Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Wilkerson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Samantha, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
The more time I spend in my field, the more I learn but also the more people I interact with, the more confident I am in my work. At the end of the day I am well prepared for my role and I prove that to myself every time I have needed to step up and take control. If I didn’t trust my decisions, I wouldn’t be able to confidently take that control and be the boss that I am.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I co-own the Annapolis Marine Art Gallery- located in downtown Annapolis. We focus solely on local and nautical artwork and work directly with world renowned artists recognized for their talent. We also collaborate with organizations of similar interests such as the Annapolis Maritime Museum and the National Maritime Historical Society. Our for-sale artworks can be found in the gallery as well as online through our website and social media. We host meet the artists events several times a year and upcoming events can always be found on our website!
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?
Before owning the gallery, I was fortunate enough to work as an associate for about a year and learn the ins and outs of the gallery as well as the market for marine artwork both in Annapolis and globally. The skills I learned from the previous owner were extremely valuable. Trusting my decisions and accepting myself as the expert in the gallery were also very important in building my confidence and feeling safe enough to take certain steps forward and try new things. My advice in this area is just to jump right into the work and don’t be afraid to ask the stupid questions because how else will we ever learn?
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My co-owner is also my mother. She is by far the most helpful in overcoming challenges. We went into this business together and both bring very different things to the table. Her past is healthcare administration and mine is art in an academic sense. By learning from each other we have been able to navigate this new venture and teach each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.annapolismarineart.com
- Instagram: annapolis_marineartgallery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANNAPMARART
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/art_annapolis
Image Credits
Barry Schur (photo of me and mom) Artists: Bill Sutton, Willard Bond, Christopher Forrest, John Barber, Geoff Hunt, Paul Landry, and Marilynne Bradley
