Go For it!

By Lauren Herman

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the fifth of a five-part series profiling women leadership in the Sacramento region. It continues the theme of our December 2014 event, "This Changes Everything: WOMEN." These women were selected based on their contributions and participation in their community and industry. By means of this series, we hope to broaden our understanding of what constitutes a leader and provide a platform for ideas worth spreading. 

 

Debbie Manning: Law Enforcement Officer, Non-Profit Leader, and Advocate for Women

Debbie Manning is a Sacramentan, not only by birth, but because she has earned its respect from years of public service in the Capital Region. One of Debbie’s most recent “glass shattering” roles in our community is becoming the first woman and African American to serve as the California State Senate Chief Sergeant-at-Arms.

Debbie Manning, Sacramentan, Leader

Her professional journey was not always easy. As those who distinguish themselves often do, Debbie often worked harder than her counterparts at the Office of the California Senate Sergeant-at-Arms. When she started at the Senate in 1977, the first women was elected to the California Senate the previous year. It was a time of change for the Capital.

Over the decades, the role of women in the Senate expanded by Debbie becoming the first female Sergeant to eventually becoming its Deputy Chief before her retirement.

Public service called her name once more when she came out of retirement to become the Chief Sergeant-at-Arms for the California State Senate in 2014. Debbie claimed her current high-level position as an opportunity to break barriers for other women in law enforcement, but also as an opportunity to return to something that she loves – public service.

She reflects back on her personal achievements as a benefit to her and current and future women in law enforcement. Debbie is also dedicated to the advancement of women in other professions through her role in Leadership California, a non-profit providing networking and support among women in California, serving on its Executive Advisory Council.

Debbie’s current work was never her dream job. She used to play hopscotch as a little girl staring at what she called “the wedding cake” building, but never knew the significance it would play in her life until after college. She reached for new heights throughout her career allowing her to work within the capital doors and to ensure the security of elected officials.

Her lesson for all of us is simple: go for it. If you don’t try, you will never know what you are capable of achieving. She knows this to be true after decades of reaching beyond what she thought she was capable of achieving. Failure is always a possibility in life, but it should never limit your direction.

 

The Interview: Debbie’s Ideas Worth Spreading

TEDxSacramento: Why did you choose your current career?

Debbie: The better question is why did I come back [out of retirement] after six years? I came back to work at the Capital because, at my core, I am a public servant. Public service is part of my life.

Since retirement, I have worked with international women’s groups through Leadership California [a non-profit dedicated to fostering relationships and networks between women in California]. I am inspired by the women leaders around the world whom I have met, many of whom experience harassment, but are still dedicated to serving as leaders.

When I was offered this leadership role [as Chief Sergeant-at-Arms], a position that no other woman has held, I jumped at the chance. How could I say no? I wanted to further my role as a woman leader, and I wanted to show that a woman can do this job. There are not many women in law enforcement, so I thought how important this opportunity is to promote females in law enforcement.

TEDxSacramento: What motivates you to push forward during difficult moments in your career?

Debbie: The fear of failure. As a woman in this field [law enforcement], I have pushed myself hard to make sure that the women who come after me have the same opportunities that I have. I want to make sure that opportunities for other women are open, rather than closed, because of me.

TEDxSacramento: What advice do you have for others in your field?

Debbie: Go for it! Women are rare in law enforcement, but the training and requirements are not insurmountable. Women are invaluable to the field. In my experience, women have the patience along with the ability to multitask and compromise to work through things that are necessary to be a successful law enforcement officer.

TEDxSacramento: Does anyone in your field inspire you? If so, who and why?

Debbie: There were no other women when I started working here [at the California State Senate Sergeant-at-Arms office]. But, there were many men in my field who helped me to see that I was capable of more than I thought I could do. My former boss [the former Chief Sergeant-at-Arms] gave me many opportunities where I gained the knowledge and experience to perform the job I currently hold. Today, I admire Michelle Obama and Hilary Clinton, who have forged their own voices. I strive to do the same.

