Last year a recruiter who works for one of the top business magazines in North America posted a status on Facebook that caught my attention. She said, “I’m trying to find more minority contributors but it’s not as easy as I thought it would be”
I sat there in front of my computer stunned, because, like whatchu mean? We aren’t hiding, WE ARE RIGHT HERE. Her email address was also listed in the post so I immediately reached out to her and raised my hand. I knew I could help solve this problem. No response. I followed up 3x in 3 months. Still no response.
Yeah. She tried it.
But when it’s your time, God will move you to the front of the line. Just when I made the decision to take a break from following up, later that Summer, I was invited to have breakfast with a Venture Capitalist who I later found out is great friends with the recruiter’s boss, who happened to be the Editor-at-Large. Small world I tell ya. Later that week, introduction emails were sent and a live meeting was scheduled in New York. I was nervous but happy that I had the opportunity to bring an important issue directly to the Chief.
I felt really empowered but equally just as nervous to speak with her. The reality is, the fear never goes away. Let’s be very clear, I am always scared… of everything but I don’t allow that to stop me from taking action. I always start my morning with two questions:
Who are you fighting for?
What are you standing on?
Because this shit has got to be much bigger than you or me. And when you keep that thought in the front of your mind, the valleys and trials don’t look as bad. So I honestly don’t think twice about it. Even when I’m deathly afraid, I remember a quote by Maya Angelou “I come as one, but stand as ten thousand” and proceed anyway.
I walked into this meeting replaying my notes in my mind. The editor was very kind and answered some career-related questions I had. After some chit-chat and exchanging stories and laughs, I finally spoke up about the purpose of the conversation. I previously printed the Facebook post and placed it in front of her. I said, “We should address this and I believe I can help. If your recruiter cannot do the job, then please allow me to create a plan of action.”
(Straight like that?!)
Yes, girl just like that.
Where I come from, we gotta be twice as good.
Don’t sleep on the kid.
She gave me the green light to recruit minority and women of color founders who were interested in writing for the publication. I wasn’t employed by this company nor were they paying me to do this. I felt led to execute what I felt was the right thing to do. I tapped into my network and asked friends and friends of friends to come through with their best recommendations. I presented this information in a deck and she was impressed. I had the biggest and brightest smile on my face when the editor responded to my email saying, “this is awesome”. I stood up at my desk and yelled, YES! We were vibrating at the same frequency. It’s progress but we still have a long way to go.
People always ask me how I land high-power meetings. This is how. I become a resource. I fulfill a need. I either add value or I reduce stress. I’m a critical thinker and I solve problems. Listen to me.
Do not wait for someone to ask you to do what you already know is right.
I held the door open for 30 of my sisters who deserve a seat at the table. Now a company is going to expand the table and make room. Girlfriend, what we want exists. Please don’t settle until you get it.