Meet Patricia Manley

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Patricia Manley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Patricia, 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?
At the beginning of my immigration journey I really wanted to blend knowing that the only thing I could change was my accent I decided that I wanted to talk as a native english speaker. However one thing change my perception of this when during a presentation skills course that I was taking the facilitator told me that I will never would be ever to sound like a native speaker but instead I should be proud of my unique accent, my looks and my energy because I was going to be always memorable and I could use this to my advantage instead of my weakness. I realised how true that was and even though I continued learning and improving my english I use being the different one as one of my assets.Since then my confidence improve and now I never feel that being the only one that look/talk like me as a problem

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Patricia Manley defines herself as a mum, a lover of technology, passionate about well-being and supporting other immigrant women on their way. A Systems Engineer that came to the UK more than a decade ago to learn English, but soon fell in love with the country and decided to stay.
With over 20 years of experience in the world of technology, she is currently working as Head of the Delivery Unit of the Digital Platform at Joyn, one of the leading video streaming providers in German-speaking countries .
Patricia also enjoys showing what is possible for immigrant women in her podcast I am Mantuana where she shares the stories of others inspirational women that are successful in other lands. With the experience of living in 4 different countries, breaking stereotypes, coaching teams and individuals around the world she decided to run her own career confidence coaching program for immigrant Latina women, while still climbing to the top of her profession.
Mum of two, her biggest challenge has been to bring up her neurodiverse son, showing him that it is possible to have a successful life and being an advocate about neurodiversity to make the world a place more inclusive and aware of the invisible disabilities.
She is currently running tailor made coaching programs for immigrant professional latinas that are feeling stuck in their career and want to gain the confidence and create their plan to move to the next level in their career,

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think the 3 main areas are: – Be Resilient: being able to bounce back challenges and obstacles in our lives, career or business will allow us to invest our time growing and developing instead of feeling sorry for ourselves
– Be Committed: be committed to your word and what you say you were going to do. No matter how long it will take. It could take a few hours or a few years keeping that commitment will help when difficult situations shown in your journey
– Be consistent: whatever you decided to do you don’t need to do all at the same time, choose your pace and keep it. Either running of in baby steps the compounded effect of your actions is what will make the big shift in your life. The trick here is to be patience and instead of thinking you haven’t arrived yet to your destination just see how far you have been since you started that will change the perspective of it

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents are my biggest supported that I could ask for but I think the most impactful think they gave me was opportunities! When I was little they exposed me to so many activities from dance, drama, science and music while still excelling at school. always expecting from me the best but never pushing me to do things I didn’t enjoy. The taught me the importance of trying always to be the best I could and give my 100% in all the task. Later in life they trust me and support every decision I made knowing that I was always someway somehow being fine and that came from the foundation of the education I received at home. The ethics that my father has as a doctor was represented in everything he did and the determination of my mum to get from her girls the best she could show me what was possible in life and that no matter what obstacle appears you have the power to change it

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Image Credits
Photographer: Louise Adolphsen

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