TEDxSacramento: What do you like most about working in the Sacramento region?

Debbie: I am a native daughter to Sacramento. I grew up on 11th street where I played hopscotch while staring at what I called the wedding cake building [the State Capital]. I didn’t know what it was, so I never thought I would be here now. I grew up in a political family, a Republican household. My grandmother, the matriarch of the household, was an active Republican. I appreciate the involvement of Sacramentans in politics. I grew up talking about politics, so it is what I love about Sacramento.

TEDxSacramento: What is your favorite TED talk? How do the ideas of this talk impact your life? 

Debbie: My favorite TED Talk is Sheryl Sandberg’s famous talk, “Why we have too few women leaders.” Her talk was all over Facebook, so I decided to watch it. Being a little older then Sheryl Sandberg, I was not aware of the many assumptions we as women took as fact. She challenges our assumptions and why things are the way they are for women in the workforce. Her candid talk questions why there are not more women leaders resonated with me, especially being the only woman who has held my position [as the California Senate Chief Sergeant-at-Arms].

TEDxSacramento: If you could speak on the TED stage, what would be your idea worth spreading?

Debbie: I would talk about going for it. I would urge others, especially women, to not be afraid to try new things. You don’t have to know everything before you start a new job or position. We all learn things our own way; all you need to do is jump in and get working.

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Home Is Where Your Story Begins

By Lauren Herman

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the fourth of a five-part series profiling women leadership in the Sacramento region. It serves as a prelude to our upcoming event, "This Changes Everything: WOMEN." These women were selected based on their contributions and participation in their community and industry. By means of this series, we hope to broaden our understanding of what constitutes a leader and provide a platform for ideas worth spreading. 

 

Danielle Vincent: Activist, Student, and Entrepreneur

Danielle Vincent, Sacramentan, Leader

Danielle Vincent may be the youngest woman leader to be featured in this blog series, but she already has a lifetime of experiences that come from her ability to balance her passion for fashion, business, education, and community outreach in her daily life.

While studying at Sacramento State University, Danielle operates Firefly, a midtown Sacramento clothing boutique, that was not only established as a creative outlet for Danielle, but also as a funding source for her community outreach organization, Shoes & Sandwiches (S&S).

To reach out to other entrepreneurs, Danielle recently expanded the walls of Firefly to house an entrepreneurial paradise called the “Midtown Collective.” The Midtown Collective houses four other small, locally owned businesses that give entrepreneurs a support network helping them grow and focus on their business without the financial burden of managing their own building.

Danielle is a millennial, a member of a generation trying to do it all while making a positive impact in their community. Originally from Orange County, Danielle has adopted Sacramento as her home by becoming an active citizen engaging with local politics, local issues and local business. Her goal is to contribute to Sacramento by making it a more creative, aware, kindhearted, and generous city.

She will not slow down any time soon. She has future plans for S&S – a voucher based clothing closet making it easier for low-income families to cloth their families, a mobile “pop-up shop” to reach low income families throughout the Sacramento region, and further street-level outreach for the homeless with community involvement.

Danielle puts it simply: “You can’t learn so much about something and walk away. That’s the trouble with knowledge. The more you know, the more you want, and the more you want to make change.”

Whether working toward a law degree, organizing community outreach for the homeless or low-income families, working within local politics, or collaborating with like-minded entrepreneurs, Danielle has the experiences that allow her a holistic perspective to make the change she wants to see in Sacramento. Just wait and see!

 

The Interview: Danielle Vincent’s Ideas Worth Spreading

TEDxSacramento: Why did you choose your current career?

Danielle: Originally, I became a small business owner and opened Firefly to fund Shoes and Sandwiches (S&S). S&S is an outlet to materialize change and a way to help people. I wanted to help the most underrepresented groups in our society – the homeless and low-income families that struggle with basic necessities.

