We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Monique Ekundayo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Monique, 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?
Being the “only one” in the room is an aspect of life I’ve become accustomed to, and I did so at an early age. I am a black female from southern California, so this fun fact alone creates an illustrative baseline that paints the picture for the landscape that, per my demographic, by default, sets an “only one” in the room stage.
Imagine being bused out to an elementary school in the suburbs and, because of your wit and tested aptitude, being assigned to the academically advanced classroom with students who, from an outward appearance, look nothing like you or your neighborhood peers. Continue this vision into college, where the selection of a degree program in biology only affords the opportunity of having a handful of students who look like you simply because the sample pool has widened.
Finally, let’s envision attaining a professional presence in corporate offices in southern California and, as a subtle reminder again, being the only one in the office of co-workers, directors, and senior executives, none of whom look anything like you. In some ways, this journey has created a sense of singularity, isolation, or even a feeling of being misunderstood. On the other hand, this same reality has created a drive in me that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I recently read an article that spoke to the psychological implications of the perception of singularity on a person’s consciousness. In the article, de Haan et al. (2021) stated that the subjective feeling of singularity can coexist with several disunified conscious experiences and come into existence due to environmental response constraints. While the summation of this assertion can certainly be valid, the keyword to take from this statement is “subjective.” To this point, I would have to conclude this particular segment of the interview by saying that in order to learn how to be effective/successful even when you are the only one in the room who looks like you, you must first come to an understanding that even though you may stand how due to [fill in the blank], you have certainly ended up in said space because you belong there just as much as the person in the room that may question your presence, to begin with.
de Haan, E. H. F., Scholte, H. S., Pinto, Y., Foschi, N., Polonara, G., & Fabri, M. (2021). Singularity and consciousness: A neuropsychological contribution. Journal of neuropsychology, 15(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnp.12234
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Sure. I am a visionary leader and tireless advocate for diversity in Innovation. As the Founder and President of the National Society for African American Innovators (NSAAI), a nonprofit 501c3 focused on closing the gap between the represented and underrepresented in Innovation, study and practice, I lead a team of innovators who also strive to diversify Innovation as we know it.
In addition to leading NSAAI, other notable mentions include frequent speaker engagement activities for various academic organizations and industry events. Highlights include, but are not limited to, being inducted into Marquis Who’s Who of America, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Delta Mu Delta, an International Business Honor Society. I have also been a panelist on the discussion topic of Cultivating Community Growth during Washington, D.C.’s Annual Legislative Conference’s CBC. I hold an editorial feature in Canvas Rebel, where I highlight the work of NSAAI in the BIPOC community. I’ve had the opportunity to guest speak on a Live Broadcast with Former President Bill Clinton centered around the discussion of motivational leadership. I was chosen as the US representative for a Global Cohort hosted by the Academy of Management with a focus on the research and study of entrepreneurship. I have also authored a book focused on Organizational Innovation and Learning. I volunteer with well-renowned military family organizations such as Blue Star Families and the Military Spouse Advocacy Network in my free time. Lastly, I’ve had the opportunity to be a Keynote Speaker for the affinity group PhD Sisters while conducting a presentation on Public Speaking and Presentation Mastery. There is much more to come in 2024, and if you follow my social media outlets, you can join me on my journey to success!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I will preface this answer by saying there is always time to walk in your purpose. One’s knowledge, skills, and abilities are the stepping stones to securing one’s journey into the future. Honing in on these skills is the practice necessary to ensure journey progression. Nonetheless, I would say that tenacity, foresight, and ambition are three qualities that have made the most significant impact on my journey. I would have given up on so many occasions without these three qualities. Any successful person will attest to the fact that success is not made overnight, in 1 year, or even 5 years. Success comes from grit and persistence. I could be here for days giving accounts of different circumstances on my journey that caused me to either want to break down or actually break down. My tenacity, however, would not allow it.
For example, I recall coming to the near end of writing the final draft of my 250(+) page dissertation when my computer crashed. I was floored. I had to take a step back and regroup. To spare you from the boring details, I am now “Dr.” and my dissertation was completed and defended. Anyone else lacking the three qualities I mentioned previously could have easily become what we call an ABD – All But Dissertation, in the Doctoral world. I prevailed, and well, here we are.
The best advice I can give to those on a relentless, demanding, or overwhelming journey is not to give up. The journey may not come easy, but it will only come if you see the journey through!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I was once told that your network is your net worth, and I immediately began to self-reflect and consider the people in my circle, both inner and extended. Both personal and professional. This cliché is very spot on, so after hearing this, I made a concerted effort to acquaint myself with those who could help move the needle forward, whether personally or professionally.
I am always seeking like-minded collaborators. Namely, collaborators who consider innovative change essential to progressing, advancing, and excelling our lives here on earth. I also constantly seek collaboration from those who value inclusion, equity, and fairness. Many times, people instantly perceive DEI as a practice to allow specific groups of people in, solely dependent upon the hue of their skin. This misconception could not be further from the truth. To me, DEI not only means opening the doors for those who otherwise wouldn’t even be allowed the chance to enter the room without a DEI policy. In addition, allowing a DEI practice also means adopting varying perspectives, qualifications, aptitudes, and skill sets to the table so that the outcome is grander than anyone could have imagined.
If your passion, hunger, or willingness to help falls into either of these areas, I can be found below:
IG: nsaai_22
FB: NSAAI22
WEB: https://thensaai.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thensaai.org
- Instagram: IG: nsaai_22
- Facebook: FB: NSAAI22
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-society-for-african-american-innovators-nsaai/about/
- Other: Email: thesaai22@gmail.com
