Meet Brittany Petrilli

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brittany Petrilli. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Brittany, 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?

Developing confidence and self-esteem has been one of the longer—and certainly ongoing—journeys for me. I believe many of us, particularly women, are often raised to prioritize others’ feelings and needs above our own, so it can be difficult to take up space and put ourselves out there confidently.

My (until now) well-guarded secret about my confidence and self-esteem is that I’m absolutely faking it. My modus operandi is to say yes to as much as possible (even if I’m crippled with self-doubt), go out and do the thing, and learn by trial (and sometimes error) how surprisingly capable, adept, and impressive I can actually be.

By repeating this cycle enough times, you gradually build those new neural pathways of confidence that will reinforce the fact that, yes!, you can do so many things and you can do them well. So, I suggest saying yes to things that might scare you to give yourself opportunities to learn, and slowly start to believe, how amazing you can be.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the Executive Director of the Texas Association of Museums (TAM). We are one of the largest statewide museum associations in the country and we represent over 2,000 museum professionals across the state. We help strengthen the pipeline of museum professionals and are dedicated to supporting Texas museums of all sizes and focuses through professional development, collaborations, connections, and by advocating for the field’s public worth on both a local and national level.

What makes TAM special is the community that forms the heart of our association. The professionals that make TAM what it is embody a spirit of collective growth, and demonstrate how collaboration breeds success—the rising tide lifts all boats. I absolutely love my job because it allows me to facilitate these collaborations and moments of collective growth. TAM is at the center of Texas’ inspiring museum community and it energizes me everyday.

One of the most exciting of TAM’s initiatives is our annual conference, where our members come together to connect and learn. Next year marks a special milestone—our 50th anniversary conference in the Texas capital, Austin! Our theme, “Bridging the Past and Future,” will celebrate over 50 years of advocacy, professional development, and collaboration, while also focusing on the future and advancing the arts and cultural community.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Emotional intelligence, basic financial literacy & language skills, and humility.

I honestly can’t think of a time in my life when I haven’t relied on my emotional intelligence for the better. It’s the skill I value the most because it impacts everything it touches for the better—whether it’s strengthening relationships at home and work, building communication skills, or helping me be more resilient, adaptable, and able to handle conflicts smoothly. I really can’t say enough about how much emotional intelligence can enrich your life and your journey. To develop more emotional intelligence, I think you have to start with yourself and practice self-awareness. Reflect on and regulate your own emotions first, then it’s all about opening up to others with empathy. Genuinely listen to other people—not just wait for your turn to talk—and try to see things from other people’s perspectives, considering what they’re feeling, what drives them, and what challenges they’ve faced to get them to where they are now.

Though not the most romantic of skills, I have to acknowledge that financial literacy and language skills have consistently given me an edge up in my career. I was lucky enough to work for my family’s small business for several years, where I got a hands-on understanding of what running a small business entails. A lot of my colleagues didn’t have that kind of experience under their belts before stepping into leadership roles, so I’ve always been grateful for how that shaped my entry into the workforce. The same goes for my undergraduate degree in Writing. Writing permeates nearly every aspect of our lives—whether it’s professional communication, persuasion, creativity, teamwork, or just everyday conversations. Having strong language skills was another advantage I feel I had when starting my career. For those looking to improve in these areas, I suggest reading The Elements of Style by Strunk and White for writing, and taking a basic accounting or bookkeeping course to boost your financial skills.

With mixed reviews, I’ll also recommend humility as a crucial quality on your journey. Recognize your limitations and, more importantly, be open to learning from others. Every interaction is a chance to broaden your perspective and learn from others. Let’s face it: you can’t experience everything yourself, but if you can listen and learn from others, you can gain insights that might take years to discover on your own. The downside of having humility is that some people will mistake your openness and willingness to learn as a sign that you don’t have it all together, so you’ll encounter some occasional condescension or patronizing attitudes. But if you’re not easily bothered, I say go ahead and embrace humility. Know your limits, ask for help when you need it, and ask for new perspectives—even when you don’t realize you need them.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

As I embark on a new but timeless journey of motherhood (with my first child due this fall), I’ve noticed an astoundingly simple recurring theme in every parenting class and book I’ve been recommended: love and support your child for the best results. Growing up in a large, tight-knit family, I can more or less confirm this to be true, but I’ll elaborate on some additional takeaways I absorbed through the people who were most helpful in my life.

Simple though meaningful, my parents raised me to believe that I could do or be anything I dreamed of, as long as I was willing to put in the work. My paternal side of the family is full of diligent, hardworking people who don’t stray from their word, and I’ve worked to soak up those values and qualities from them. On my mother’s side, I was raised with warmth, openness, and a strong sense of community. They showed me the value of making time and space for others as well as the richness that comes from showing up for your community.

Today, I’m surrounded by a phenomenal support system of family and friends who continually encourage me to lean into my best qualities and make the most of the opportunities I have. And my husband Perry, through countless actions, has shown me what real partnership looks like and proven that truly having someone’s back can go beyond just a promise and be a meaningful reality. As we look forward to the exciting years ahead, I feel more ready and supported than ever.

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Image Credits

File “BP TAM 2023” René A. Ballesteros
File “BP TAM 2023” René A. Ballesteros

File “Brittany Photo 5” Lily Snodgrass
File “Brittany Photo 1” Lily Snodgrass

File “Brittany Perry Family Photo” Tracy Does Photography

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