While earning my minors in Administration of Justice and Corrections, I found myself more and more interested in local policies impacting the homeless and our community. I wanted to understand how these policies are applied and affect people in their day-to-day lives. I thought, if I have this passion for the law, I should learn as much as possible inside and outside the classroom and apply it to what I do in my community.

There has to be a middle ground between the different approaches to Sacramento homelessness — something between the ten year plan and tent cities; a union between the two. That’s where the community and organizations, like S&S, come in at the street level. Growing both Firefly and S&S will help further that mission.

TEDxSacramento: How has your business and organization changed over the years?

Danielle Vincent during a Shoes and Sandwiches (S&S) outreach event.

Danielle: My business evolved into the Midtown Collective inviting other entrepreneurs into my space after operating as a clothing exchange for almost three years. In order for Firefly to serve its ultimate purpose, funding S&S, something had to change. The Midtown Collective was the solution to that problem. Bringing other businesses into the space takes part of the burden of heavy operating costs off of Firefly and distributes it among many businesses. Firefly can now re-focus on building up S&S and achieving the goals that I have put in place for it.

At the same time, the Midtown Collective gives local entrepreneurs opportunities to open or expand their businesses that I never had. It eliminates rough experiences that small business owners experience by creating a support network. There is no club or membership that gives you the real life information needed when opening and operating a business. It’s nice to help in that way. The space has an eclectic feel with so much life and potential. It is exciting!

S&S is constantly collecting and planning for future outreach events and mobile units, including the overarching goal of opening a voucher based clothing closet or a “pop-up shop” that moves to different locations enabling low-income individuals to access clothing in a dignified way. These pop-ups will allow me to reach low-income and homeless school aged children, who are otherwise hidden from outreach at the street level.

TEDxSacramento: What motivates you to push forward during difficult moments in your career?

Danielle: The biggest struggle is not being able to progress the way I want in my organization at the rate that I had hoped for. It has been a struggle building Firefly into a foundation that can support S&S in a way that allows me to do as much outreach as I truly want to do.

What motivates me most is the community around me. They want to help, they want to be a part of something, and I want to give that to them. I want to not only make change, but I want to inspire change in others. I also find motivation at the street level in the most basic ways. The ones who need the most help aren’t the ones asking for it; they’re harder to find, and they’re harder to reach. Those are the ones that keep me going.

TEDxSacramento: What advice do you have for others in your field?

Danielle: Embrace change. Sometimes it [your business or organization] doesn’t turn out how you originally envisioned, but that is okay. Even when it comes down to what you love, you have to make changes if your mission calls for it. Be open to something as simple as altering product packaging or sometimes, like in my case, reworking your entire business model. If you can listen to and harness this necessity for evolution in business, there is no stopping you.

TEDxSacramento: Does anyone in your field inspire you? If so, who and why?

Danielle: I worked for Sacramento City Council member Steve Cohn during his final year and half in office handling his constituent affairs. He is one of my biggest inspirations that I can make a difference in my community. I took on a role in his office in order to gain extremely valuable experience in the city and to experience our City Council first hand.

During my time there, I was able to watch Council member Cohn lead his district and this city. He was driven by his ethics while not being afraid to make hard choices that are best for our community. I saw that until he left office. I hope one day I can make as big of an impact that he has for our community.

TEDxSacramento: What do you like most about working in the Sacramento region?

Danielle: There is such a sense of community in Sacramento that I haven’t felt anywhere else. I am originally from Orange County, but I feel at home here. You don’t know what home really feels like until you find it, and I found it in Sacramento. We are a State Capital, and if that is not at least a little bit inspiring, I don’t know what is. The capital represents hope and opportunity. Real change can happen here — the kind of change that resonates beyond the city boundaries. It is an amazing opportunity to be here.

