On This Page
Q: When did you join the Partnership and what initially encouraged you to join the team?
March 2021 – the opportunity to work on inclusive growth issues and the ability to shape, mold, motivate the collective action of large employers in our region. That opportunity for impact was appealing. Also, I think the impact of those first touchpoints with an organization can be underrated. I had a really good conversation and connection with my now manager, who hired me, and meeting her and hearing her excitement about her growing team was an appeal as well.
Q: What motivates you to jump out of bed and get to work each morning?
The opportunity to engage in interesting and informative conversations with visionary leaders. It is always inspiring and reaffirming to engage with organizations working with communities and being able to see their commitment and love for the work they do.
Q: The theme for International Women’s Day on March 8 was “Break the Bias”. How have you helped to break the bias through your work — either at the Partnership or in another role/environment?
I currently serve as board member for the Society for International Development. I’m the youngest board member, and one of three Black people. Being young, Black, and a woman, I’ve made it a point to engage and provide input into conversations to showcase the relevance and importance of sourcing viewpoints from different types of people who bring different, but equal, perspectives to light.
Q: Looking back at your accomplishments, what is your biggest personal highlight during your tenure at the Partnership?
When I first joined the Partnership, my manager tasked me with thinking through a structure and plan for a 10-year Inclusive Growth Blueprint for our region – no small task. It has been amazing watching the Blueprint transform to scribblings on a whiteboard to a fully designed Preface Report that we released in September 2021. Now we’re in the last leg of the race and prepping to publish the final report in June 2022 and it will be incredible to see it come full circle.
Q: What has surprised you about working at the Partnership?
I’ve surprised me! Working at the Partnership has put me in the position to take on tasks and projects I didn’t necessarily think I could manage. With the support of a great time, I’ve been able to prove myself wrong and accomplish big goals while doing a lot of learning along the way.
Q: How have you evolved as a colleague/leader/professional since joining Partnership? How has the pandemic impacted your work or leadership style?
The Partnership has provided an opportunity for me to develop and strengthen my people management skills. I’d consider myself a person with a lot of ideas and feedback, and my time at the Partnership has taught me how better articulate those thoughts for the people I work with, and has also helped me learn to pause and listen more in order to ensure those I’m responsible for leading have the opportunity and feel encouraged to share their great ideas and perspectives. I think the pandemic has only help finetune my ability to pause and listen as I’ve navigated trying to foster trust and understand nonverbal cues via Zoom.
Q: If you could snap your fingers and solve any issue or hurdle you’ve encountered in the Capital Region, what would it be and why?
It would be access to affordable and quality housing. Our region sits at the seat of the Federal government, and we’re home to a large number of successful businesses and leaders. We boast an amazing higher education system and are a hub for innovation. With all that capital and all those smarts, it seems unbelievable that we have people sleeping on the streets or in constant fear of losing their places of residence.
Q: What is your favorite activity / place around the Capital Region?
I think we have really beautiful libraries in the Capital Region that I’m just really beginning to explore. My favorite is the MLK Library in NW DC – one of my favorite places to get into a good book.
__
To stay up to date with our work and to learn more about the members of our team, sign up to receive Partnership emails!