HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

TODAY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A WOMAN WHO IS STRIVING TO CREATE MORE DIVERSE EXECUTIVE LEADERS.

MARY ELLA KENNEDY TOWNS IS THE CHIEF PHILANTHROPY BY OFFICER FOR THE YMCA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND WHEN SHE IS NOT FOCUSED ON RAISING FUNDS FOR THE Y SHE IS FOCUSED ON THE LACK OF DIVERSITY AMONG CORPORATE LEADERSHIP.

SHE IS COMMITTED TO MENTORING DIVERSE LEADERS FOR THE FUTURE.

SO I WANT TO YOU SEND A TEXT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND THEN SIT BACK AND RELAX BECAUSE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" IS ON AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE.

WELCOME, MARY ELLA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I AM EXCITED FOR YOU TO BE HERE.

I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU A LITTLE BIT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AS YOU HAVE VENTURED INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK FROM THE MIDWEST.

>> YEAH, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT IT HAS BEEN LIKE BECAUSE YOU MOVED DURING COVID, SLIGHTLY AFTER?

TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR ARRIVAL IN SYRACUSE.

>> YEAH, SO AFTER COVID, WHAT IS INTERESTING IS I GOT HERE TO CENTRAL NEW YORK THROUGH THE YMCA.

I HAVE BEEN WITH THE Y FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

AND I WAS IN ST. LOUIS WORKING IN PHILANTHROPY AND DEVELOPMENT DOING SOME THINGS WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS.

AND GOT A CALL FROM THE PREVIOUS C.E.O.

OF THE YMCA OF CENTRAL NEW YORK AND HE SAID MARY ELLA, I NEED YOU OUT HERE.

AND SO WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS.

I CAME OUT AND VIEWED THE CITY, THE COMMUNITY, GOT TO MEET THE TEAM, GOT TO MEET THE BOARD MEMBERS.

AND I JUST FELL IN LOVE YEAH, SO JANUARY OF 2022 I ON MOVED OUT HERE AND MOVED MY FAMILY AND WE HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE.

>> MUST HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE TO MOVE IN JANUARY TO SYRACUSE.

>> YES.

>> I'M ALSO SOMEONE THAT ARRIVED HERE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES.

AND TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT ASPECT OF THIS COMMUNITY YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH.

>> WELL, OVERALL, THE PEOPLE.

EVERYONE WAS SO WELCOMING WHEN I JOINED.

EVERYONE FROM PEOPLE THAT I WORKED WITH, THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT I WORK WITH, THE MEMBERS THAT ARE AT OUR Y. I EVEN FOUND SOME OTHER VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES.

AND JUST FROM MY OWN PERSONAL BUCKET TO FILL AND EVERYONE WAS JUST LIKE WELL WELCOME.

WE ARE YOUR NEW FAMILY NOW.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY GRABBED MY ATTENTION BECAUSE MY THING IS ABOUT COMMUNITY.

MY WHOLE WELL-BEING IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT I HAVE A PURPOSE AND THAT I'M SERVING THE COMMUNITY.

AND I HAVE TO FEEL LIKE I'M WANTED AND I BELONG.

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY, WHERE THERE IS A NEED, RIGHT, TO SERVE AND THERE IS SPACE OPEN TO SERVE.

AND IT'S BEEN SOMETHING, I KNOW FOR ME, THAT HAS BEEN REALLY FULFILLING.

>> FOR ME, BEFORE COMING INTO THE Y MOVEMENT AND ANY NON-PROFIT WHERE I ACTUALLY WORKED IN THE FOR-PROFIT SECTOR SO RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE, I WAS ALREADY IN CORPORATE AMERICA.

I WAS ALREADY DOING A LOT OF THINGS IN, MAAING AND BUSINESS.

-- IN MARKETING AND BUSINESS.

IT GOT TO EIGHT POINT IN 2014 WHERE I STARTED TO FEEL A LITTLE DISCONNECTED WITH MY WORK.

AND SO IN ST. LOUIS I WAS RECRUITED INTO THE Y THEN.

I WAS DOING SO MUCH WORK.

I CAME FROM THE FASHION INDUSTRY.

I WAS V.P.