TEDxSacramento: What is your favorite TED talk? How do the ideas of this talk impact your life?

Danielle: I am slightly hesitant about choosing this TED Talk because it may seem out of left field, but it's definitely my favorite. My favorite TED Talk is “How Do You Explain Consciousness?” by David Chalmers.

Experiencing our consciousness is something that many of us don't take the time to do regularly enough. Each human has their own inner movie playing and being cognitive of that is an important part of understanding the human condition — understanding each other, finding compassion for others in their struggles, and embracing each other during difficult times. We're inside our own consciousness viewing the world from behind our own distinct lens. Understanding that we're all viewing the same world distinctly differently is the first step to helping each other.

TEDxSacramento: If you have the opportunity to speak on the TED Stage, what would be your idea worth spreading?

Danielle: You’re going to hear ‘no’ a lot in life, and the bigger you dream, the more ‘no’ answers you’re going to get. Some of them are verbal, most of them aren’t. ‘No’ is never final; it’s just a signal to change what you’re doing, maybe just a little or sometimes a great deal. There’s always a ‘yes’ waiting amidst those ‘no’ responses when you’re willing to accept change.

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The Art of Listening and Understanding

By Lauren Herman

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the third of a five-part series profiling women leadership in the Sacramento region. It serves as a prelude to our upcoming event, "This Changes Everything: WOMEN." These women were selected based on their contributions and participation in their community and industry. By means of this series, we hope to broaden our understanding of what constitutes a leader and provide a platform for ideas worth spreading. 

 

Professor Kristina Casper-Denman: Instructor, Student Advocate, and Listener

Professor Casper-Denman, Instructor, Leader

Professor Kristina Casper-Denman is a star in her own right. As an Anthropology and History Professor at American River College (ARC), she is dedicated to teaching community college students inside and outside the classroom. Known as the “EFG” (Educational Fairy Godmother) by her friends and colleagues, Professor Casper-Denman is celebrated for her ability to teach, but, more importantly, for her ability to listen.

Over the past 18 years, Professor Casper-Denman has served as an instructor, mentor, student club advisor, and active faculty member within numerous ARC campus centers and committees. It is no surprise that she has numerous campus awards under her belt – ARC Associated Student Body Instructor of the Year, ARC Foundation Faculty Award, and ARC Associated Student Body Club Advisor of the Year.

Despite her numerous accomplishments, such as recently earning a doctorate in Native American Studies from U.C. Davis, my interview with Professor Casper-Denman centered on her students rather than herself. She spoke with pride of the lessons and stories she has learned from them.

These stories signify her commitment to listening and understanding her students, to not only help them pass their courses, but also help them obtain their dreams. She keeps in contact with dozens of her current and former students to let them know that they are not alone, they are remembered, and they have someone in their life who believes in their dreams.

Professor Casper-Denman’s students are an inspiration to her, just as she wants to be an inspiration to them. When I asked her what motivated her to go back to graduate school to earn a Ph.D., her answer was straightforward. She answered, “If my students can do it, why can’t I? I want to show them that anyone can reach their dreams. Often, you just need someone to share those dreams with.”

When asked by a colleague if she would seek a professorship at a university, Professor Casper-Denman’s answer was absolutely, “NO!” Despite her professional achievements, she continues to work toward being the best instructor she can be at the same community college that helped her find her passion – teaching and helping students realize their calling in life.  

 

The Interview: Professor Casper-Denman's Ideas Worth Spreading

TEDxSacramento: Why did you choose your current career?

Professor Casper-Denman: I ended up teaching by mistake. After working at California Regional Primate Research Center in the infectious nursery at U.C. Davis, I was ready for something new. The job broke my heart. My husband told me about an available adjunct instructor position at American River College. When I applied, my only experience was teaching Sunday school, and I had a fear of public speaking, but I have taught there for almost 18 years. There is something about the student body; its diversity, including age, ability, gender, and experience, is unlike any community college I have visited. I am honored to work there.

