We were lucky to catch up with Agatha Isabel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Agatha, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
For context I am a Filipino immigrant that came over to the US with my mom when I was 6. I learned English in elementary school and picked it up pretty quickly as everyone at home (my mom, grandparents) only spoke to me in English. I knew early on that I was different in that I didn’t have the same “nuclear family”, dressed differently and didn’t have the same resources as others around me. This continued as I tried to assimilate, though I always knew I would be different and I accepted that. Having a badass mom that restarted her civil engineering degree and worked for the government as a STEM badass did not make me think I had limits to what I could be. My grandmother, who emigrated in her later years, became a trilingual teacher and married my Native American step-grandfather, showing me early on the richness that diversity brings- but also the inequality and lack of equity. I am proud of how my mom and grandparents raised me and would not change that. Their strength and love in letting me fulfill all my creative desires early on (which also acted as child care) often put me in rooms where not many people looked like me, nor had the same family and support structures as me. This is what I carried on and referred back to at any time I faced difficulty. Knowing I may be starting way behind the line, I knew persistence and preparation would be key. Being confident in my authenticity, and preparation prior to going into those rooms are the most important things for me. If you doubt yourself even a little bit that can often be used against you whether unknowingly or not. The work that needs to be done before entering ‘the room’ is the work within yourself. For example, my day job is working in privacy at a tech company. I know that my subject matter expertise in privacy is why I am brought to rooms and to tables, but I also know that I am a non-technical specialist, woman of color in a room dominated predominantly by white men. Being informed and armed with the correct tools levels the playing field.
Additionally, having a support system whether it’s with a therapist, a career coach, a mentor or a coworker that is an ally is super important. This has been the most important piece to me to date as I don’t have the privilege of knowing others like me in my fields- whether it’s working in tech, or being an author or coach.
Being well informed, prepared and having persistence towards what you want to accomplish in the big picture is what will help create success when you are in those rooms.
How did you overcome imposter syndrome?
In addition to the preparation I mentioned above, I overcome imposter syndrome by identifying the root cause of it. For example, as a first time author when working on, “Houseplant Hookups”, I blamed myself for not having the right “experience” and thinking I wasn’t worthy of being a writer as I didn’t have an MFA or study writing. Truthfully I took a look at the statistics related to this and saw that only 13% of the publishing workforce are women of color. I was determined to find where the 13% were and was lucky enough to meet another Filipina author signed to my publisher, Karen Nepacena [Link: https://www.instagram.com/
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Better managing my energy and time. A little over a year ago I got into a pretty serious accident that left me bedridden for a few months. Before then I was overworked, feeling unbalanced and lacking inspiration. Staying still, for a few months healing, I was able to realign my priorities, values and goals. I reflected and realized it shouldn’t take me breaking a few bones to hold this space. I now make sure I make space for myself to reflect and to recalibrate…before I start seeing signs of burnout.
As an entrepreneur with multiple passion projects, I remind myself at times it’s more important to slow down, and if I say yes to one thing, it means saying no to something else. Part of this growth included being more rigorous in choosing the projects, people and businesses I partner with. Similar to growing plants there’s more ideal times to prep, plan, grow and harvest. Finding that for myself and opportunities allow me to sustain growth and create the best yield for myself, partners and business opportunities.
Three Most Important Qualities, Skills and/or Areas of Knowledge
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?
1) Persistence – Growth is not easy, success requires hard work. What we don’t see are the silent struggles related to external forces as well as our own limitations. Having persistence towards achieving your goals and aligning with your vision is key.
2) Keeping your goals to yourself as much as possible until you achieve them – Everyone will have an opinion that is often different from yours. I’ve seen people’s projections, negative energy and comments ruin the most basic and straightforward of goals and concepts. You are doing the work, you are paying your own bills, you are investing your own time and energy… not “them”.
3) Finding the right partners and support systems – Whether they are your romantic or business partners, therapists or career coaches, find the people you feel safe in sharing your thoughts, next steps and ideas with.
Social impact: how does your business help the community or the world?
Known for juggling multiple endeavors simultaneously, my recent focus has been on expanding Plant Ma Shop! This plant and community-centered project originated in Brooklyn and has journeyed with me back to the West Coast. While settling into my day job and the intricacies of relocation, I am thrilled to reignite my passion for all things plant-related.
Over the past few years, Plant Ma Shop has undergone several transformations, yet our mission remains steadfast—to reconnect people with nature through houseplants. Stemming from a familial love for plants, particularly nurtured by the women in my family, my desire is to reciprocate and share the joy.
Plant Ma Shop, as a business, currently centers on three key pillars: 1) Cultivating a local community in SoCal, 2) Sustaining connections with the broader plant community nationwide through our online presence, and 3) Assisting businesses in embracing eco-friendly practices via our commercial plant design services.
Centered in Long Beach, and slowly growing across Los Angeles, the aim is to make the houseplant hobby accessible, and foster a local community where we can collectively learn and grow. Spot us at local markets, events, and workshops at our Long Beach location.
Plant Ma Shop initially began as an online store on Etsy during the pandemic. Seasonally, our Etsy shop opens during spring through early fall, featuring more unusual houseplants to maintain connections within the larger community.
Recently, we’ve expanded our services to include commercial plant design, enhancing spaces through biophilic and sustainable plant design. Initially spread through word of mouth, we are now scaling this aspect of the business to help other enterprises infuse greenery into their surroundings. Follow along for our new projects launching this fall, such as GRDN SPAC3, partnerships with Baryo, Anomaly and Cafe Nido.Sign up for my newsletter here for first dibs on events and all the updates.
Each facet of our business is geared towards creating an impact and fostering a community of plant enthusiasts who can deepen their connection with themselves and nature through houseplants. We constantly evolve and listen to the needs of our community and customers while remaining true to our mission, a commitment that gained renewed vigor with the second print of my book, “Houseplant Hookups: All The Dirt You Need to Find The Perfect Match,” along with an audiobook coming this fall.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://agathaisabel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agathatisabel/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agathaisabel/
- Other: https://substack.com/@agathaisabel
Image Credits
1) Alan Escalante for GRDN Spac3 by Noah Vernick & Agatha Isabel 2) Rose Callahan for New York Times 3) Agatha and friends at Plantiitas Plant Swap 4-7 Meganelysephoto.com 8) Nannete Ricaforte
