Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessie Redd. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessie , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is something I have dealt with my entire life. Growing up, I had a hard time finding my true identity. My mother is Japanese and Irish and my father is Black and Native American. My parents split at an early age and I grew up in two completely different households. I didn’t necessarily look like my mother’s side of the family, or my father’s. I remember playing on my dad’s block in elementary school and a girl from down the street asked me why I “talked like a white girl?” This was the first time I can vividly remember questioning my identity. I was too white for the black kids and too black for the white kids. I felt like I was two different people, like I had to please one side and then I had to please the other. I wasn’t myself and I felt that deeply. This feeling stayed with me throughout college as I did not know who I truly was. Imposter syndrome really took hold of me during my junior year of college. I was attending the University of Southern California and I recall feeling like I didn’t belong, like I didn’t deserve to be there – but why? Why was I feeling this? I attended an orientation for Black students put on by the USC Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs for new students and the Director at the time opened by saying, “YOU DESERVE TO BE HERE! TAKE UP SPACE!” I instantly looked around and realized that I was not the only one experiencing these feelings. It was a sign of relief. This was the first time I understood that I was suffering from imposter syndrome.
The first step I took in overcoming this was to acknowledge these feelings and understand them. I prayed about it and God opened my eyes to seek out a therapist. A therapist? No one in my family goes to therapy! As hesitant as I was, the next day I signed up for therapy for the first time in my life and I am so glad I did. I needed an outlet to express feelings that I had suppressed my entire life. I openly spoke about it and I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. I sought the help I needed. One of the gems I remember from therapy was letting go of perfectionism. Letting go of the idea that everything must be flawless. I allowed myself room for growth, experimentation and made sure I learned from my mistakes.
I still have imposter syndrome thoughts cross my mind from time to time, but I don’t allow myself to dwell on those thoughts. They come in and they pass through. I make sure to show up as my true self every day and realize that some may like it and some may not, but I am always true to myself and my values. I don’t have to prove myself to anyone and I let my work do the talking. Lastly, I make sure to surround myself with a supportive network of friends, family, and colleagues. Having a strong support system can provide emotional reinforcement. I now celebrate my successes instead of brushing it off and I tell myself every morning to take up space!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the Managing Director of the Safe Communities Institute at the University of Southern California. In this capacity, I assist with the strategic direction of the institute and handle operations. I am responsible for SCI’s certificate programs, facilitating research, overseeing the budget, and developing events and other programming and projects. I lead all fundraising and communication activities for the institute, as well as the development and execution of the Safe Communities Institute’s community engagement initiatives and digital presence. Being a product of South Central Los Angeles, it is important to me to help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.
I have a Master of Public Administration with honors from Florida International University (FIU) and hold a certificate in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. My BA is in Sociology with a minor in Forensics and Criminality from the University of Southern California (USC). In 2021, I was awarded the USC Price Sterling Franklin Outstanding Staff Award.
Outside of my work at USC, I am a member of the Women in Homeland Security California chapter and a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha Honors Society for Public Administration. Lastly, I am a proud mentor in the USC Black Alumni Association’s “Legacy through Leadership Mentoring Program.”
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Integrity, Respect, and Resilience.
Integrity is the foundation of trust. Trust is essential for effective collaboration and a positive work environment. I am huge on relationship building not only in my personal life but professional life as well. Being trustworthy leads to credibility and respect. I make sure to treat everyone with respect, regardless of the title. Even if I disagree with something, I remain respectful. Lastly, resilience has been extremely impactful in my journey. I refuse to give up. I will find a way to get things done, no matter what. Things will not aways go your way, but you can either complain about it or find another way to get it done.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hanh has been such a gem for me. I struggled with anger in high school and college, which I later realized was due to not knowing my true identity. A friend suggested I read this book and I feel like my life instantly changed. I was aware of things I never knew I needed to be aware of. Although I am not Buddhist, some aspects of the Buddhist philosophy have helped me tremendously in my daily life. Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature of anger. He explores the roots of anger, its causes, and how it manifests in our thoughts, speech, and actions. This book introduced me to mindfulness and awareness. Mindfulness involves being fully present in the moment and observing one’s thoughts and feelings without judgment. By understanding the root causes of anger and practicing compassion, I was able to transform anger into positive energy.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jessiereine
