Stories That People Tell Me — Michelle Obama

Every day I think about quitting my current journey, getting a “normal” job with a fixed and steady salary and a set list of responsibilities but every time something new happens that keeps me on this path. 
Last week I received a note from a former colleague, a confident, attractive and very accomplished senior leader, who happens to be mixed race (mulata).

She shared an article that talked about how despite only 2% of the population being natural blond, a big proportion of senior business leaders and politicians are blond (http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/why-women-who-want-to-be-leaders-should-dye-their-hair-blonde-according-to-scien.html).

“Should I just color my hair blond?”, she said.
“Well, why can’t you be like the other 50% of women CEOs?”, I said.
I thought she was just joking around about the ridiculousness of the article but then she revealed to me that she was nervous about a corporate video she had to record for her company and how would SHE, who isn’t blond and like “those beautiful successful women” would look and sound like?

It became clear what she was focusing on the wrong references.
I said: “Look at Michelle Obama. What’s most attractive about her? her hair? her skin color? her clothes?”
“Her attitude.” She said. “Her personality, her confidence, her intelligence.” I added. “Be a Michelle Obama. You are beautiful and powerful. Own it.”

She got it then.

I then sent her away to watch some inspirational Oprah videos about leadership which she loved.

This left me thinking that if someone who is so successful, attractive and well-poised can have these kinds of self-doubts, we have much work ahead. It also made me realize how important diverse role models really are. I am glad I have been collecting many along the way.