We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Garrah Carter-Partee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Garrah , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I’ve been the “only one” in several rooms, from being the only black student in several of my undergraduate classes at a PWI, the only black female in several of my law school classes at a PWI law-school, the only black-female attorney in my department at my firm, and the only vegan (especially since I started my veganism journey over 10 years ago). Being the only one in the room is hard, lonely, and intimidating at times. But, it’s also an opportunity to not only represent your race, ethnicity, gender, etc. but to also use your position to bring more people like you into those spaces. I’ve learned that it is not only important to help others as they climb the ladder, but it is necessary. Whether we’d like to admit it or not, we’ve all had help along the way. In a world where minorities get the short end of the stick all of the time, helping another person, even in the slightest way, could change their life. Many black women have been instrumental in my life, but my mom has been my biggest motivation, inspiration, and support system. She’s helped people her entire life and continues to do so. She’s instilled in me from a very young age that it’s a blessing to be a blessing. So, I’m not afraid of being the “only one” anymore. I embrace it, and look forward to pulling up numbers 2, 3, 4 and so on and so on as many people have done for me.
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 am an empowered-black woman, lawyer, and entrepreneur. While I love practicing law, I am equally passionate about inspiring my community to live healthier lifestyles. Over 10 years ago, I started transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. As I started my transition, I would post my recipes and pictures of my food, and a lot of people would show interested. My husband encouraged me to start a food blog. After starting my blog, I would get comments, DMs, texts, and phone calls asking me about my diet. Soon enough, family members and friends and even people I didn’t know started transitioning to healthier diets. My goal is not to turn every person vegan. Instead, it is to encourage people to eat better and ultimately live better, whatever that means for each person.
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?
Community. Connection. Collaboration.
If you are just starting in your journey, I recommend finding someone who is doing what you want to do and reach out to them. Ask for just 10 minutes of their time (and respect that 10 minutes). Prepare for the call beforehand by writing down questions and researching the person you are talking to. Most people are happy to chat, and if they are not, find someone else.
Also, be careful how you treat people. Treat everyone with the same respect and kindness. Treating people nicely seems so small, but it can really make a big difference as you network and build connections.
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 husband–Carlos Partee. My husband has owned multiple, thriving businesses for several years. He is the one who encouraged me to start a food blog, which then led me to write a cookbook. and now I’m finishing up my second cookbook which will be released this fall. Watching his determination and the hard work he puts into each of his businesses every day is truly motivating. He’s taught me a lot about entrepreneurship and what it takes to succeed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @birdfoodie
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birdfoodietn/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrah-carter-mason-0ab8b3132/
Image Credits
Gorica Zivak
