What country were you born in, and how long have you lived in Cleveland?
I was born in St. Lucia and moved to Cleveland in 2012.
What has been the largest challenge in your journey toward personal success?
A major area of growth was to learn how to acknowledge and share my accomplishments and successes. There was a lot of messaging (intentional and otherwise) about being humble, being seen and not heard, quietly working hard and waiting for “your turn”. I had to unlearn some of that. People won’t necessarily see that you’re doing fantastic work – you have to ensure your work has the right exposure. Your work will speak for itself, but it has to have the platform and voice!
What is one piece of advice you have for women in your community and all over the world?
Your work will speak for itself, but it has to have the platform and voice! No one benefits when you play small. Your unique talents are needed and the whole community loses if we don’t get to see you shine.
How can the greater Cleveland community encourage, support, and amplify the success of international women?
We can provide spaces and platforms that are inclusive and accessible. I know that’s very general and a tall order, but we have to be able to move from special spaces for special groups, to fully integrating these groups with “mainstream” platforms. We have to ask the hard questions about who gets access and how we reach out to groups we see less of.
