As I waited at the security checkpoint at the U.S. Embassy in Malta, I reflected on the conversations that led to this appointment and the people who helped make this moment possible. It was a beautiful day, and I was excited about the opportunity before me. However, the queasiness of my stomach kept me aware of my nerves and my decision not to eat breakfast. After a 25-minute ferry ride from the island of Gozo and a half-hour drive in a car with no air conditioner, I was also looking less polished than I had intended. Any make-up applied with care earlier that morning was long gone, and my perfectly styled hair had been modified to a makeshift pulled-back bun as the curls had long since dropped due to humidity overload. As I glanced out the window, I pondered the importance of mindset and the value of taking a leap of faith.
Leap of Faith
I wish I could say it was my boldness and confidence that catapulted me to this place, but it wasn’t. It was a leap of faith prompted by a simple conversation with my husband several months before departing for the Republic of Malta for a wedding. My husband asked if I knew that the U.S. Ambassador for the Republic of Malta was a woman of color. He then followed up with a bold suggestion, “You should interview her for the magazine.” I laughed at his recommendation and dismissed it immediately as outrageous. I said it wasn’t possible and came up with multiple reasons why it wasn’t a good idea. His only response was, “What if it was possible?” I told him I would think about it. However, I secretly prayed he would forget about it.
A couple of weeks later, our conversation circled back to “the interview” topic. Still not feeling confident about the idea but not wanting to drag the conversation out any longer than necessary, I gave in and reluctantly reached out to my editor and pitched the idea. I quickly explained why it was impossible to pull off on such short notice, confident that she would agree with me. Instead of agreeing with me, she responded, “Let’s see how far we can get.” And with that, she began the process of obtaining my press credentials. With the wheels in motion, I sent my request by email to the U.S. Embassy, fully expecting to be denied. To my surprise, after several email exchanges and a security check, I was granted the interview.
Looking back, I openly admit that when faced with an amazing opportunity, I instantly began to disqualify myself like many other women? Why did I second guess my ability? What was I afraid of? It was many things, including years of conditioning by society, negative work cultures, and my own limiting beliefs, but ultimately, it was the fear of being rejected. The fear of rejection can paralyze you and keep you stagnant. It can steal time away from you and leave you feeling lacking and unfulfilled. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Change is possible. It starts with a shift in mindset and a commitment to:
Stop hiding.
Stop dimming your light.
Stop waiting for the perfect moment.
If you find yourself face-to-face with a great opportunity, take a leap of faith. Don’t be content to remain where you are, paralyzed by fear. Do the internal work to change your mindset. A shift in your perspective will empower you to release the limiting beliefs, embrace your skills, quirks, talents, and all you are as a strong, talented, and phenomenal woman.
My leap of faith resulted in a once-in-a-lifetime interview with the then U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Malta, Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a 30-year diplomat, now serving as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Department of State. I am so glad that I didn’t let fear control me, and neither should you!
Remember:
You will never know what is possible if you don’t try.
Never underestimate the value and power of people who believe in you even when you don’t.
Be willing to do the internal work needed today to ensure your future success.
Check this out!
We just held our last Women of Color Panel discussion for 2021. We had four amazing women who spoke on their leadership experiences in Higher Education in positions ranging from College President, Academic Vice Provost, and CEO. All brought an insightful perspective of the challenges of being a woman of color in leadership in the field of higher education.
One of the great things about the WOC series is that it is not just for women of color. It is for any person interested in strengthening and better understanding those they work with and engage. It is about sharing wisdom, insight, research, experiences, and taking responsibility for self-education and positive, sustainable change. If you missed our discussion this weekend, you can listen to a snippet here and snag the link to the full recording at: https://ppknbywt.paperform.co/.
Are you a woman of color in a leadership role making an impact in transportation, finance, banking, investment, legal enforcement, or any area of law? If so, we invite you to submit your interest in being a 2022 panelist for WOC at https://1o3skkmz.paperform.co/.