Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Latasha Eley Kelly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. Tasha, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I recently became a Rethinking Impostor Syndrome™ Licensed Facilitator. However, I’ve been talking and teaching about the concept for around a decade. I only learned of the phenomenon in the latter years of one of my graduate programs and remember thinking how helpful it would have been to know much sooner that I wasn’t the only one feeling like a fraud, that I didn’t belong, and other impostor thoughts. By then, I’d adopted an approach that I progressively applied throughout my academic, personal, and professional experiences to the point that it is now a way of life and critical to my ability to combat impostor syndrome.
I call it S.N.O.B. Life for the Win. Step out on faith. No self-comparison. Own your story. Bet on yourself (always).
By challenging myself to show up in spaces and ways I usually wouldn’t, with full belief that God will make a way, I’ve become more confident in my competence, which is often what’s really in question when we doubt ourselves. By staying in my lane and remembering that what’s for me is for me, I drink my water, mind my business, and focus on what I know is God’s purpose for me and me alone. I don’t steal my own joy by comparing myself to others, and because of that, I’m able to own my story and more easily shift negative self-talk that threatens to sidetrack me, my progress, or my process.
All of the above allows me to bet on myself at all times and, ultimately, overcome impostor syndrome.
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?
I own and am principal consultant for The Millennial Black Professor® (TMBP). TMBP provides professional consulting to busy organizations, academics, business owners, and others who have visionary ideas but face challenges executing them. We offer workshops, facilitation, coaching, and consulting around rethinking impostor syndrome, working within wellness, and leveraging narrative strategies to support mental health; combat stereotype threat for personal, professional, and entrepreneurial success; and aid first-generation college students and underrepresented doctoral candidates to, through, and beyond successful completion of their programs.
A 2023-24 recipient of Wichita Foundation’s Info Challenge Grant, I founded TMBP Media (https://www.themillennialblackprofessor.com/media), a platform designed to amplify marginalized voices through storytelling, ethical journalism, and community engagement. The newsroom will officially launch with the debut of the BLACK in One Piece™ podcast on Juneteenth 2024.
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?
Integrity, curiosity, and determination.
Always move with integrity: with the best of intentions and in a manner that honors your values, vision, and purpose. This doesn’t mean you’ll always get it right, but it does mean you’ll keep trying until you do.
I loved reading from a very young age. I lived a very sheltered life and also endured trauma. I believe my love for reading was, in part, an effort to escape by pursuing those things that piqued my curiosity, which exposed me to new worlds, immensely expanded my vocabulary (which, no doubt, ultimately led to my Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture!), and prepared me to think critically and consider society and others from a multifaceted approach and perspective.
Though resilience is all the rage, determination is my buzzword. Resilience, especially when mentioned in reference to people of color, is viewed as a badge of honor. Similar to the “strong Black woman” trope, resilience is a burden I no longer choose to carry. However, the things I’ve resolved I will do – academically, professionally, personally, and otherwise – I’ve done or am doing. Keeping those promises and commitments to myself has been essential to becoming who I am today (a woman I’m proud of and someone I admire), doing the fulfilling work I do, and why I do it.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
The particular challenge I’m currently facing as it pertains to entrepreneurship is lack of capital and bandwidth to support my business concepts and ideas. I know I’m not alone in this, as I recently had a consultation with a potential client who expressed the same concern and was only yesterday tabling at an event where the Black woman beside me, another entrepreneur, said the same. It’s frustrating when you’re keenly aware of the unique value proposition your product/services/concept can bring, particularly to marginalized communities, but you don’t have the capacity across multiple factors to bring them to life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themillennialblackprofessor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themillennialblackprofessor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themillennialblackprofessor
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/latashaeleykelly
Image Credits
Gaberial Booker
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
