Melisande Corlett

The educators who believed in me played a major role in helping me reach success. Two people in particular saw my gift before I fully recognized it myself. In 8th grade, Mrs. Maiale told my mother, 'I love her stories. Your daughter has a gift.' Then in high school, Mrs. Carmichael said the same thing and pleaded with me to pursue English instead of fashion design, telling me I had something special and she'd hate for me to miss out on that opportunity. Even though I was stubborn and initially pursued fashion, I eventually found my way back to writing because that's where I was meant to be. These two women had a strong influence on the path that led to where I am today.

In addition, I believe in building a personal network of people with a similar direction and intentions, who are going where I want to go or who have already been there. Those individuals understand the discipline and hard work that is required to succeed. I firmly believe that mentorship is a powerful resource and asking for guidance early in the pursuit to discover your purpose can make a significant difference. Motivation isn't sufficient on the path to success; discipline, a growth mindset and a mentor are essential in developing a character that can manage and maintain that success.

Mrs. Carmichael and Mrs. Maiale will forever be honored as pillars in my personal story, but above all else I attribute my accomplishments and personal journey to Jesus Christ, the "author and finisher of every faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

I have received amazing career advice, but I'll consolidate the advice into three separate points.

Third piece of advice:

I attended the 25th annual African American Credit Union Coalition Conference in Stone Mountain, Georgia in 2023 and a common theme that both keynote speakers and breakout room facilitators emphasized was "leaders adopt a growth mindset." Restrictions aren't placed on knowledge when you receive a promotion or manage a team. Humility is essential in a leadership position. Be humble enough to know that you don't know everything and you don't have to, but you must be willing to learn even if the information is coming from someone who isn't your superior. True leadership encompasses service and with that the approach should be "what can I do for you, so that we can be successful."

Second piece of advice:

My high school Advanced Placement Literature teacher, Mrs. Carmichael sat with me in the stairwell one day after school and implored, 'I know you want to do fashion in college, but if you do fashion, I recommend you do it as a minor and not a major, because you have something special here, and I would hate for you to miss out on an opportunity with the gift that you have.' She encouraged me to major in English or some area that would help strengthen my voice. Even though I was very stubborn and didn't listen at first, her words stayed with me. I eventually realized she was right, and I transitioned from fashion to English after my freshmen year. I believe that was the path I was ultimately supposed to travel, but I needed time to arrive at that conclusion on my own.

First piece of advice:

At the same conference I previously mentioned another common theme was "send the elevator back down." What does that mean? In life it's normal to think about the longterm wellbeing of yourself and your family, as you should. However, many people stop there. They don't see success as an opportunity to bless and impact others.

I want to live a generous life where generational wealth is secured, but not monopolized by my family alone. Acts 20:35 tells us that "it is better to give than to receive." With that notion alone I want to create a life where generosity becomes realistic and tangible for other women and their families. So, when the door to the elevator you've worked so hard to reach finally opens on your floor, when it's your turn to get on "don't keep it on the top floor, send it back down."

1)Everyone has an opinion and very few of them will be informative. If you view them as free consultations, you'll rarely take anything personal.

2)Don't say yes to everyone and everything. If you say yes to every speaking engagement, every podcast, every interview and every appearance you're setting the precedent that your time is unlimited and therefore, not precious. Be selective and set the standard early.

3)Ask someone you trust to mentor you. Bombard them with questions about life, business, money and partnerships. Closed mouths do not get fed! Be a sponge in their presence.

4)Build your network. Don't be afraid to put your name and your brand out there. The market may be oversaturated, but your voice is unique and tailored for a specific audience that will commit to supporting your dream.

5) Protect the dream. Don't be so quick to share every thought and every idea. Not everyone has ill intentions, but sometimes their questions can unknowingly plant seeds of doubt.

6) Don't be intimidated to sit at a table where your depth of knowledge may not be as advanced as the other occupants. Listen well and take notes. If you spend enough time with nine wealthy people, you ultimately become the tenth.

The opportunities and challenges are the same: visibility and exposure. Building a personal brand takes as much discipline and consistency as promoting a product without the financial support of a major retailer. It's not impossible, but it is challenging especially with the knowledge that we live in a "microwaveable" society. Some things take longer to process and construct than others. After all, nothing worth having ever came easy. "Let her cook."

Faith, authenticity, integrity, discipline and generosity.

Faith: I believe we all need something to believe in. I believe we all need something that restores our balance and serves as an anchor when the waves of life become tumultuous. I believe in God: the father, son and holy spirit. Selah. I believe that I am alive today because of the grace and mercy of God. I firmly believe my faith in God has carried me through life and will continue to carry me through every season.

Authenticity: often overused and underrated. As a black woman with a strong professional background I'm very familiar with the term "code-switching." I often present myself as prim and polished which is authentically me, but it is not me in my entirety - it is simply a version of my personality. My insouciant venacular or even the volume at which I laugh when I'm in a more comfortable or safe setting cannot go with me into every room I step into. I do believe there is power in authenticity and the direct correlation that has in discerning that there is a time and place for everything. However, we often encourage people to show up authentically as themselves and as a woman of color I often wonder, at what expense. I often wonder if we're truly prepared for genuine authenticity inside and outside the work place. When I encounter someone who is authentically themselves, in the best way, they're like a breath of fresh air.

I believe it's essential to create safety and hold space for people and their individual journeys and not just celebrate their professional and personal achievements. You can never truly appreciate the prize if you do not value the price paid to get there.

Integrity: I've learned that many people lack conviction and without conviction, they lack integrity. No one is a saint, but everyone has a choice. I respect people who decide to do the right thing even when the right thing sometimes feels wrong or isn't easy to do. Integrity is required in any position of leadership.

Discipline: I didn't realize how much I value discipline until I decided to finish Before the Sunrise. There is a distinct difference between motivation and discipline. Motivation relies on feeling: if I feel motivated enough to do it, then, I will do it. Discipline relies on a consistent work ethic: regardless of how I feel, I am going to get it done. If you're waiting to be motivated, then you'll be waiting for a long time. If you are disciplined enough, you will see results. You appreciate the journey more when you recognize that you were committed to doing the work regardless of how you felt.

Generosity: I believe we have two hands for a reason - one for ourselves and one to help others. Don't forget to "send the elevator back down. Someone is waiting to get on."

Growing up I often heard "we're all on the struggle bus." Sure it was a joke, but the hard truths are often disguised as jokes to soften the blow. So many of us were on the struggle bus because we didn't have a stable foundation to build on and we didn't know where to start. Many of us weren't afforded the opportunity to continue and expand a legacy. We are building legacy from absolutely nothing. How do you build without tools? There is still a huge economic gap that directly affects the quality of life and financial stability of many minorities and their families in this country. For this reason, the ability to impact or even change the life of another woman and her family is extremely important to me. Not everyone will get off the struggle bus, but not everyone has to stay on the struggle bus.