We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leah Dowdy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Leah, 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.
By operating with the audacity of a straight, white man. Seriously! Anytime that little whisper of self-doubt creeps into my head, I remind myself that the majority of my male counterparts would never let that voice stop them. You don’t have to have all of the answers. You don’t have to have every step perfectly planned out. You just need to keep dancing forward. Remember how far you have come and know that you deserve a seat at the table because you’ve earned it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have worn quite a few hats throughout my artistic journey, but these days I would say that I am an actress and dancer who recently added singer/songwriter to her resume. I was fortunate enough to work on a lot of wonderful television shows and commercials during the first chapter of my career, and I rediscovered my love of songwriting during the pandemic. I self-produced and released my first single “The Fool” while quarantined with my family in the suburbs of Philadelphia and somehow ended up performing it live on the TODAY Show. Such a wild turn of events.
This summer, I released my very first EP, What Almost Was . A close friend described the sound as alternative-soul, and I think that perfectly encapsulates the vibe. I hired an all-female production crew to shoot the visual elements, and I am so incredibly proud of the magic we created. I hope to focus on songwriting for other artists in the future and specifically for film and TV if the stars align.
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?
Find your purpose. Once you do, you will be unstoppable. Stay curious. If you never ask, you will never know. Most importantly, be kind. In the words of Maya Angelou, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I reread it every couple of years to remind myself of who I am, or who I desire to be. The story is about being uniquely and unapologetically yourself. It takes a lot of courage to exist outside of societal norms, but I think there is so much beauty and strength in that kind of commitment to one’s self. It’s definitely worth a read!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leahdowdy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leebee3168
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/27vaa1RLJOy65rcPixoXFr
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3811868/
Image Credits
Photos by Kelsey Campbell, Alicia Recupero-Slough and Denise Reed.
