We recently connected with Dr. Ella F. Washington and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Ella F., we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Confidence and self esteem is something I work on nurturing every day. When I do great work, execute a project or a speaking engagement well I feel affirmed in my skills and contributions. In addition to doing something well, I gain confidence when I am able to see myself do something better a second or third time. When I speak on the same topic for a different audience and am able to pivot my message or apply learnings from prior experiences it builds my self esteem because I feel the evidence of my growth mindset taking shape. Confidence is all about practice and repetition. The more you do something, the better you get at it and the more confident you become in your skills to accomplish it. Finally, I would credit my confidence and work ethic to my mother. Being raised by a single mom who worked to make sure I had the best opportunities, greatest access to resources and a clear and empowered sense of self played a huge role in defining how I wanted to show up and navigate life. It was inspiring watching my mother step into her power and work hard for everything she had and I wanted to build on the strength she passed down to me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am proud to say that I wear many hats and it is part of what has made my career so fulfilling. I am an author, educator, consultant and business owner among many things. My work and career mission really center on my perspective of a Workplace Utopia. Workplace Utopia is about conceptualizing the ideal work environment for all individuals and working towards making it a reality. This concept relies heavily on the belief that the workplace is an ecosystem with different participants and contributors, but in the end- all deserve to have the experience that makes them feel happy, valued and respected. For me, contributing to this work means centering DEI and empowering organizations and leaders to propel their teams to excellence by building workplace cultures that work for everyone. As CEO of Ellavate Solutions, I have had the privilege of supporting leaders in meaningful ways through the consulting and educational arms of our DEI work. I also pursue workplace development through the work of my non-profit, Ellavate Charity Foundation whose mission is to champion empowerment and equity for those who have been historically excluded in the workplace through free webinars, community programs, and research initiatives. In addition to the work of Ellavate Solutions, I have published a book titled The Necessary Journey: Making Real Progress on Equity and Inclusion- a resource for organizations and leaders on their DEI journey looking for strategies, lessons and key takeaways from examples across multiple industries. I am thrilled to announce that my second book Unspoken: A Guide to Cracking the Hidden Corporate Code will be out May 28, 2024 as I share the cheat codes and strategic skills that make all the difference when navigating the workplace of today. I always wished I had a resource to help me understand the unspoken expectations of the workplace in order to show up in meaningful ways that met and exceeded these nuanced metrics- so I wrote the guide that I know professionals like myself can use for career elevation. You can follow the latest updates for preorders and the
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity, connection and conviction are three qualities that I believe were impactful in my life and career journey. Curiosity is vital for skills development and gaining knowledge, but it can also be very influential in helping guide your path towards your passions. You don’t know the areas you will excel in until you have tried different things and gained exposure. Connection is an element that I believe has incredible value because you can’t do anything alone. My connections with peers, family and friends have allowed me to build meaningful relationships in and outside of my industry and resulted in access to some amazing personal and professional experiences. Finally, I note conviction as a quality that has carried me forward because the path is not always full of yeses. Sometimes there are roadblocks or delays- and while I can respect redirection and realignment, I have always found it important to believe in your vision or dream with the utmost enthusiasm. You have to be willing to do the hard thing or shoot for the unlikely goal to show yourself all of what you can achieve. For those who are early in their career, I recommend nurturing the ecosystems that will fuel you. This means investing in your networks, keeping people around you who see the best in you and entrusting those folks with the ability to be honest with you about the good and the bad. All skills need to be practiced to be maintained and so my final piece of advice is to make sure you are staying in practice with at least one of the skills you find important in your work whether that is writing, presenting, or anything else.
How would you describe your ideal client?
An ideal client for me is any person or organization that is interested in or the least bit curious about how they can be better stewards of the workplace for people of all backgrounds. Leaders often think that focusing on marginalized groups alone will solve their workplace or culture challenges, but the truth is you have to be willing to investigate and enrich all aspects of the workforce to achieve an optimal environment. I sincerely believe in the journey that is DEI and workplace development. Outside of this commitment to learn and understand, an ideal client for me is a good partner in the work. An organization that is willing to give the time and talent needed to reach their goals and live into their promises and commitments. One that is looking for honesty and feedback and above all accountability. Clients and partners that embody this are most inclined for success because they are aware of the elements that bring about real change and growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellafwashington.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellafwashington/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellafwashington/
- Other: https://www.ellavatesolutions.com/ https://www.ellavatecharityfoundation.com/
