Meet Elizabeth Ribons

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elizabeth Ribons a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Elizabeth, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I am the youngest in a large family and was raised by a single mom. I had plenty of challenges, including uncertainty. I had to find what would anchor me in a very uncertain world early on. I gained self-confidence and self-esteem through creativity, challenging myself, and resiliency.
I learned who I was, and that gave me consistency.

While sometimes my confidence waivered, I have remained clear on what I can do, learn, and achieve.

With a strategic, adaptive approach- no matter what disruption or change may occur – I have continued to remain relevant and confident in life and career – even when it gets tough.

My struggles became lessons, and the lessons brought small successes that added to my self-confidence. In turn, I became willing to continue trying new things, challenge myself, and grow.

I launched businesses early on in life. and saw some success. I continued to engineer my ventures around my lifestyle goals, there were defining moments that shaped my approach to my career. One example is I launched a business I had dreamed of and it was successful, but at that time…It did not align with my life goals anymore. I stepped back, and looked at my experiences and skills and where I could apply them. It took a bit of time but I was able to create a business that worked with my life goals as well as my career goals. For me, that is a success.
I have always continued to define success for myself.

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?

Life challenges helped me develop the courage and confidence to take risks and continue to search and find where I could make a difference.

I launched businesses throughout my career journey. The businesses provided solutions – whether a product or service -that responded to unanswered needs. Entrepreneurship has been in my bones from very early on in life.

However, I have a unique approach to entrepreneurship that I am now finding so very important in this world of rapid change that we are experiencing. I used my entrepreneurial mindset to ultimately become the entrepreneur of my own life. Rather than fit myself into a title or career, I engineered my career into my life using my talents and skills to find the right fit.

The reality is – especially for women- that we are working differently. What we want now may not be the same in five years, and yet we need the stabilizing factor of earning, a sense of purpose, and contributing. The world needs us.

So while I continue to consult, create, and design solutions in my work, my passion is to share my stories and experiences to inspire others to create their career and life journey confidently.

I typically speak in front of women starting out and starting over about the next stage of their life and career, and how our career is not separate (that was old thinking) but very much a part of our life.

My goal is to continue to teach this way of designing what is next for me and sharing it with others so they can continue to live life fully and bring their value -whether they are 28 or 68.

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?

I credit my curiosity, ingenuity, and strategic approach as being my most important skills throughout my career and my life.

When I look back at any challenges I have faced, it is these soft skills that have enabled me to attain my goals time and again.

These are the skills that I recognized in myself earlier in life, leaned into and developed.

I encourage others to recognize their skills and strengths as they are powerful and uniquely theirs and can buoy them through difficulties and help them to achieve their goals.

The key is knowing yourself well and not trying to be something you are not. Tap into your gifts and see where they are needed and can best be used.

I have met many who went into careers or life journeys that seemed like a good idea but when they got there it just didn’t fit.
Start with giving yourself the time and care to know yourself, and develop your skills, and your successes. Then take those ‘wins’ to the next step or goal and keep building on it.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

My audiences -students, employees, and business owners -always tell me how inspiring and helpful my message is.
That is the best compliment I can receive and I know I have made a difference for them.

Continuing to deliver my message to encourage and uplift women of all ages is my goal.

I plan to continue to collaborate with businesses, women’s groups, and directors of careers and professional development within universities. Additionally, I would truly enjoy working with non-profit groups seeking to uplift and inspire women .

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nextcareerlife.com www.elizabethribons.com
• Linkedin: Elizabeth Ribons

Image Credits

Kathy Schuh Photography