My first job in my 20's was managing a women 's only health club called Women's Workout World. I loved teaching aerobics and watching the ladies reach their goals after sitting down with me for a consultation. Working there not only taught me the strategies to help others reach their full potential but it also taught me the importance of women working together towards a common goal.
Those learnings helped me in my career at Best Buy corporate. I was invited to become a member of this organization called "WOLF": Women of Leadership Forum founded by my mentor Julie Gilbert(google her she's a beast and Fortune 50 companies still call on her to help them grow their business).
Back in 2005 Best Buy partnered with Magic Johnson and decided to open a couple of stores in predominantly Black neighborhoods... and I was asked to be a part of history. We opened a store on 87th and the Dan Ryan in Chicago (this is where I met @rolandsmartin rag on my head and all) Julie Gilbert surprised me and flew in from Minnesota to support me. It was then I learned how important it was for us to show up for one another.
It was also under her guidance that I learned the importance of opening doors for people who looked like me... she would always say,"this is the place where you can make the biggest difference. It's a business imperative!" Those words have guided my personal and professional life over the years.
On this #wcw may we take the hashtags off the pages and show up and celebrate one another for real.
Check out one of Julie Gilbert's Tedx: