not just the traditional roles that in some 600 00:37:31,638 --> 00:37:34,378 cases women end up getting. 601 00:37:34,498 --> 00:37:35,788 I love that. 602 00:37:35,788 --> 00:37:37,918 And again, listeners taking away from that. 603 00:37:37,918 --> 00:37:42,862 I mean, she mentioned early the lateral, sometimes a step back to step up approach. 604 00:37:42,862 --> 00:37:43,562 Love that. 605 00:37:43,562 --> 00:37:48,252 And even with this, getting the necessary experience, because oftentimes, you know, 606 00:37:48,252 --> 00:37:52,142 you're so maybe so fixated on getting the role, but if you don't get the tools, it's 607 00:37:52,142 --> 00:37:53,032 going to be short lived. 608 00:37:53,032 --> 00:37:53,372 Right. 609 00:37:53,372 --> 00:37:55,212 So how do we, how do we avoid that? 610 00:37:55,212 --> 00:37:59,002 And then finally, I mean, I can't believe that the conversation is drawing to a 611 00:37:59,002 --> 00:37:59,462 close. 612 00:37:59,462 --> 00:38:04,962 It's been phenomenal, but what message of empowerment would you like to share like 613 00:38:04,962 --> 00:38:07,694 with the ambitious women listening to say more? 614 00:38:07,694 --> 00:38:10,824 who are on their journey to wherever that may lead them. 615 00:38:10,824 --> 00:38:12,494 And again, we're not defining success. 616 00:38:12,494 --> 00:38:14,534 You are defining success for you. 617 00:38:14,534 --> 00:38:16,564 Don't get caught up in the midst of that. 618 00:38:16,564 --> 00:38:19,594 But what message of empowerment would you like to share? 619 00:38:19,774 --> 00:38:27,314 I would say invest in yourself and invest in your holistic training. 620 00:38:27,314 --> 00:38:27,564 Right. 621 00:38:27,564 --> 00:38:29,854 And so that is professional training. 622 00:38:29,854 --> 00:38:32,114 That is personal training. 623 00:38:32,114 --> 00:38:33,582 That is. 624 00:38:33,582 --> 00:38:41,142 you know, making sure that you can be the best version of you so that when positions 625 00:38:41,142 --> 00:38:47,482 come about, you are prepared to capitalize on them. 626 00:38:47,482 --> 00:38:53,702 And a lot of times we, too many times, I think people, not just women, but people 627 00:38:53,702 --> 00:38:59,942 in general, they sit back and they wait for the position, for them to get the 628 00:38:59,942 --> 00:39:02,798 position before they start doing the work. 629 00:39:02,798 --> 00:39:07,078 And I'll never forget, my sister always told me that one of her mentors told her 630 00:39:07,078 --> 00:39:12,598 is that you have to do the job before you get the job because people want to know 631 00:39:12,598 --> 00:39:14,218 that you can do the job. 632 00:39:14,218 --> 00:39:18,438 But if you're always sitting back saying, well, I'm not doing this and I'm not doing 633 00:39:18,438 --> 00:39:18,728 that. 634 00:39:18,728 --> 00:39:22,798 Well, nobody's going to hire you to step up to something because they never saw you 635 00:39:22,798 --> 00:39:23,798 step up. 636 00:39:23,798 --> 00:39:24,058 Right. 637 00:39:24,058 --> 00:39:30,318 And so investing in yourself, even when you don't know that people are looking. 638 00:39:30,318 --> 00:39:32,468 Do it because you're doing it for yourself. 639 00:39:32,468 --> 00:39:36,618 And I promise the rewards will pay dividends on the back end. 640 00:39:36,658 --> 00:39:40,688 What amazing wisdom and nuggets listeners. 641 00:39:40,688 --> 00:39:42,888 I certainly want to thank you all for joining us. 642 00:39:42,888 --> 00:39:43,658 I want to thank Dr. 643 00:39:43,658 --> 00:39:48,238 Shanta Friday Strout for just being an amazing leader for always willing, being 644 00:39:48,238 --> 00:39:50,038 willing to take the time to invest in others. 645 00:39:50,038 --> 00:39:54,578 I hope that you share it with all of our students there at the university, because 646 00:39:54,578 --> 00:39:57,134 this really does speak to who you are. 647 00:39:57,134 --> 00:40:01,394 And as we're shaping that next round of leaders, whether you're a male, female, 648 00:40:01,394 --> 00:40:05,374 whatever the case may be, we all have a role to play in this empowerment 649 00:40:05,374 --> 00:40:06,394 conversation. 650 00:40:06,394 --> 00:40:07,704 So again, listeners, thank you. 651 00:40:07,704 --> 00:40:10,794 Please do like, share, and absolutely subscribe. 652 00:40:10,794 --> 00:40:13,534 Until the next episode, have a good one.