TEDxSacramento: What motivates you to push forward during difficult moments in your career?

Professor Casper-Denman: The most difficult part of my career is not job stability; it is whether I am serving my students to the best of my ability. I get feedback from my students every semester. I ask them, “What do you need from me? You can ask me anything.” I have learned that students need help outside the classroom. They ask me all types of questions - anything from how to navigate college to advice on life decisions.

When I think about these students, I know that I am fortunate in so many ways. Some are homeless, returning to school after a long absence, or struggling with mental illness. What I have gone through in my life is nothing compared to the things that my students overcome everyday. They give me a reason to serve them. If they can overcome the many struggles that I have witnessed, I can approach life with humility and thoughtfulness in ways that make me a better instructor.

TEDxSacramento: What advice do you have for others in your field?

Professor Casper-Denman: Years ago we [faculty at American River College] talked about how to be better instructors. American River College prioritizes professional development for instructors. I think all instructors should seek ways to improve and better help our students. The minute we [instructors] stop reaching to be our best, the minute we stop serving our students, we fail our students. Instructors forget that improvement doesn’t mean you are bad; it means you want to be better.

TEDxSacramento: Does anyone in your field inspire you? If so, who and why?

Professor Casper-Denman: Students expect me to be inspired by the big names [in Anthropology] - Margaret Mead and Jane Goodall. I am inspired by the students who work within their communities, not by the big-name researchers. There are so many Native American students, whom I have worked with at U.C. Davis, who are revitalizing ceremonies, bringing economic development and preserving languages within their communities. You probably do not know their names, but there are many unknown individuals who learn, go back and are able to solve their communities’ problems. These people inspire me.

TEDxSacramento: What do you like most about working in the Sacramento region?

Professor Casper-Denman: What I love about Sacramento is that it is not only a Capital City, but also a home to diverse communities and opportunities. There are extended families, a large immigrant population, and a diversity of food options. I never had this where I grew-up [on the East Coast]. You can eat around the world just by visiting the restaurants on Broadway.

Sacramento has so much to offer – fresh fruit and vegetables at the farmer’s market, community theatre, and nature. You can walk from Folsom to Old Sacramento and see deer; what other region offers that? There is a huge Native American community as well. The diversity is amazing!

TEDxSacramento: What is your favorite TED talk? How do the ideas of this talk impact your life?

Professor Casper-Denman: I think Rita's Pierson TEDTalk, “Every Kid Needs a Champion,” is important because it challenges how we think about education. We think of education in different categories, including University, community college, K-12, and pre-school, but I think it is more than that.

As Rita points out, education should be defined by personal impact, building relationships. I think she is right to ask, if we give up now, who will be there for our students later. Teachers should remind themselves that we were once that problem student. Educators who are burned out should watch this talk and consider that the most difficult students are often the most wanting and deserving students.

TEDxSacramento: If you have the opportunity to speak on the TED Stage, what would be your idea worth spreading?

Professor Casper-Denman: I think the most important issue that I can speak to is the importance of non-linear careers. Most of us will never have a lot of money, like Bill and Melinda Gates, to fund massive projects that we hope will change the world. It is important to give back everyday no matter what you do whether it’s signing a petition, reading an article or the news, or sharing your ideas with others. Be a life-long learner, educate yourself, and take responsibility for what happens in the world.

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Think Globally, Act Locally

By Lauren Herman

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the second of a five-part series profiling women leadership in the Sacramento region. It serves as a prelude to our upcoming event, "This Changes Everything: WOMEN." These women were selected based on their contributions and participation in their community and industry. By means of this series, we hope to broaden our understanding of what constitutes a leader and provide a platform for ideas worth spreading. 

 

Dr. Soheir Stolba: Professor, Non-Profit Director, and Philanthropist

Dr. Soheir Stolba of the SHARE Institute shares her ideas worth spreading.

