5 Lessons I Learned from Dianne Chipps Bailey, Philanthropic Strategy Executive at Bank of America
By Weronika Wojnarowska and Girls Future Ready Foundation, 2022
Dianne Chipps Bailey, one of the most powerful women in the philanthropic world, is the President of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute and Managing Director & National Philanthropic Strategy Executive at BANK OF AMERICA, which focuses on promoting racial equality, economic opportunities, and developments for non-profit organizations, governments, and private sector.
During the HerStory Masterclass (a 1,5 workshop organized by the Girls Future Ready foundation), Dianne gave us some important lessons for future careers, the world of philanthropy, and general lifestyle takeaways. Here are my favorites:
“Choosing the right career path for you is a journey that is not always linear but can take you to the most beautiful places.”
We live in a world where many people seem to have everything figured out. They know exactly what their day will look like; every second of their week is perfectly planned — the same with careers. I am sure everyone knows that one kid who always wanted to be a doctor, and ten years later, they are a valued pediatrician or a surgeon… You get the point. However, it does not have to be your case. Sometimes you need to try different things to eventually find the perfect one, and Dianne taught me that despite having many not so ‘successful’ tries does not make me any worse than the previously mentioned kid. It’s perfectly okay to search if you gain experience and grow before you figure out exactly what you want to do.
Did you know that Dianne wanted to be a lawyer at first? Then she changed her mind and wanted to become a professor. Although it was her “Plan A,” we can all agree it is excellent that her career path was not as she had first planned it. The world would certainly miss a great philanthropist!
2. Treat every person as a millionaire.
Although more and more people are paying attention to gratitude these days, humanity is still lacking it. Do not get me wrong; I am sure that writing three things you are grateful for each morning is a great practice; however, what makes the most difference is sharing this feeling with others. Be thankful for the time they give, many people undervalue it, but it is the one thing we will never regain.
Dianne shared that to be a good philanthropist and mentor, you must treat every person as a potential million dollars donor. Imagine everyone could fund your organization. In this case, you will never forget to say thank you!
3. “Don’t let the illusion of perfection keep you from getting started.”
Every beginning is challenging– I think everyone knows something about it. But you shouldn’t worry about everything that happens around you — your look, your grades in school, or what other people think — it doesn’t matter. You are doing something great! You don’t have to be perfect to create incredible things for the world. Every action counts! Whether it’s a big change, donating a large amount of money to a foundation, or just volunteering in a library in your city, it’s all important. When every person, full of energy and strength, is open to people and does something small, together we can achieve amazing and huge things! You just need to be persistent and committed, and what you do should be fun and give you as much joy as it gives to Dianne:
“What I work on every day, I could do for free. Nothing in the world gives me so much joy — I love fundraiser jobs.”
4. Be humble and willing to learn, take risks, have patience, and challenge yourself!
While you are growing it is important to learn and be patient because success does not happen overnight. Every conversation with a mentor or specialist in a particular field is an opportunity to develop. You should take on challenges and learn from every chance you’ve been given because you’ve already reached it. Even if you feel uncomfortable with a decision, taking risks helps us understand the processes in the world and to understand people’s attitudes to the changes. Risk is the chance to create something new and better!
5. Create space and time for people who are coming along on your journey.
Even if you are great at acting and working on your own, there are many people around you, who care about you and would like to help you — family, friends, mentors. You don’t know who you’re going to meet in your life, but often new people change things. They can inspire you, motivate you, and give you the strength to act. They can help you to develop your own passions, companies, or organizations.
That is why it is important not to close oneself to the world. Being open to others will inspire you to create new projects, and above all, it will help you in difficult times. However, any relationship takes time, and you must approach it with patience.
Thank you, Dianne, for the amazing HerStory Masterclass and all your words of wisdom!
Do you want to take part in our next HerStory Masterclass and learn from world-class female experts as well? Follow us on social media to be in the loop about our events!!
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