My Leadership Journey from Recent Grad to Full-Time Marketing Strategist
When I envisioned a leader, unfortunately, I pictured a stoic, emotionless, know-it-all, who never made any mistakes. That unrealistic image pushed me further and further away from ever seeing myself as someone who could lead. Now I’m four years post-grad and ready to share my journey of how I was able to own and share what I excel at, admit my areas for growth, and lead in a way that embodies the real me.
Parents are the first leaders you emulate
I was raised by two immigrant parents who were big on being respectful, obedient, hard-working, and humble. Sounds familiar right?
And at first glance, they are great qualities to have, but underneath existed some layers of being palatable and agreeable to survive (physically, financially, and mentally).
I’m not making this observation to place blame on what they taught me, but rather to show the humanity in our parents because they are our first role models of leadership.
I saw how they owned their role in the household and parenting but never heard them speak of their jobs as a place where they had a say. All I knew was that having a job (despite the treatment and pay) was an honor and privilege that everyone isn’t afforded.
The idea of negotiating for higher pay wasn’t a norm, because it showed a lack of gratitude and greediness. And the thought of switching jobs to find something better was also another perceived form of disloyalty and unnecessary risk (that we couldn’t afford to take).
Their sacrifice and dedication afforded me the privilege and access I have today. I could afford to take more risks (knowing I’ll always have somewhere to live and something to eat) and be intentional about the jobs I wanted to go after.
Post-grad disappointment
I want to credit my college for being so career-focused, they required us to complete three internships before graduation to ensure we had some work experience on our resume. So by the time I crossed the stage, I was well equipped with time management skills, interviewing, resume creation, corporate communications, and networking, but if I’m keeping it real they didn’t prepare me to be a leader at work.
It was always about getting our foot in the door as a recent grad and taking what was available (even if it was a less-than-desirable role). “We all have to start from somewhere” is the phrase you’ll hear often from the people around you when you start to get frustrated with the job search.
And it’s true, it’s okay to start from the bottom, but that “you have to prove yourself” mentality can also leave you vulnerable to being taken advantage of, underpaid, overworked, and unfulfilled over time.
After months of rejections, I became so desperate to just find any corporate job that would hand me a steady paycheck that I jumped at the next offer without precaution. My primary focus was on validating their decision to hire me, even if it meant ignoring my intuition.
What I lacked was guidance and insight on how to carry yourself as a leader after you start the job. How do you set good boundaries from the beginning and have meaningful check-ins with your supervisor? *We offer a signature workshop on Managing Up, Down, and All Around for organizations that want to cultivate healthy work relationships.
I learned the hard way that silently overworking, constantly doing favors, staying late, and always being available weren’t going to reward me in the ways that I wanted. Instead, it left me depleted and discouraged, so much so, that I felt like I couldn’t stay any longer without completely losing myself.
Finding my way with leaders who inspired me
I found the courage to switch jobs and even take on freelance work on the side through the leaders I’ve had the pleasure to meet.
First I’d like to highlight the two women who I’ve freelanced for, Nadia and Berna. Following their journeys through entrepreneurship has been some of the most rewarding work. They took a chance on me and allowed me to gain marketing experience when no one else would.
We learned from one another and collaborated as partners on so many amazing projects and ideas. They truly exemplified the beauty in being led by a WOC, with authenticity, vulnerability, and relatability. I saw what I could be to other people by how well they treated me (and still treat me) as their team member.
And secondly, I like to show gratitude to my friends who have been some of the best sounding boards. They kept me encouraged when I would spend my lunch hours and weekends applying to new roles and wished me luck before every interview. No matter how tired I was of receiving a “no”, they reminded me that I was capable and worthy.
Being surrounded and uplifted by other women of color has been an infinite gift. It provided me with a sense of belonging, community, and connection that has pushed me to grow out of my comfort. It’s important to have a community that knows and values you, with experienced mentors to hold you to your big goals, that’s where our group coaching program can help.
Marketing Strategist & Career Coaching Content Writer
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