Whitney’s Words

I’m going to let you in on a little secret about myself: I didn’t have an actual career goal until I was 38 years-old. That might not be strange to some but I’m thinking that to the leadership and success-minded students of Miami University, not having a career goal might seem odd. This is not to say that I didn’t have dreams of success. The question was really about direction. What did I want to be successful at? Being a mother? Yes. Definitely. Being a partner to my husband? For sure! But as a career? Got me. I have always worked for Jewish organizations. My first experience with working within my community came as a 20 year-old intern for the Anti-Defamation League’s Washington Counsel, the incredible Michael Lieberman. As a member of his team, I was able to attend Congressional committee meetings, National Press Club events, and meetings in the offices of incredible politicians. One day, while we were sitting in traffic in the back of a cab I asked Michael a very simple question, “What was your journey to who you are today in this job?” It’s a question that I’ve asked every supervisor I’ve ever had since (those that I felt comfortable asking -- not every supervisor has been as patient and kind as Michael). I listened as he described his law school experience and his work experience after graduating with his J.D. I thought to myself, “Ok, great. What themes can I pick up and reflect back into my journey?” 20 years later, as I think about that conversation with Michael and every supervisor since, I find myself marveling at the differences in conversation that I’ve had with female supervisors. As I got older and became a mother my investigation into the leadership and journeys of my female supervisors and colleagues, my questions started to change beyond, “What was your journey to who you are today in your job?” It started to include, “How do you find time to be a parent? A partner?” These were questions not born out of judgment but, instead, in an attempt at mentorship. At 38, when I finally realized I wanted to focus my career on bettering the world so that youth could thrive, I was pregnant with my 3rd child and wondering, “How am I going to do what I am passionate about while managing the other aspects of my life?” And so began my phase of desperately seeking a female mentor whose values and journey reflected my own. I’m blessed to have a wonderful mentor in my life PLUS the inclusion of my Campus Support Director and professional mentor that Hillel International has set all Directors up with for guidance and support. I do not know who I would be without this support. It was from this search of a female mentor that our new speakers series, Women Crush Wednesday, was born.

Women Crush Wednesday is an opportunity for us to highlight women leaders we think are doing incredible work in the areas of arts, tech, science, community work, and activism. In addition, another goal for this program is to give my students, and anyone out there, an opportunity to not only meet these changemakers, but afford them the opportunity to actively engage with them in a way they wouldn't be able to otherwise ---- we want to give our students the opportunity to be inspired, gain motivation, and maybe find themselves in the narrative of someone else's journey. The program will run every Wednesday from January 27 - March 31 at either 12 - 1pm EST or 8 - 9 PM EST. The conversation will be a Q & A convo led by a student leader with the last 20 minutes given to the audience for their own questions. Each series will be on Zoom and are free of charge.