Journeys do not always begin or end the way you expect. As a working mother, very often, I was asked during an interview process if I was a mother and how I would rate my dependability, knowing I needed to care for a child. Invasive and unfair, I was also hit with another obstacle of being a millennial. Struck with three and seemingly debilitating labels, I often asked myself how I was going to succeed in this life. Was I at fault for being a mother or being a woman? Is it really under my control what generation I was born into? Most importantly, the interviewer’s piercing questions made me believe it was my responsibility to change the way the workforce views me and to brush the labels of being a woman, a mother and a millennial under the rug.
I was only left two options, and whatever option I chose, I needed to commit and focus on the long-term opportunity to provide for my family and achieve all of my professional and academic goals. Option 1 was to hide who I truly was, never speaking about my family, agreeing with other generations about the negative attributes of millennials and working with my head down as not to draw attention. Option 2, give up my dreams and accept these labels defined me through limitations. Both options would be met with resistance and in order to obtain and retain employment, my integrity and work ethic would remain center stage.
Which option did I choose? Neither, I chose to embrace my diversity and started living an empowered life. Sitting at this major crossroads, I started seeing employment differently and I started acting differently. Instead of being placed in an employee file labeled for failure answering discriminatory questions, I chose to interview the company. Acceptance and a sense of community are important workplace elements I need as an employee. My goal since has been to grow with a company that values my input, loyalty and encourages professional development. Through my journey, I found that company – Foundever. Since I started my journey with Foundever in 2018, I have never been asked to change or hide my identity and have been accepted by a global family founded on integrity and leadership. Every day, I am encouraged to be my best self and accepted for who I am.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting the bold and powerful women of Foundever, celebrating that we’re all different, but equal. These are their stories of diversity, balance, success, gender equality and about leading the change you want to see.