Meet Ilse

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

Hi Ilse, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I do not know if I have overcome impostor syndrome. I guess as a woman of color, sometimes I wonder how and why I am here, and often question my talent, my intelligence, and capacity. I think this is a common feeling for many of my international women friends as well. The number of times, even in “modern” times, when I have had to stand for myself and defend my work or professionalism is incredible. I guess with time I have understood that nobody is going to give me anything just for who I am, nor will they believe in me because of that same reason, so I have to believe in myself and reassure myself, but also I have to work hard and sometimes double. Luckily, I had incredible parents who were always reassuring and taught me to dream big. I have amazing friends and family who constantly support me and believe in me, and I guess every day I wake up thinking I need to believe in myself and keep on pushing. I try to remember everything that I have done to be where I am. I have worked hard, have a strong work ethic, and the people around me are talented, kind, smart, and I guess, to a certain degree, you also attract what you are. I believe working on imposter syndrome is an everyday task that involves working with yourself, with your insecurities, but also doing things, tasks, labor, and surrounding yourself with people who remind you how worth it you are. This last does not mean that they need always to agree with you, or not challenge you but the contrary that their questions about you and your work and challenges are for making you grow.

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?

Today, I consider myself an Artistic Director, a storyteller, entrepreneur, and a Multidisciplinary artist, I believe this definition allows me to explore and expand my practice. As an “office job,” I train people on public speaking. I built an agency a few years ago and work hand in hand with people from different sectors, from business people to teachers and actors. I am also and like to think majorly an artist and creator. I write and direct experiences, theater, film, VR, I use different mediums to tell stories and engage audiences. I think both my “office job” and my “artistic” job intertwine with each other. For public speaking, I use theater techniques, with my clients we build characters and tell stories, when directing, I build concepts, guide teams, pitch projects, and coordinate people. I guess, in the end, what I love is creating and building with people experiences for an audience. It doesn´t matter if the presentation is going to be in a forum of executives, a public theater, or in a museum; I love building worlds that will communicate a message and move or touch someone emotionally.
Right now, I am grateful because I am doing my master’s degree and I am gaining more techniques and challenging myself and my practice to grow as a professional. I am working on a culinary experience and a memorial.

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 best lesson I have learned in my professional life is that I am not professionally constrained by the career I studied; on the contrary, I have a career to be able to expand and apply the tools that it gives me in different areas. I believe in academics and discipline, but both of these exist to generate tools that can help us professionally. For me, learning how the body worked and how to direct actors led me to become a public speaking coach. I know about space, writing, research, and storytelling, and all of these are tools that can be applied to many jobs. I guess communication skills, learning how to be succinct and still make sense, and how to talk about yourself, summarize all the information, and be able to make an elevator pitch are some of the best skills I have learned. With this, learning to be flexible and to adapt is are major skill for any professional in any area. Yes, I believe in academia, I have developed technical skills, but professional life, at least in my experience, is about learning how to apply the knowledge for different tasks, learning to adapt, and always being willing to learn new things.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I would continue doing what I am doing. I know I am talking from privilege here, and it is not that easy. Leaving home was difficult, and I miss my community every day, but I know I have them with me wherever I go. A few months ago, having a conversation with my father, I discovered, I want a simple but extraordinary life. What does that mean? I want to have my needs covered, but I do not need luxury. I hope that is not much to ask (sometimes it feels like a huge privilege, but it is what everyone deserves to have). I loved being surrounded by people who inspire me and make me grow. I like deep conversations, a good book, the flavour of tea, and seeing green outside my window every morning. I want to know the world and for my perspective on life to be challenged. Right now, I am having the huge opportunity of going back to school and studying, I am creating, I have been doing projects around the world, I am working with international people, I have a strong community all over the world, a loving family, and food on my table, health, I am surrounded by good people, All of this, I understand is not everyone’s reality, but I wish everybody could have that. If I had a decade of life left, I would choose exactly the same path because I feel right now I am surrounded by kindness and I am growing personally and professionally.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/g.ccorona/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilse-g-castro-corona-046987183/

Image Credits

Photography of Mother Courage Abraham González
De Elisa Para Mi, Photography Isabela Ripoll