OF MARKETING AND RECRUITER SAID WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A POSITION WE ARE DEVELOPING AND WE HAVE A MAJOR MERGER THAT THEY WERE PUTTING TOGETHER BETWEEN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS Y AND THE ST. LOUIS Y AND SO I SAID OKAY, WELL LET ME CHECK THIS ORGANIZATION OUT.

I SAT ON A FEW BOARDS FOR OTHER NON-PROFITS.

I SAID THAT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH FOR ME.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS DOING SOMETHING THAT SERVED A PURPOSE.

AND THAT IS HOW I END UP IN THE Y.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TOO, FOR ME IS BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN OF COLOR, JUST MAKING SURE THAT I ALSO SEE THE SAME FACES FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

AND SO EVEN IN THE ST. LOUIS Y, I STARTED DEVELOPING THE MULTICULTURAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS THERE, PUT TOGETHER SOME CONFERENCES SO ALL LEADERS OF COLOR CAN CONTINUE IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

I END UP BEING PART OF THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR THE YMCA OF THE USA AND PART OF THEIR MULTICULTURAL ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH I STILL SIT ON AS A CHAIR.

SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT LED ME FROM ONE ASPECT FROM ST. LOUIS AND THEN I BROUGHT THAT SAME ENERGY AND THAT SAME PURPOSE HERE TO CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF GOING?

>> OH WOW.

GLOO SHE WENT FROM THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND V.P.

CORPORATE THERE TO IDENTIFYING I NEED TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE I NEED TO SERVE, RIGHT?

AND HERE YOU ARE.

YOU ARE HELPING THE CENTRAL NOSH, ONE OF THE LARGEST CONGLOMERATES, I QUESTIONS GUESS YOU COULD CALL THEY WILL THEM OF Y GROUPS IN THE STATE ALMOST.

YOU ARE HELPING TO RAISE FUNDS, TO KEEP THE PROGRAMMING ALIVE, AND DOING A GREAT JOB AT IT.

>> THANK YOU.

AND SO I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS, LIKE WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF GOING ONCE IT'S YOUR TIME TO MOVE BEYOND JUST.

>> A CHIEF WOMAN, YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREAT THINGS.

I FEEL IT RADIATING FROM YOU.

I'M CURE US-- CURIOUS IF YOU FEEL IT TODAY.

>> I RECEIVE THAT.

I REALLY DO.

AND THE THING ABOUT ME IS I WALK BY FAITH.

I'M HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK TO RAISE MORE FUNDS FOR ALL OF OUR Y PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT PROGRAMS AT THE Y WHERE WE HAVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAMS.

AND ONE OF THEM THAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IS OUR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR AND GETTING THAT PROGRAM LAUNCHED.

SO THAT PROGRAM IS REALLY TO EXPAND AND CONTINUE WITH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OUR TEENS AND OUR YOUTH OF COLOR, MEN OF COLOR, BOYS OF COLOR.

AND SO WE LAUNCHED THIS PAST JANUARY.

SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN FROM THE EXECUTIVE COACHING, JUST REALLY GETTING MORE EXECUTIVES OF COLOR INTO ROLES.

>> LET'S TAKE I LOOK AT HOW SHE IS WORKING TO UPLIFT FUTURE EXECUTIVES AND EXPOSE TODAY'S YOUTH, THE YOUNG MEN, TO OPPORTUNITIES OF TOMORROW.

>> WE HAVE OUR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR COMMUNITY GATHERING TODAY.

OUR STRATEGY FOR OUR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR WHICH IS THE INITIATE OF BIMOC IS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE YOUNG MEN.

WE LIKE TO BREAK DOWN AND REMOVE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND-- SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERSHIP AND GROWTH.

PART OF THAT IS THEY WILL GET MENTORSHIP.

THEY'RE A STIPEND-BASED INTERNSHIP.

WE GIVE THEM ACCESS TO ADVOCACY.

WE PROVIDE THEM WITH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, AND ALSO GIVING THEM ACCESS TO UNIVERSITIES.

SO THE STRATEGY ITSELF IS REALLY TO CREATE THIS CULTURE OF CARE FOR OUR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR AND EXPECT THEM TO DO GREAT THINGS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF UNDER REPRESENTED YOUTH THAT TWO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF THE ACADEMIC RESOURCES.

