Meet Dr. Matisa Wilbon

We recently connected with Dr. Matisa Wilbon and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Matisa , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I have lived much of my life being the “only one in the room.” I have been the youngest, the only woman, the only one from Appalachia and/or the only person of color. I’ve learned to be effective in those situations by doing a couple of things:

1) I relate with others based on our commonalities. I find out what we have in common and amplify those things. The room becomes much more inviting when you discover shared interests.
2) I do whatever I’ve been placed to do in that room, well. Sometimes it’s easy for people to point to “difference” as a reason for lack of excellence. I always want my work to speak for itself.
3) Lastly, I am always encouraged in these positions because I know I might be the first but I will not remain the only. I ALWAYS make an effort to create space for others to be at the table.

I have lived a life where I’ve needed others to make room for me. That’s what I do for others.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am an educator, consultant and TEDx & Keynote speaker. My purpose is to educate and empower others to be their best selves. My mission is to help organizations and universities use evidence based diversity, equity and inclusion strategies to create fair and equitable opportunities for all. This work takes me from the classroom and boardrooms to TEDx and conference stages. I’m most excited about this work because I have the opportunity to travel and meet people across the country who are intentionally seeking to create fairness for others.

As an equity specialist, I also created a network for women called DisruptHer University (DHU). The purpose of the network is to equip and empower women to disrupt any negative life patterns they may have that impede them from success. It teaches women to disrupt and dismantle systemic barriers and rebuild ones that are inclusive.

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?

The three qualities, skills and/or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful for me are as follows:

1. Passion-The mantra I have always lived by and one that I teach others is: pursue your passion and the rest will follow. I initially wanted to be an attorney when I attended college. I watched shows that made being an attorney look exciting and lucrative. Before I could find out if those things were true or not, I discovered sociology and teaching. In hindsight, I’ve always been a teacher. I’ve always been passionate about empowering others. Once I made the decision to pursue those things, doors opened that I could walk through and the rest is history!
2. Excellence-I have always excelled in whatever I did. My purpose for excelling wasn’t to be the best but to put my all into my passion.
3. Humilty-Surround yourself with a) people you can influence, b) peers and c) those you aspire to be. Being connected to people who want to learn from you keeps you sharp. Your peers can help you talk through where you are in the present. Those you to aspire to be will push you to keep pursuing knowledge and moving forward.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, there are several things I do:

1. As a woman of faith, my first strategy is prayer. There is a Bible verse that brings me strength in these situations. “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:1). The “Rock” for me is Christ. I’ll spend some time consistently in prayer just venting and/or releasing things about which I am overwhelmed. If you aren’t a person of faith, meditate or do breathing exercises.

2. Get reSOURCEful-Similarly, I take time to get to the SOURCE. I talk to God. But I also connect with those in my support system. Just hanging with my friends and talking through my issues provides strength and comfort.

3. Explore nature-I have discovered my love for walking in nature. Exercising, in general, is helpful. But walking and looking at the trees and watching squirrels run and play, for example, reminds me that my life is just a small part of a bigger world. That helps me put things in perspective.

4. I dance-Music lifts me. Sometimes I put on upbeat music, forget about what’s going on, and dance!

5. The last thing I do is celebrate small wins. Complete a paper? Win! Organize my desk? Win! Then I list other things I have to do and break them down into small pieces. The reality is, I’m often overwhelmed because I am trying to do everything at once. Breaking them down makes them more doable.

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