::Women in Leadership::

Being a Woman is serious business these days. The expectations and "bar" have been raised more than ever before. We have to be strong for our families and relationships. We have to be bad-ass examples for the women around us. We have to be inspirational and amazing as the women before us. We have to be sensitive but assertive. We are criticized for everything and every scrutiny is visible. We have to be humble and let things go. And, we have to be stone cold and easy going.  Once you become a leader there are constant check-list of goals that we need to achieve and do to be successful. And, guess what you are human too. You get tired, your feelings get hurt and you become overwhelmed. Find women who "have it all together" but really don't. Is so refreshing to me.  Knowing that I am not the only one who fails at life daily, and who doesn't always win, because we are human and "stuff" happens. That's where my motivation comes from and where real success happens. 

I attend many conferences and event that recognize and present awards to local women in leadership who have changed the face of their industry or paved the way for women within industries that are sometimes "male-dominated".  Their stories are always encouraging and definitely add value, life and energy to the other women in the room. They share the struggles they had to overcome, never giving up and moving forward in spite of the dispositions. As women, they pushed through their circumstances and constantly have risen above the nay-sayers. None of them ever suggest that their success has come easy. Surely we can learn from their examples but I don't think they are ever expecting to be one day recognized for simply doing their jobs and working towards success. The women are always humble and so deserving of the recognition and accolades to their accomplishments.

One of the speakers I remember is Dr. Virginia Parras (not pictured here) from a Women's event with Ford last year; she spoke about growing up with a father, "who thought the woman's place was in the home... except for her...she'd be different." The recollection of her experiences though they have come with many obstacles were lighthearted and filled with bravery. She stood up for herself, overcame a "man's world" in my areas of her life and obtained a higher education along the way.  She told a story about her first experience in the US as a young trick-or-treater scared to ring on the doorbells of strangers home to collect candy. What would happen? What would she achieve? Once she did it the first time and received candy, and then another and another, she realized; one, America isn't so bad and two simply "ring the bell" to reveal what's on the other side. It became the motto of her life. As women, we should simply "ring the bell", take the risks and leap forward!

If we just seek out that opportunity awaiting us on the other side, we might just reveal the talents we have within. 

Virginia rang many bells and figured out her true strengths, value and talents she held with every new door that opened. Her story is a motivating one for young career driven women who just want to reach their goals an potentials.  Along the way she faced many adversaries as most Latina women do, but she knew that regardless of what anyone thought, she had already crossed the threshold of so many doors, that nothing could stop her.

While following the footsteps of great women like Virginia can be intimidating we should use that energy to seek our strength and propel forward in the most unimaginable ways!

The generations to come are waiting for us. 

Let's be women of courage and bravery so that leadership can excel amongst us!

::M Live! The Expo About Modern Midlife:: JOIN US THIS WEEKEND

::Momma Disclosure:: This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own and true. 

Register for free online with code: MOMMAOFDOS

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/m-live-the-expo-about-modern-midlife-tickets-28532414219

::DESCRIPTION::

When it comes to menopause, we all get there at different times, with different circumstances, for different reasons, and at different times in our lives. There's not one thing about menopause that's the same for any one of us—but we all arrive at that place, that intersection, at some point or another.

But, midlife is about infinitely more than menopause. And while menopause plays a role, it's not the be-all, end-all of midlife.

Did You Know?

51% of all women are in menopause, but not every woman in midlife has gone through menopause. As women, menopause and midlife are as inevitable as death and taxes. We are the forgotten women. When we are girls and mothers of girls, we are told how to handle puberty, but who helps us how to handle when we go OUT of puberty?


Welcome to M Live!

M Live! is THE Expo about modern midlife - focused on empowering women and providing resources, support, education, entertainment, and opportunities that they can’t find anywhere else. This isn’t your momma’s midlife, this is modern midlife personified.

M Live!—brought to you by Intersection M—features speakers that specialize in integrative and traditional medicine, gynecologists that specialize in menopause and fitness and nutrition experts to provide tips on whole body health and most importantly the opportunity to have your questions answered by a panel of health practitioners that have your best interest in mind. Need motivation? We have speakers for that too! Want to understand finances? We have you covered. Our speaker on finance in midlife will have you set for retirement.

Meet Us At The Intersection!

Being held at the Health Museum in Houston, the day will be filled with information, education, laughter, sisterhood, botox, fillers, advice, questions and answers, vendors who sell fantastic things, a yummy lunch, snacks, giveaways and contests!