I'VE SEEN IT GO FROM HERE YOU HAVE THE ABILLBILITY-- AVAILABILITY OF GETTING RESOURCES FROM US AND WE OPEN THE DOORS TO GIVE THEM ACCESS, SHOW THEM COLLEGES TOURS AND SEEN THEM GET INTERNSHIPS AND LAND A JOB AFTER COLLEGE SO IT'S REALLY A HUGE STRATEGY WHERE AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE CREATE THAT CULTURE OF CARE, WHERE WE EXPECT THEM TO DO GREAT IN THE WORLD.

THE EXECUTIVE COACHING AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THAT I WORK ON THAT TIES INTO BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR, THE PROGRAM IS CALLED MEDI.

SO HERE AT THE Y WE ARE VERY BIG ON OUR ACRONYMS.

MEDI IS MULTICULTURAL EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE.

THAT PROGRAM IS A 12-MONTH PROGRAM FOR LEADERS OF COLOR ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS.

AND AGAIN WE ARE BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO AT 11 AGE TO 17 YEAR OLDS.

WE ARE DOING THAT FOR OUR ADULTS AS WELL.

AND SO WITHOUT BEING PART OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, WHETHER IT IS FOR BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR OR IF IT IS OUR MULTICULTURAL EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT A LOT OF TIMES MOST VITD-- MOST INDIVIDUALS OF COLOR DON'T HAVE.

WE NEED TO HAVE THIS SAME FACES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AT THE Y TO ALSO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

OUR COMMUNITIES WANT TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE THEMSELVES.

A LOT OF TIMES THE DIVERSITY IS NOT THERE SO THESE OPPORTUNITIES CREATE THE DIVERSITY AND THEN ALSO CREATE THAT RELATIONSHIP OF I'M JUST LIKE YOU.

WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR IS JUST A BRIGHTNESS AND AWARENESS FOR THESE BOYS AND YOUNG MEN OF COLOR TO SEE THEMSELVES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES, TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST WHAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO IN THEIR HOME LIFE OR WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SEE ON THE INTERNET OR TV.

THEY GET TO SEE ANOTHER MAN OF COLOR IN HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE AND TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT HE DOES IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO NOW WE GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO ACTUALLY LIKE IMAGINE WHAT THAT COULD BE.

AND THEN PROVIDE THE RESOURCE TO HELP THEM GET THERE.

>> THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

SO I THINK-- HOW DID MARY ELLA, BECAUSE I BELIEVE YOU GREW UP IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, RIGHT?

DID YOU ALWAYS FEEL-- BECAUSE YOU STILL DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION ABOUT WHERE YOU THINK YOU ARE HEADED.

I CAUGHT THAT.

I'M GOING TO BRING IT BACK.

BUT I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE GOING, WHERE HAS MARY ELLA KENNEDY TOWNS COME FROM?

>> OKAY, SO BACKSTORY, I WAS BORN IN L.A. >> OH OKAY.

>> I SPENT HALF MY LIFE IN L.A. AND THEN MAJORITY OF MY TEEN AND YOUNG ADULT YEARS IN ST. LOUIS.

I HAVE FAMILY IN BOTH.

SO I WOULD SAY, I'M GOING FROM ONE COAST TO ANOTHER COAST TO ANOTHER COAST.

NOW RHYME HERE IN NEW YORK.

I WOULD SAY IF I HAD TO SAY MY OVERALL DREAM ROLE WOULD BE CONTINUING THE WORK I DO AS AN EXECUTIVE COACH, COACHING OTHER, YOU KNOW, LEADERS OF COLOR IN C SUITE ROLES AND I WILL SAY VOLUNTEERING AS WELL.

I ALSO HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS AS A MARKETING CONSULTANT.

SO I WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND WHEREVER THE ROAD TAKES ME IN MY Y JOURNEY, I SEE THAT THERE IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY, AND WITHIN THE Y MOVEMENT WHERE MY AREAS OF EXPERTISE IS NEEDED.

AND BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN OF FAITH, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY PURPOSE AND THIS IS ME DOING GOD'S WORK BECAUSE THESE ARE THE SKILLS THAT HE GAVE ME.

SO I'M DOING WHAT I CAN TO HELP OTHERS AND TO HELP OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUCCEED AND MULTIPLY PLY.

>> YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES YOUR COACHING AND HOW PASSIONATE YOU ARE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT?

LIKE IF THERE WERE AN INGREDIENT TO YOUR COACHING, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

>> I NOTICE THAT CONFIDENCE IS SOMETHING THAT EXECUTIVES OF COLOR LACK.

THEY ALWAYS HAVE THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF AM I QUALIFIED FOR THIS ROLE.

WILL I EVEN MEASURE UP WITH THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

AND THEY LET THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME SINK IN.

SO PART OF WHAT I DO IS FIRST WE WORK ON CONFIDENCE.

WE BUILD YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

AND THEN WE ALSO BREAKTHROUGH THOSE BARRIERS OF THAT IMPOSTER SYNDROME BECAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST PART OF WORKING WITH SELF AND WELL-BEING BEFORE YOU STEP INTO THAT ROLE.

AND THEN FROM THERE, IT'S REALLY JUST COACHING ON HOW TO CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN THAT POSITION.

AND THEN FROM THERE, IT'S REALLY JUST CULTIVATING THAT NICE PACKAGE AND I JUST REALLY SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR A LOT OF MY COACHEES, IT'S IN THERE.

IT'S IN YOU.

I JUST NEED YOU TO SEE THAT YOU ARE JUST AS QUALIFIED AND YOU ARE THE LEADER TO RUN THAT ORGANIZATION.

AND WE GET THERE.

IT TAKES ABOUT 12 MONTHS, BUT WE GET THERE.

>> 12 MONTHS.

BUT I THINK WHAT YOU SAID IS IMPORTANT, THAT IDEA OF CONFIDENCE, AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE DON'T OFTEN TIMES BELIEVE IN OURSELVES, BRUT SOMETIMES IT'S THE CONDITION.

AND FOR ME IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT LEADERSHIP, BUT LEADERSHIP AS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THAT COMES FROM, YOU KNOW, WHAT GUIDES ME AND WHERE CAN THAT TAKE UP ROOM, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO, FOR EXAMPLE, A YOUNG WOMAN THAT WAS COMING AND SEEKING COACHING SERVICES?

IF SHE WAS TRYING TO GRAPPLE WITH HOW TO SHOW UP AS HER AUTHENTIC SELF.

>> FOR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT IS YOUR ACTUAL PERSONAL BRAND.

SO WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE ROOM, HOW DO YOU WANT TO SHOW UP AS YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF.

WHO ARE YOU?

AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO UNPACK WHO THAT IS.

ONCE WE UNPACK THAT INFORMATION, ONCE WE UNPACK AND DIG DEEPER INTO WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE?

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND THEN ALSO WHAT ARE YOUR MILESTONES THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE.

WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THAT, WE CAN FORMULATE WHAT YOUR PERSONAL BRAND WILL LOOK LIKE.

AS A WOMAN OF COLOR WE HAVE TO THINK OF SO MANY FACTORS, HOW WE LOOK, OUR HAIR LOOKS, HOW WE DRESS.

THE AMOUNT OF MAKEUP DO WE RARE RED LIPS OR NUDE LIPS.

THOSE ARE QUESTIONS.

>> YES,.

>> WE REALLY DO HAVE TO SHOW UP IN A CERTAIN WAY, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT IT'S TRUE TO US AND NOT CONFORMING TO THE SOCIAL NORMS OR THE CORPORATE NORMS OF OTHERS EXPECTATIONS.

AND SO WHEN YOU COME UP AND SHOW UP AS YOURSELF, YOU HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE.

THEN EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE YOU AS SO.

YOU DON'T WANT TO COME UP AS SOMEONE ELSE AND THEN THAT SHOWS THE DISSERVICE THAT YOU ARE BRINGING BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO LIKE BRING YOUR FULL SELF, BRING YOUR FULL WELL-BEING AND THEN BE ABLE TO SERVE THE OTHERS.

>> WAS IF YOU ARE A LEADER AND YOU DON'T HAVE A COACH RIGHT NOW?

