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Q: When did you join the Partnership and what initially encouraged you to join the team?
I joined the Partnership in March 2021. My passion is building equitable outcomes for communities that have been historically marginalized. The Partnership offered an opportunity for me to support pathways for students in the Capital Region, especially students in marginalized communities, to build skills for fulfilling careers with family sustaining wages.
Q: What motivates you to jump out of bed and get to work each morning?
It’s very motivating to see the number of students in each jurisdiction that have been benefitted from TalentReady. Since I do not work directly with the students, I love when the jurisdictions show us the data on who has been impacted by Capital CoLAB’s programs. It lets me know that we’re headed in the right direction.
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 try not to allow others to put me in a box based on stereotypes and biases. I’m also cognizant of my own biases and try not to allow them to affect the way I treat others. I help to break the bias through my work by showing up every day as my authentic self and encourage others around me to do so as well.
Q: Looking back at your accomplishments, what is your biggest personal highlight during your tenure at the Partnership?
During my tenure at the Partnership, I’ve managed to balance my time to achieve my academic, professional, and personal goals. Outside of supporting 10,000 students in the Capital Region develop KSACs (Knowledge, needed to enter tech and tech-adjacent career pathways, I’m especially proud of academic success at Bowie State University.
Q: What has surprised you about working at the Partnership?
I’m surprised by the great interest to invest in digital tech pathways in the Capital Region on so many levels. Working at the Partnership, I’ve learned so much about the different ways that employers, universities, and k-12 schools are all working to ensure tech talent stays in the Region.
Q: How have you evolved as a colleague/leader/professional since joining Partnership? How has the pandemic impacted your work or leadership style?
I joined the Partnership in the height of the pandemic. I’ve evolved as a professional by greatly improving my time management and task management skills. I’ve also evolved incredibly both as a leader and a colleague through my position as the president of the Graduate Association of Student Public Administrators at Bowie State University. The virtual environment has forced me to think creatively about the way I balance my academic, professional, and personal goals while also spending time with my family and friends.
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?
If I could snap my fingers and solve any issue I’ve encountered in the Capital Region, I would address childcare. Parents in the Region are struggling with accessing affordable childcare, and childcare providers are struggling with the cost of maintaining quality facilities with quality workers.
Q: What is your favorite activity / place around the Capital Region?
One of my favorite activities in the Capital Region is having brunch with my friends in DC.
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