When senior leaders told me early in my career they knew one day I would also become a senior leader, I was flattered but unsure about what they saw in me.

Instead of taking inventory of what I brought to the table that was unique, I became a copy of what I thought it took to become a senior executive. This left me feeling muted and inauthentic, like I wasn’t contributing in a meaningful and natural way.

So, what brought me to this point and why am I doing this? The short answer is that I am you. I had to learn to be grounded in who I am and own my voice. Through my own experience and certification as a coach I have come to believe every woman of color needs to go through a self-discovery process to fully develop her leadership talents.