Whether leadership comes naturally to those reading this issue or requires consistent practice, it is vital to have women in leadership roles within the community. We asked four standout female leaders to impart their wisdom on stepping into the spotlight and leading the way for others. Follow along for inspiration and candid advice.
Melissa Youssef, Mayor of Durango
Will you share about your journey to becoming a successful leader? What inspired you to start your path or even catapulted you into it?
The path to City Council came organically to me. I had been actively involved in our community for decades. Over time, it became the next most appropriate step, given my desire to be involved in the community, have a voice, and represent our people.
What is the most essential ingredient to achieve success?
It became evident that in our system of governance, you are only as effective as your team, and you must have good working relationships with your colleagues.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to be community leaders?
If you desire to be involved in the community and assume an active leadership position, do it by engaging with the community, building strong relationships with your colleagues and peers, and focusing first on areas that you are passionate about. Your leadership and communication skills will naturally develop if you are passionate about the topic and have spent enough time educating yourself on issues surrounding it. Have confidence and have fun.
Kelsie Borland, Executive Director of The Hive
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early stages of your business?
The biggest challenge is getting the funding necessary to realize our potential. A new nonprofit business is always challenging because you must prove your worth to your supporters before doing the work. Luckily, I ran SOS Outreach, a snowboard mentoring program, for ten years, and the community could get behind the vision of expanding this beyond snowboarding into a full-time, year-round opportunity with skateboarding, art, and music.
Can you share any pivotal moments or decisions that significantly impacted your professional trajectory?
Watching my sister and multiple friends struggle in the system and with substance abuse through my adolescence is what motivates the work I do today. Although my sister had a lot of family support and support within the system, there still was no space for her to simply go and be herself. Her spirit has motivated me to create what she and so many other youth in the community needed.
Heather Robertson, Founder of Bold Arrival
Will you share your journey of becoming a successful business owner?
At the core of everything I speak, write, or teach is how to become empowered and uplifted into a more genuine version of who we are.
With my two decades of background in meditation, yoga, leadership, and strategic planning, I clearly saw the pathways to inspire those who wanted to lead differently and be empowered toward success and wellness. Today, my company serves motivated people who want to be empowered.
What strategies did you employ to achieve success?
I employed my relationship-building skills through live speaking/teaching events, workshops and retreats, and writing. I still do this today. In-person and real-time connections cultivate trust, which is my priority.
Can you share any pivotal moments or decisions that significantly impacted your business?
One was four years ago, in March 2020. During that time, many of my clients were experiencing a lot of stress due to the pandemic. To support them, I began offering free live Sunday meditations every week for 30 minutes, along with a weekly message. As a result of this initiative, someone from Oracle Corp. approached me and asked me to offer this service to their team. It was a game changer.
LaTitia Taylor, Education Director for the Southern Ute Tribe
What inspired you to start your path or even catapulted you into it?
I gravitate to being an introvert. However, I believe that the Creator blessed me to help children. Jobs and projects around youth were constantly falling into my lap. I eventually embraced it. I enjoyed sharing knowledge and making sure every single student understood. Coaching basketball is another part of my life. I coached from pewees to the North American Indigenous tournaments with players right out of high school and going on to college.
What role has mentorship played in your professional journey, and will you share a memorable moment that you hold on to from that mentor?
Dr. Edward Schneider from SW Texas State University was the Dean of Science and my graduate mentor. He taught me to have a voice and not to worry if I stood alone on ideas. When we were in the jungles of Malaysia (part of my thesis research), we had portable light microscopes. We were looking at plant material from a water lilies species. Dr. Schneider said, “La Titia, come look at this plant and the morphological features.” He was so excited to show me. There was another professor on the trip who told me I couldn’t finish. They came running over to Dr. Schneider and got in front of me. He looked at them and said, “Are you La Titia?”. His courage and strength showed me I was worth something, and he saw it.
