The Multi-Hyphenate Leader: Designing a Legacy of Advocacy
How Diverse Passions and Faith Shape Transformational Leadership
Introduction: The Power of a Diverse Lens
We are often told that the path to the C-suite is a straight line—a narrow focus on a single industry. But after three decades of leadership, I’ve found that my greatest professional “superpowers” did not come from a textbook; they came from the diversity of my interests.
Whether I am sketching a new footwear design, planning a landscape installation, or navigating the complexities of executive leadership, the core skill remains the same: the ability to see a vision and build the infrastructure to support it.
The Engine of Faith and Conviction
Walking a non-traditional path inevitably invites critics. Throughout my career, I’ve encountered the “naysayers”—those who mistake a broad range of passions for a lack of focus. They suggest that you must pick one lane to be taken seriously.
But I have learned a fundamental truth: it does not matter who believes in you, as long as you believe in yourself and in the positive impact you are making on society.
That self-belief is not rooted in ego; it is rooted in something much deeper. I’ve realized that faith is not just belief in good intentions—it is trust in something higher and more powerful than the human mind can fully comprehend. I pray daily for His word to guide my steps, knowing that when my drive is aligned with a higher purpose, the opinions of others lose their power to distract me.
The Executive as a Designer
Being a designer taught me that form follows function. In leadership, this means that every policy and program must be designed with the human experience in mind.
When I look at a complex operational challenge, I am not just looking at a spreadsheet; I am looking at the “aesthetic” of the organization—the way it feels to the people living and working within it.
My background in entrepreneurship and design allows me to approach corporate problem-solving with a creativity that a linear career path rarely provides. It enables me to pivot with resilience, seeing each challenge as a design flaw that can be reimagined through the lens of service.
Advocacy: The Ultimate ROI
This multi-angled perspective is exactly what is needed in the halls of advocacy. Serving on legislative committees or community boards is not an “extra” on my résumé; it is a natural extension of my leadership.
Advocacy is the act of designing a better future for those who may not have a seat at the table. When we step into these roles, we use our executive influence to ensure that quality, safety, and human dignity are not just ideals, but requirements.
True influence is measured not by the height of our titles, but by the depth of the impact we leave on the lives of others.
Conclusion: Lean Into Your “And”
To the women reading this: do not feel the need to hide your “outside” passions or dim your drive to make others comfortable. If you are an executive and an artist, an administrator and an entrepreneur—lean into that “and.”
Your diverse experiences are not distractions; they are the tools God gave you to see solutions others may miss.
By bringing our whole, multifaceted selves to our work, we design organizations that are not only successful but soulful. We do not just lead; we advocate, we create, and we follow the light of a higher calling to illuminate the path for those who follow.
Stay true to yourself, and always act with a pure heart.