LIKE WHEN IS A GOOD TIME FOR FOLKS THAT ARE PURSUING LEADERSHIP OR NEW OPPORTUNITIES, WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO LIKE START WITH A COACH AND END WITH A COACH I THINK IF YOU ARE A DIRECTOR LEVEL ROLE AND YOU ARE LOOKING TO MOVE UP THE CORPORATE LADDER, I THINK THAT'S THE TIME YOU NEED TO SEEK OUT AN EXECUTIVE COACH.

YOU CAN CONTACT ME.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU ARE AVAILABLE.

>> I'M AVAILABLE.

YES.

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO START SEEKING OUT AN ACTUAL EXECUTIVE COACH.

WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR RESUME.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW THAT IS FORMULATED, TOO, BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU COME UP IN PERSON ON PAPER, THAT IS YOUR PERSONAL BRAND AS WELL.

AND THEN GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS NOW, NORMALLY I SAID 12 MONTHS, BUT IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE ACTUAL INDIVIDUAL, YOU NO YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE TAKE LONGER BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT HELP THEM GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL BUT THEN IF THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST STRAIGHT GO GETTERS AND ARE READY TO, YOU KNOW,MOVE UP THAT LADDER AND TAKE THAT NEXT STEP AND HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH STEPPING INTO THAT GREATNESS, THAT COULD TAKE ABOUT THREE TO SIX MONTHS.

AND SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL LEADER.

BUT IF YOU ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING TO MOVE UP THE CORPORATE LADDER, YOU WANT TO BE A C SUITE, YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK INTO IT.

>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST HAVE YOUR FIRST COACHING EXPERIENCE?

>> DON'T SAY YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING A COACH FOR LIKE 20 YEARS >> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT IS IT EVOLVED INTO BEING AN EXECUTIVE COACH.

I USED TO BE AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR.

WHEN I WAS WORKING AT THE YMCA IN ST. LOUIS, I WAS AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS AT ONE UNIVERSITY I HAD TRADITIONAL STUDENTS SO THAT'S 18-23.

BUT THEN AT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, AT THE OTHER ORGANIZATION, I HAD NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS AND I HAD ADULTS COMING FROM WORK AND THEY JUST WANTED TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

THEY JUST WANTED TO HAVE A BETTER CAREER.

THEY WANTED TO JUST TAKE THEIR LIFESTYLE AND THEIR FAMILY TO ANOTHER LEVEL AND SO THEY DECIDED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.

AND SO THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION REALLY HELPED ME COME TO THIS EXECUTIVE COACHING BECAUSE I FOUND MYSELF NOT JUST GIVING THE LECTURE IN CLASS.

I WOULD SIT THERE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MY STUDENTS AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY WERE JUST ASKING ME ABOUT CAREER CHOICES.

AND THEY WERE ASKING ME-- AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS.

>> WELL Y'ALL WERE COMMUNICATING.

>> WE WERE COMMUNICATING.

BUT THEY WERE NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS THAT WERE JUST LOOKING FOR ADVICE AND ASKING MY EXPERTISE AND I JUST STARTED HELPING THEM AND GIVING THEM LIKE A ROAD MAP.

WE WOULD SIT DOWN AND I WOULD JUST TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF OUR CLASS TIME, JUST TO TALK ABOUT LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR CAREER PATTERN IS.

>> IN REALITY, RIGHT, ONCE YOU COME INTO A ROLE MANY TIMES, AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL NEW YORK AND ALL THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND THE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST HERE, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT OUR AUDIENCE BECAUSE UNLESS YOU ARE A PERSON THAT IS ALREADY DRIVEN, RIGHT, TO PURSUE, IT'S LIKE WHERE ARE THOSE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND JUST ASK QUESTIONS.

LIKE TO GET THE CONFIDENCE, AS YOU SAID, TO EXPRESS THE IDEAS.

SO I CAN SEE PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, ON ZOOM OR WHATEVER AT THAT TIME, A GROUP OF STUDENTS AND YOU SHOWING UP WITH YOUR BLAZER AND YOUR JACKET.

YES, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT HER FASHION SENSE.

I WANT TO ASK HER BECAUSE YOU EXUDE THIS CONFIDENCE THAT I HEAR YOU DESCRIBING, RIGHT?

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT SOMETIMES ALL PEOPLE NEED, RIGHT?

SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN AND THEY CAN FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO ASK QUESTIONS.

>> YES, YES.