It's going to rock your midlife!

We are going to be bringing it, and we want the same from YOU!

Midlife today is what you make it, let's celebrate it together!

FAQs
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
The best way to get the event is via car or you can always Uber! Parking is free at the Museum, surrounding streets and at the McGovern Gardens across the street.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
You can contact Lee at lee@intersection-m.com or Faith at faith@intersection-m.com.
What's the refund policy?
We would be happy to refund up to 10 days before the event. Unfortunately, we can't refund after that!

WEBSITE: https://intersection-m.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/intersectionm/ 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/modernmidlife

::Hidden Figures:: Movie Review

This is not paid content and the review is something that came to me because I am super passionate about the things I love! 

{Image Credit: Google Search/Patheos Site}

I finally saw the movie Hidden Figures, and I knew it would be good and I knew I would like it. I mean empowering women of color is in my DNA, right? But, I didn't realize that I would identify so much of myself to the main character of this movie.  Katherine; an educated woman of color who is always overlooked, looked past and through. As a Mexican-American woman in corporate America since 1999, I have had similar experiences in the workplace. No matter how hard you work, someone else always gets the credit. That, someone else, is usually not a person who cares to work as hard as you because of their position of entitlement, which I find sad.  

The notion that you're invisible and irrelevant to your employer even though you're the one getting the work done is one that I have lived with for over 10 years now. Even though I have been in "high ranking" positions, it hasn't been an easy task to accomplish and it also doesn't guarantee truly being recognized or appreciated as much as others. While I definitely DON'T know the extent of racism that these incredible NASA professionals experienced, I have felt the inequality of gender and race in most of my positions and as a culture in the companies I work for.

Please don't get me wrong, this isn't a moment of self-pity or for others to feel sorry for me. Nor is it a complaint or bashing of any current situation in our nation. But, instead, an eye opener. That again, the extent and overt racism experienced by the female "computers" of NASA in the 1960's, still may linger in very low key ways and places where we least expect them. Not too much has changed for women in the workplace, while it is "better" there are still so many barriers we must overcome. And, we will overcome them. {i.e. Women's March 2017}

                                                              {Image Credit: Google Search/Hollywood Reporter Site}

There were moments in the movie where I could NOT hold back my tears. The first pivotal moment was when Katherine had to explain where she was 40 minutes of every day. No one knew her struggle and most overlooked the things that blared out to her. The fact that her boss was so busy he didn't see the barriers she faced, was truly no excuse, but I loved that he was the first one to take action and make those barriers less. I cried so much, I have been there. In white male dominated industries, where the issues a woman may have are not important to them, yet we get our work done and move forward with the pains and barriers we carry. 

Another moment where I felt truly happy and empowered was when Mary explained why the judge should grant her the ability to attend an all-white school. Of course, as you can see at this point, as women, we are always required to defend who we are and why we want to do things to improve our lives. But, that's OK, we endure and move forward. Mary's story is one that as a Momma and Wife, I struggle with, should we go back to school and better ourselves? The answer of course is YES, the issue of when the time is right will never happen. We remain busy and there will never be a better time, than now! I loved her boldness and strength. 

{Image Credit: Google Search/CNN Site}

And, the final moment that made me just fill with awe and admiration for these women was when Dorothy became supervisor of the newly formed IBM group and walked into the IBM room with her entire group of "colored computers". She was proof that when you resist you persist. 

                                                        {Image Credit: Google Search/Boston Magazine Site}

If you have not seen this movie, I recommend it for everyone. To me it was empowering for women of all ages and races. I watched it with my kids, and they knew so much about segregation, being of color and Martin Luther King Jr. that they followed along very well. When Dorthy walked into that IBM room, Santiago said.. "MOM, SHE DID IT!!!" I explained to Camila that because these women were smart, brave and strong they succeeded; she asked if she should be that way in school, to which I replied YES. You should! 

It is in these moments that we should teach our children both boys and girls, to stand firm in what they believe in, to truly follow their dreams and passions and to be BRAVE and stand strong together! I know my kids received the message. They are learning about what it's like to be brown in America, I want them to know their place, to claim what is theirs and to never be scared to be themselves! Regardless of their skin color or gender, they know that if they are strong and brave they will succeed, it's what I plan to instill in them! 

{Image Credit: TenderNest Portraits Houston Texas}