We were lucky to catch up with Mitwuana Bruce recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mitwuana, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Being the only one in the room that looks like me, I’ve learned that I’m literally the ONLY ONE in the room that’s ME! Meaning, not only am I the only one in the room that looks like me, but I’m the only one in the room that can be me! There’s valuable treasure in knowing that when you’re in a room full of people, you’re the only one that can show up fully by bringing your personal uniqueness, skillset, wisdom, intelligence, and creativity to the table. This has stabilized my mindset in being so confident in the fact that there is no competition where there is no comparison.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Professionally, I have been an HR Solutionist for almost 20 years. I’ve gained massive expertise in various industries such as government, healthcare, data center operations and international development. My passion is where I flow as an entrepreneur, (M.D. Bruce Consulting LLC). Here is where I have the privilege of helping others birth their business dreams into real manifestation. I’m able to do this by advising in different aspects such as Business Development, Public Relations & Crisis Management. My client industries range from sports management, entertainment, product invention, health and wellbeing, marketing and communications, retail and more. In my networking circle, I am known as “The Fixer.” I love to negotiate and mediate to bring resolution to complex situations in difficult conversations. I have a gift for hearing what’s not being said and seeing what’s not plainly on the table.
My ultimate goal is to bring healing to humanity by helping people focus on tapping into the very purpose they exist in the earth. Achieving this gives space for human beings to soar in their own right, with an understanding that there’s enough room at the table for everyone. The world is a very big table and if everyone is sitting in their rightful place, the world becomes better and brings ultimate healing to the earth, climate, children, animals, really, all things that exist.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were, and still are:
1. Owning my power in saying the word NO.
2. Never allow anyone to tell you what you’re worth.
3. There’s always a million ways to get to the outcome you seek. Be patient, start over if you need to, but never give up or give in.
To those who are early in their journey, you can develop and/or improve on these three qualities by first acknowledging that they are areas that need improving. For some, having a degree can give a false sense of thinking you know everything you need to know to succeed. If your career is not extremely specialized, in areas of profession like a doctor, attorney, or accountant, then the majority of what you learned in college won’t even apply when you enter the career world. Though most positions require a 4-year degree, it’s the on-the-job training that shapes your professional and oftentimes personal life.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my mother and father taught me was to maintain my faith in God and to trust His Word. They are still teaching me to be consistent in always seeking wisdom to understand, research and question everything that doesn’t sit well in my spirit; knowing that there is a difference between something being truth versus being a fact. They make it clear that we have too much access to remain intentionally illiterate to what is going on around us and in us. Being the first born, I also learned at a very young age how to maintain hustle and grind; I’ve been working since I was 16 years old. Along with having grind and hustle, I learned how to master maintaining grit and perseverance, never taking no as the final answer when it comes to fulfilling my dreams and goals.
Both of my parents are the reason I’m able to look at others through the eyes of God as beautiful humans that are just as flawed as I am, trying to live this life one day at a time to the best of their ability. Though there are a massive array of cultures, language dialects, ethnicities, nationalities, and origins, the foundation remains the same, all people simply want to be unconditionally loved, respected with human decency and dignity, and have the freedom to be themselves fully and wholly.
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