How to show up at work: A Fearless Female's Advice

How do you show up at work? Lena Levy, Fearless Female, councils us to be apologetically who we are.

In celebration of Women’s History month, and to spread some positivity, I am sharing #FearlessFemale stories each week on LinkedIn. Read on to be introduced to a female who will inspire you!

NB: As two bold females in a predominantly male industry, Lena and I had an instant connection. We shared a belief of empowering other women to be brave, take risks, and networking to level up their career. I have learned from Lena’s business wisdom, and certainly from her incredible presentation skills! As we both have young children, Lena’s been a friend and a resource through many career decisions, as we balance the realities of being working moms.

Q: What was your career journey?

A: My career journey started when I was 14. I began as a dancer with ArtWorks Cincinnati – whose mission it is to transform the city through art, while engaging youth. I was very independent, and I wanted to make my own money. I learned life lessons very quickly: how to wake up early, catch the bus, and show up on time. I also realized how great it was to get a paycheck! From then on, I can’t remember a time that I didn’t have a job – and that’s what’s built me up to who I am today. I like being busy, working with different people, and continuously learning. From ArtWorks, to Chick-Fil-A, to Deloitte, to my role at Merck: I’ve enjoyed my career journey for making me who I am today.

Q: What big risk have you taken in your career?

A:   I would say one of the biggest risks I’ve taken was to join Animal Health industry. I came from a consulting background where I worked mostly with clients in financial services industry. I had no pharma experience, and I definitely had no Animal Health experience (not even my own pet!). My new role was to assess startups for partnership in the Animal Health sector, and while I had no direct experience, I did know that I could rely on the experience of my colleagues, as well as my own intrinsic abilities (deep customer understanding, my finance background, and my business acumen). Looking back, when I put all this together, it wasn’t as big of a risk as I initially thought.

Sometimes, you have to take a risk to understand that you are capable – it’s just about overcoming your own self-doubts.

Q: What’s a piece of advice you’d like to share?

A: The first thing that comes to mind, is to be humble. That’s something that’s helped me throughout my career. Whether it’s coming into a new company or a new role, you have to be prepared to learn from your colleagues. Don’t think that you know it all – there is always someone who knows more than you – be open to learning from them!

I remember when I started as an analyst at Deloitte, I was a copyeditor for presentations going to executives. At first, I wondered if this was the best use of my skills and time. But looking back now, I know that presentation skills are one of my strongest assets – I needed to be detail-oriented to catch any errors, as well as learning to become a masterful storyteller in order to convey a strong message. If I hadn’t been tasked with copyediting, and humble enough to do it, I may not have that same depth of skill today.

Q: What’s your definition of a Fearless Female?

A:  I would say that to me, a Fearless Female, is somebody who is unapologetically who they are, despite the stereotypes that may come with it. Speaking as an African American female, we can be stereotyped as loud, assertive and challenging. Instead of trying to constantly change a stereotype, I am simply myself and I am okay with that. I am someone who won’t back down and will voice my opinion, even if others disagree with me. If that is considered loud, assertive and challenging, then so be it.

Q: Who is your favorite Fearless Female?

A: My favorite Fearless Female is Moushmi Culver. She has really inspired me as a female, because she has been able to move up in pharma through different types of roles. From corporate strategy, to procurement to manufacturing, Moushmi has had a variety of experiences, including a chief of staff position in manufacturing, and now a leadership role in business development.

To me, she has always been very authentic to who she is, and she is somebody that I’ve been able to confide in if I need an outlet at work. As a new mom, I have a greater appreciation for her, because she has two sons, while balancing an inspiring career path. I admire her tenacity and strength, and appreciate her being a role model for me.

Who is a #fearlessfemale in your network? Give them a shout-out below and remind them how they inspire you!

#womeninag #womeninbusiness #inspiration #womenshistory #networking #authenticity