​Dear ITSMF Family,

Lessons in Leadership

I have been reflecting on my leadership story quite a bit this month. The current cohort of ITSMF’s Executive Academy is working on a book as the capstone project, and I am contributing as a member of the Academy. I shared a draft of my content on Imposter Syndrome with my cousin, a writer and high school English teacher. Her first response was “No, not you! I never would have believed that you ever felt like an imposter. You have always been so driven and achieved one goal after another.” She said that my story inspired her to apply for a promotion at her school. She had talked herself out of going after this dream opportunity (a leadership role in the English Department in a high-performing school) because she thought that she did not meet every single qualification on the list. How many of us have ever experienced that scenario? Many I suspect.

Leaders, we all have a story… a story about learning how to play the game, building our self-confidence, facing, and overcoming challenges, seizing opportunities to advance, and being mentored and sponsored by people that prepared us to be stronger leaders. Most of us have a story about sponsors opening doors of opportunity for us that we otherwise would not have even known about in some cases.

Let us all agree to share our stories more often. I realized how being vulnerable helped someone believe in themselves and go after a dream opportunity. Imagine what would happen if we all did that more frequently? My cousin sent me a screenshot after she submitted her application for that leadership role, and I beamed with pride.

There is a new book on leadership coming out this spring. A book compiled with stories by thirty of the best and bright technologists in the country from ITSMF Executive Academy. The stories are from the heart and will challenge you and inspire you. Stay tuned and get ready to buy and share it. It will be available on Amazon and the ITSMF website for purchase this spring. The proceeds will benefit the ITSMF Foundation which supports college scholarships.

Lesson learned. When we share our stories…. more people benefit from our story than we think.

Sincerely,

About Information Technology Senior Management Forum

Since 1996, Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) has been dedicated to increasing the representation of Black professionals at senior levels in technology to impact organizational innovation and growth. We do this by developing and nurturing these dynamic leaders through enrichment of the mind, body and soul. At its inception, only 3% of senior-level positions in the technology industry were held by Blacks. With a half-million new computer-related jobs expected by 2028, ITSMF is committed to increasing the number of qualified Black professionals for these positions. For more information about ITSMF, visit www.itsmfleaders.org.