Think globally, act locally is a strong belief of Dr. Soheir Stolba. It’s no wonder that this belief became the mission of the SHARE Institute, a grassroots non-profit organization that she founded over ten years ago with the help of two other liked-minded women in the Sacramento region. These women came together with the purpose of partnering and supporting small non-profit organizations around the world that work within their communities for the health and welfare of women and children.

Over the last 14 years, SHARE has funded 220 projects in 30 countries - an impressive outreach for a small non-profit operated mainly by volunteers and supported by private individual donors or other small organizations.

After gaining her doctorate in political anthropology from U.C. Davis, Dr. Stolba learned the strength of local ownership and accountability during her work as a consultant for United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She found that big donors and large-scale outreach are not always required to make a difference; bigger is not always better.

Dr. Soheir Stolba with SHARE Institute Interns

Dr. Stolba also tries to foster a sense of ownership and empowerment by helping college students to volunteer abroad and to develop philanthropic projects in their Sacramento communities. By means of the SHARE Institute Intern Program, she helps these college students experience the results of improving their communities. 

Dr. Stolba strives to teach future generations in both the United States and aboard that anyone can make a difference no matter how big or small their contributions may seem.

The Interview: Dr. Stolba’s Ideas Worth Spreading

TEDxSacramento: Why did you choose your career?

Dr. Stolba: I came to the United States with a degree in English, but I took a Cultural Anthropology course at a community college. I found a disciple I was passionate about. I thought that with my experience traveling and growing up in Egypt, I could teach it. I already knew a lot about the cultures that I was learning about from my instructor. I had the travel experience and the language needed to give a unique perspective different than the instructor.

TEDxSacramento: Why did you start the SHARE Institute?

Dr. Stolba: I have done a great deal of international consulting for USAID, the World Bank and many other international organizations. I learned that there is a great need for the advancement of women in terms of poverty. I became a big believer in microcredit. I wanted to establish a people to people organization that helps make visible issues that affect poor women and children.

I used my international contacts with women, whom I thought had the potential to change or were already changing their communities but lacked funding. Later, I made contacts through the Internet and social media to expand SHARE’s reach. I did not want SHARE to become a big donor. I thought it should only fund community-based groups that need help.

TEDxSacramento: Why did you choose to be a part of the non-profit world?

Dr. Stolba: Because I am a firm believer that small organizations working with other small organizations can make a difference in the lives of women without big funding. Big funding can attract unwelcome individuals who may have motives other than helping women. Individuals working to help their community know the problems and can propose possible solutions better than anyone else.

TEDxSacramento: What motivates you to push forward during difficult moments in your career?

Dr. Stolba: What helps me during difficult times is my firm belief that the SHARE Institute has the right mission and approach to improving the lives of women and their communities. It helps that I have the support of the [SHARE Institute] board, other women who are in full support of the organization’s programs.

TEDxSacramento: What advice do you have for others who would like to work in the non-profit industry?

Dr. Stolba: You have to be passionate about the mission of the organization you are working in because it’s a lot of work with little pay. So, you have to believe that what you are doing is making a difference in the lives of others.

TEDxSacramento: Does anyone in your field inspire you? If so, who and why?

Dr. Stolba: Today [the day of the interview] is the anniversary of the death of my dear friend, Barbara Pillsbury, who was my colleague at USAID. She was a big believer in helping women. We became good friends, and I owe it to her that I am here now. We remained friends, and our lives intertwined for the next 20 years. She inspired me to start SHARE and to continue to help women worldwide.

TEDxSacramento: What do you like most about working in the Sacramento region?

Dr. Stolba: I enjoy the weather and the rural feeling of living in Fair Oaks with my horses and dog, yet I am so close to town. Living in the Sacramento region has many possibilities, and you don’t miss out on cultural experiences.

TEDxSacramento: What is your favorite TED Talk?

