Hi there,
As we approach International Women’s Day, I wanted to share some personal thoughts.
When I started this journey in creating Dandy, I didn’t know how far I could take this idea. My professional career was in Marketing. Do I know enough about Product Quality Assurance, Supply Chain Management, Customer Experience, Finance? What do I know about Tech & e-commerce? From one day to the next, I would build a “list” in my head of all the things I didn’t know. In speaking and meeting with other female leaders and entrepreneurs, I was not alone.
I came across this video of female innovators empowering Amazon. When I saw this, I automatically connected with a female leader, Tarshia Weldon, who is on the Global Team for Amazon Prime Streaming Video. She said “So many times, we disqualify ourselves for a potential job because we doubt our own capabilities, skills, and experience.” Her self-doubt of her skills and experience - those feelings are very real. I undervalued my own skill set and ambition. I had some really tough struggles along the way in building Dandy. My experiences that have shaped me eventually helped me push through. I also realized that my strongest skills were critical thinking and problem solving. These skills are what I need everyday to be a successful positive leader.
I have been really fortunate as I have had many positive leaders and colleagues in my professional career. They valued me as a team member ; they challenged me ; they rallied to support me when I needed help. I wish that all women can experience a workplace environment where they can lead, innovate, and feel empowered.
As a Mom who is raising a young son, I want him and the next generation to know a world in which equality for all women is part of who we are as a community. I believe we can all play a role in shaping this outcome. Whether we are coaches for a sports team ; community members at a school ; an alumni who can offer career advice ; or a colleague or leader of a company that embraces inclusivity and equality, we can all play a part in embracing positive change so that all women can thrive.
Seeing is believing.
