I Didn’t Wait to Be Ready I Just Started Helping
Learning that leadership begins when you decide to show up
I Didn’t Wait to Be Ready — I Just Started Helping
For a long time, I thought leadership was something you stepped into after you were invited. I assumed you had to be older, more experienced, or officially qualified before your voice really counted. What I learned instead is that leadership usually begins long before anyone gives you permission.
I didn’t start helping because I felt ready. I started because I saw people who needed support and realized that waiting felt worse than trying. I didn’t have a blueprint or a perfect plan. I had questions, nerves, and a lot to learn. But I also believed that showing up—even imperfectly—mattered.
As a young woman, you quickly learn that confidence is often mistaken for inexperience. I’ve walked into rooms where my age spoke before I did. At first, that intimidated me. Over time, it taught me something more important: consistency earns credibility. When you keep showing up, people start listening.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being willing to act when something feels important, even if the path isn’t clear yet. It’s about listening, adjusting, and staying committed when the excitement fades and the work becomes real.
If there’s one thing I hope other young women take from my experience, it’s this: you don’t have to wait to become the person you’re meant to be. You don’t need permission to care, to try, or to lead. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply begin.
Being part of communities like Influential Women matters to me because they remind us that leadership grows when we share our stories, support one another, and believe that our voices matter—at every age.
Author Bio
Ella Shahbazian is a high school student, published author, and community advocate who founded Ella’s Angels to support underserved communities through service, youth leadership, and compassion.