Dr. Stolba: I enjoyed watching Sheikha Al Mayassa's TEDTalk, “Globalizing the Local, Localizing the Global,” because she talks about cultural identity in a new and fresh way.  She manages to maintain tradition but have a dialogue with the West.

TEDxSacramento: If you have the opportunity to speak on the TED stage, what would be your idea worth spreading?

Dr. Stolba: I would talk about the importance of volunteering in a small non-profit organization that has a mission you can identify with. It’s an important, life changing experience to seek solutions and remain active in your community.

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Why Failure is a Blessing, Not a Curse

By Lauren Herman

Editor’s Note: This blog post is the first of a five-part series profiling women leadership in the Sacramento region. It serves as a prelude to our upcoming event, "This Changes Everything: WOMEN." These women were selected based on their contributions and participation in their community and industry. By means of this series, we hope to broaden our understanding of what constitutes a leader and provide a platform for ideas worth spreading. 

I have to admit that interviewing is a secret obsession of mine. It fuels my curiosity and belief that everyone has a story. Everyone has something they can teach to one another and learn from one another. Thus, I had to begin this blog series with an individual that without a doubt can offer readers a story with a lesson and purpose.

Tania Voochen: Small Business Owner, Entrepreneur, And Instructor

Tania Voochen, Sacramentan, Leader

Tania Voochen looks like a tough chick (showing more than a few well-crafted tattoos and a wardrobe of black attire and boots), but has a heart of gold, a sharp mind that is as quick as her tongue, and an eye for hair.

When I asked Tania if she would be willing to sit down with me for an interview as an example of a leader in the Sacramento region and within her industry, she simply asked, “Why me?” Her honesty is the exact reason I responded, “Why not you?”

For many years, Tania has served as a leader in Sacramento as a business owner, entrepreneur and instructor. During her eight years working at byuti salon + spa, Tania delved into not only being a small business owner, but also serves as the cutting instructor at the salon.

Throughout her career, Tania has competed in numerous competitions and attended hands-on courses across the country with the purpose of expanding her skill set. She will not stop anytime soon. Next year, she will take advanced cutting and styling courses to gain a network educator title.

Despite all of these achievements, she doesn’t see herself as a leader but rather as someone who simply loves their craft. Her humility, strive for continual excellence, dedication to her industry, and work ethic make her a leader in her community and in the Sacramento region.

After leaving home at a young age, entering into beauty school while supporting herself, facing numerous struggles and heart-ache in her journey, today Tania, ever humble and self-reflexive, stands as an example of what can happen when you follow your passion and dreams.

 

The Interview: Tania’s Ideas Worth Spreading

TEDxSacramento: Why did you choose your career?

Tania: I was not a good student in the traditional sense, so I was never encouraged to go in the direction of college. I was told that I was lazy, and because of my intimidation with school, I decided to follow a different path – hair – which is something that I equally love just as much as books. In my 30s, I have learned that I should not have listened to those that didn’t support me. I love what I do now, and I am grateful for those who have helped me along the way to what I am doing today as an instructor and stylist.

TEDxSacramento: What motivates you to push forward during difficult moments in your career?

Tania: Anything worth having is never easy. That is what I tell my students. Everything is a learning opportunity; never waste a defeating moment. Life should make you fight harder every year, and you should not expect anything less. Knowing this makes it easier to not become a victim and to pick yourself up by your bootstraps after a good cry. Always strive to be better, and those difficult moments will get easier with time.  

TEDxSacramento: What advice do you have for others in your field?

Tania: People come into [the beauty industry] because they think it’s easy. They think it’s easy money, and you get to come to work whenever you want and have no responsibilities. It’s the biggest myth. It’s a big slap in the face when you learn it’s not true. You work harder than 90% [of people] out there, and you have dozens of bosses. Those bosses are your clients, and if you are not on your game or a good listener, you will lose them. It’s hard, but one of the most rewarding lines of work. If you think nothing less, you will fail. You have to be a stylist for the love of the craft, not the money.

