We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Avinoam a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren , 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?
Lauren: Being the only one in the room? Yeah, that’s been a theme I can relate to. As a young Moroccan Jewish woman, an immigrant with a heritage peppered across the globe and frequently the only female voice at the table, I’ve had to learn to trust that what makes me different is actually what helps make me powerful.
Over time, I realized that no one else sees the world quite like I do. And that helped inform the stories I am interested in, creative partnerships I want to bridge and a sense of the world far greater than what it may appear like when looking at me. That’s not a weakness — that’s the edge. My background, my culture, the way I move through the world — it’s all fuel for the stories I tell and the spaces I help shape and authenticity I seek.
Sure, it’s not always easy. I’ve been the youngest, the only woman, the one with a diasporic background— but that’s exactly why I’ve leaned in instead of shrinking back. The idea of rebuilding from nothing, starting from scratch runs through my veins. I’ve learned how to lead with heart, to listen hard to the voices I’m surrounded by, and to create space for other voices that don’t always get heard.
I’m not interested in fitting in a box — it’s not a role I want to play. And even if I’m still the only one in the room sometimes, I’m doing everything I can to make sure I’m not the last.
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- Website: https://www.cortino.com
Image Credits
White background shots: Lionel Deluy
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