Her Story
About Dr. Judith
My whole career, my whole life has led me to this work in agricultural technology and food security. I started down the holistic path over 15 years ago when I was diagnosed with a non-malignant mass in my left breast. I met a naturopath doctor from Bermuda who introduced me to colonic hydrotherapy, and that put me on the holistic route where I changed what I eat and the way that I think. Then going to Jamaica, I found myself being asked a lot by kids that were hungry. I used to get a lot of calls from government officials and people in neighborhoods asking me if I could donate some money to pay school fees and to feed some children, and I just said, sure, why not. So I was doing that, and then it just led me down this path. I was a legislative aide at the Georgia House of Representatives many years ago, and it was there that I learned how to network and just observe what the politicians, the legislators do on a legislative level, and how they interact with their constituents. That helped prepare me for this work. Of all the careers that I've had - I've been a chief of staff to a managing director at the state Medicaid University of Massachusetts Medical School, I was an acting HR director, I was a paralegal - this is the most meaningful ever. I have not made one dollar off of this, because I'm doing it from my heart, and it's the right thing to do. Of course, I know eventually I'm going to make money somehow, but it's not really my focus. I'm always seeking monies to fund a lot of these projects. The guys call me the Green Queen - green as in green technology, which could be sustainable agriculture, energy, anything with the environment.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dr. Judith
01What do you attribute your success to?
I saw how hard my mom worked, and I wanted to make my family proud. My mom was my biggest supporter. I used to get a lot of discouragement from people that I thought were my friends, but I kept going. I just go in somewhere and just smile, I just put on my friendly face and just be myself. I wanted to do different things - I was just not stuck in one place or one field. I just wanted to try everything. I moved around wherever there was opportunity. I try to always make a first good impression and build great relationships with people, whether they're in government or just everyday people that you meet. You never know who you're going to meet. I work with an awesome team - these guys have mentored me into the person that I am, really, truly. They respect me and they value my input. A lot of people didn't believe in my dream and they just shot it down and said that I need to do something else, because it's impossible to accomplish what I'm accomplishing, but I kept pushing. I did all of this as a single mom, climbing up 5 flights of stairs to go to school in the day and the evening. If you put in the work, the hard work, it will eventually happen. It may not happen when you want it to, but it will happen.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm doing this work from my heart, and it's the right thing to do. Of all the careers that I've had, this is the most meaningful ever, and I have not made one dollar off of this. Of course, I know eventually I'm going to make money somehow, but it's not really my focus. I'm always seeking monies to fund a lot of these projects because it helps. I want kids all over, not just little girls but kids all over, really, truly, to know that they can do it too. It may not happen when you want it to, but if you put in the work, the hard work, it will eventually happen. I wanted to make my family proud. The food security push is about making sure no child goes hungry and improving the lives of farmers and everyday people. I try to build great relationships with people, whether they're in government or just everyday people that you meet.
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