And, always be open to learning new things. I may be an instructor, but I teach not because I know everything. I teach because, in my opinion, teaching makes you better at whatever you do. You have to know it to teach it. You can’t guide someone in the wrong or right way. A good teacher is a student of their teachings.

TEDxSacramento: Does anyone in your field inspire you? If so, who and why?

Tania: Definitely. Many people, especially my mentors, who I assisted over the years [have inspired me]. They will never know how much they impacted me. To this day, I always think of them and what they taught me. Their mentorship was invaluable. My heroes are those that strive to do their best, those who are at the top-notch of their game. Just as I serve as a cutting instructor to many, I am also a student to those in my industry to whom I look for inspiration and reinvention of techniques. They guide my path now with what I want to be and become.

TEDxSacramento: What do you like most about working in the Sacramento region?

Tania: I like working near the Capital. I love capital cities. There are so many different religious and political views here [in Sacramento]. Capitals are a melting pot that allow for diversity within communities with different viewpoints, and there is an opportunity to learn from those differences. I am inspired by those differences in my daily work.

TEDxSacramento: What is your favorite TED talk? How do the ideas of this talk impact your life?

Tania: “The 4 a.m. Mystery” is my favorite TED Talk at the moment because I enjoy the fact that it’s whimsical. It’s inspirational and points out the poetry of life. Life is a circle with patterns and repetition, and there is something reassuring and beautiful about it. For someone to deliver something that allowed me to see the connecting patterns of life, that is something amazing. Delivery is everything, so how can you not enjoy that TED Talk.

TEDxSacramento: If you have the opportunity to speak on the TED stage, what would be your idea worth spreading?

Tania: What I love about TED Talks is the theme of being passionate about something and challenging yourself whether you are a presenter or listener to be a student.

I would talk about being open to failure, embracing failure. We forget that it’s okay to learn as we grow older and to learn from both failure and success. There will always be those moments that set us up for our futures. We need to respect and honor that some of those times we will fail in life. We need to be okay that life is a disaster, but it will be a fun disaster if we are open to change and challenge.

Need more inspiration and fresh ideas in your life? Subscribe to our newsletter today, or request a priority invitation to our next event.

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Five Women Leaders in Our Capital Region and Their Ideas Worth Spreading

By Lauren Herman

Four years ago, the CEO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, stood on the TED Stage to address the hot button issue of gender in the workplace, addressing in great detail why there are too few women leaders worldwide in almost every profession.

Many warned her to avoid the topic, not just as a leader of a Fortune 500 company, but also as a woman.  She did not heed the continual warnings about the damage the topic could do to her career. Instead, she spoke about her experiences and challenges as a leader in the corporate world from the view of a woman, especially as one of the few of her gender to reach the top leadership level in her field.

Since Sheryl pointed out the elephant in the boardroom, it is a topic that society seems to be open to discussing more than ever before, yet the glass ceiling has not been shattered.  A few of Sheryl’s TEDTalk questions remain relevant, including “How do we change these numbers at the top? How do we make this different?”

Announcing Series Highlighting Region's Women Leaders

TEDxSacramento, a licensed local TEDx organization, is proud to continue this conversation with a new series of blog posts highlighting five women leaders in the Sacramento region and their expanding leadership positions in their industries.

We hope that you, the reader of this blog, whether male or female, will use their stories as sources of inspiration for the continual growth of strong female leadership in the Capitol Region.

Want a Priority Invitation to Our Next Event?

If you want to hear more ideas worth spreading in the Sacramento community, we encourage you to take a break from your ordinary routine and step into an intellectual odyssey with hundreds of bright and inquisitive friends at the upcoming TEDxSacramentoSalon, “This Changes Everything: Women," on December 12, 2014.

For a priority invitation to this event, please apply online.

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