I THINK WHAT I TRY TO CONVEY IS THAT I'M JUST AUTHENTIC.

I AM A RELATABLE PERSON AND I HAVE BEEN THERE.

I SEE MYSELF AS AN INTROVERT ALTHOUGH I CHOOSE EXTRO VERTED POSITIONS.

>> YOU NEED RECOVERY TIME AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> YES, I'M WITH MY TEA AND JUST LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW ENJOYING LIFE.

I WAS THERE, I WAS IN THAT POSITION WHERE I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ROAD I WAS GOING TO TAKE.

WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP.

AND FOR ME, I HAD A COACH AS WELL BECAUSE, AGAIN, I WAS IN THAT POSITION WHERE I KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING WASN'T MEANT FOR ME AT THAT TIME AND IT NO LONGER SERVE UNDERSTAND ME.

AND SO I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO GET THE RESOURCES TO GET ME TO THE NEXT STEP.

BESIDE KNOWING THAT, I HAD TWO MASTERS.

I'M A SECOND HERE PSM H.D.

STUDENT BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

I NEED THE ACTUAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES AND GUIDANCE TO GET ME TO ANOTHER LEVEL WHERE I WANTED TO GO.

>> YOU ARE MAKING ME FEEL LIKE HOPEFULLY THOSE THAT ARE LISTENING ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THEY ARE EMBEDDING IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR STAFF.

AND STAFF AT ALL LEVELS.

I OFTEN SAY TO FOLKS, FROM THE TIME A PERSON WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR, WE GOT TO-- THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO HELP THEM TO KEEP ASPIRING TO THE NEXT THING, UNDERSTANDING A CAREER PATH, MAKING CONNECTIONS.

I EVEN KNOW PERSONALLY FOR ME, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GET INTO THE MESS OF THE WORK, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAN EASILY FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.

SO MAYBE SOME FOLKS MIGHT REACH OUT TO YOU.

OTHERS MAY JUST REWATCH THIS OPEN SOD.

BUT IF THERE WAS ONE THING THAT YOU COULD SAY TO LISTENERS WHO MAYBE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THEY WANTED TO PURR SOO YOU THAT NEXT-- PURSUE THAT NEXT OR THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A SIGN, A MOMENT, THE COURAGE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE TO PURSUE IT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> EL WITH, I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU FEEL THAT INKLING IN YOUR STOMACH, IN THE PIT OF YOUR STOM STOMACH AND IT KEEPS SHOWING UP EVERY DAY, THAT MEANS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE A MOVE, THAT MEANS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TO GET TO THE LEVEL THAT YOU WANT.

TRY TO WRITE IT DOWN.

A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO REALLY MANIFEST AND HELP THE WORK THAT GOD IS PUTTING IN US.

WE HAVE TO MANIFEST THAT.

SO I ALSO TEACH MY COACHEES TO WRITE DOWN THEIR TOP FIVE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THERE IS GOING TO BE TWO ADDITIONAL MOVES THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT LEVEL.

SO WHEN YOU ARE WRITING THAT DOWN, LIST OUT, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS THAT YOU DESIRE AND THAT VERY FIFTH ONE NEEDS TO BE THAT FINAL POSITION.

THAT'S THAT DREAM SPOT.

AND THEN FROM THERE, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE LITTLE STEPS EVERY DAY TO GET ONE CROSSED OFF, TWO CROSSED OFF, THREE CROSSED OFF, FOUR.

THAT'S HOW YOU ARE ALSO GOING TO MENTALLY CHANGE THAT MIND SET.

SO MENTALLY YOU ARE GOING TO START DOING AND ACTIVATING THINGS TO GET YOU INTO THAT SPACE.

>> FIND YOUR TOP FIVE.

THANK YOU MARILLA.

FOR MODELING AND SHARING WHAT LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP AND ADVOCACY LOOKS LIKE.

WE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM HER AND HER STORY TODAY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THIS EPISODE AGAIN OR WATCH PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, GO TO WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN."

JOIN ME NEXT TIME AS I SIT DOWN WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Dr. TANJA WILLIAMS WHERE WE WILL DISCUSS HER LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE AS THE LEADER OF THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST DISTRICT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW SHE IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY STUDENT TO SUCCEED.

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.