Founder and President, Slipstream Strategy
What advice would you give to a girl graduating from 91大神 today?聽聽聽
I鈥檝e always loved May Sarton鈥檚 advice to a young woman seeking feedback on her poetry: Do not mistake a poem鈥檚 鈥渟ignposts鈥 for its destination. Sarton鈥檚 point was that an initial draft may contain the twinkling of brilliance and can indicate a path forward, but to most honestly connect with one鈥檚 inner voice鈥攁s well to make a lasting impact on others鈥攜ou need to be prepared to challenge, to rework, and even to scrap your first foray and begin again. The instant gratification of an easy accolade can鈥檛 hold a candle to the joy of relentless questioning and discovery. It鈥檚 about stoking a drive to hold yourself accountable to the greatness that defines you. Your achievements don鈥檛 need to be fancy or visible or fit into anyone else map of success, but you should test and stretch your heroic spirit to really spread its wings. Don鈥檛 settle for the first draft version of your life. Stride into the journey, learn something from every twist and turn and make it epic.
Tell us about a woman who is your hero and why?
My daughter Tabitha (class of 2022) is my hero. She inspires me with her courage and capacity to step up and face the moment鈥攁ny moment鈥攚ith grace and command. Whether it鈥檚 giving a birthday toast to her grandmother when other adults were too shy to step forward or answering a host鈥檚 request that she help compose a song on-the-spot, she can set shyness aside with a sense of how important simple gestures are to the creation of lasting memories. These are just anecdotes, but they are emblematic of how she rolls. I admire her strength, her empathy, and her fearlessness.
What motivates you in your work and life?
I love building things, whether it鈥檚 a company, a social movement, a community of like-minded individuals, or lifelong friendships. All these things depend upon connections and a common desire to feel more a part of the world around us. It鈥檚 sometimes hard not to dwell on all that is wrong, but the only way we can maintain enough energy and grit to fight for a better future is to recognize how vitally important it is to find a cause for celebration in even the smallest, most accessible marvels. Laughter and birdsong are two of the greatest prompts ever.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
There are two kinds of people in this world: those who want to leave it with more and those who want to leave it better. Be the latter kind.