Lola Shote

I attribute my success to my life experiences. I've been through a lot, and I've learned from it and moved forward. When I see an issue or a flaw that I have in my life, I've learned to work from it and move forward. Also, knowing that I'm helping someone, hopefully in the future, and those who actually want to be in the field, has helped me want to be more successful. I'd say it's chasing success and helping people.

The best career advice I received was from someone on LinkedIn when I was trying to develop my skill sets in data analytics. He told me that especially in a leadership role, when everybody's turning to you with questions and there isn't anybody else for you to ask, you just have to figure stuff out. So many people don't have that skill when they come to this profession, and that makes people stand out. So the advice is about being adaptable, being observant, and taking risks.

I would tell young women entering my field not to just jump in and do the what, but understand the why behind what they're doing. Always put the individual first, and seek to understand, not just do. Because then you're able to see much progress and learn more. I've noticed people are just doing what the behavior analyst says without actually asking questions or understanding the why behind it, and that doesn't help you grow or learn the science of behavior. I would definitely say ask questions and understand the why of what you're doing. Also, network and make connections. Meet people in different organizations and different fields, because everything connects. For example, me learning about data analytics is going to help me in my future career as a behavior analyst. Be part of organizations that align with your values, be very knowledgeable in your field, and try to learn as much as you can. And another one: set boundaries with yourself and wherever you work, just so you're protected and your health is protected.

In my field, I would say the industry is definitely a challenge, because the science, I feel like, is amazing. However, it's just how people apply it. Because every company is different, you have to be able to adapt to the company or the organization, but at the same time, you also have to stand ground to your values. That's why I feel like there has been maybe a difficulty for me - I'm always standing strong on what I believe in, but I also have to be careful that I am not stepping on the organization's values and structure as well. So it's just being true to the science while navigating the industry. This industry is a bit difficult, though it doesn't have to be, but it can be.

Holistic health is most important to me. I actually have a mind map that I've put on my wall, and every week I give myself a goal towards that, just so it's actionable and something I can focus on to ensure that I am taking care of myself as a whole. The aspects I have under that are intellectual health, spiritual health, financial health, emotional health, physical health, creative health, mental health, and social health. As long as I am meeting my needs as a whole, I think that helps me throughout the week.