The Power To Use Life Lessons in Pursuit of Equity
Bryetta Calloway is a Marketing and Brand Senior Executive, Growth Catalyst for Startups, Speaker, Mentor, Author, DEIB Researcher, and Entrepreneur.
By Bryetta Calloway
As a woman who has navigated the complexities of various industries, from entertainment to entrepreneurship, I've discovered profound truths that extend beyond my personal journey and resonate with the broader truth – your life is trying to teach you something.
Lesson #1: In a world that often demands conformity and homogony, I've learned that my power lies in being unapologetically myself. My refusal to be confined by societal expectations propelled my success, helped me develop hidden talents and abilities, and became a catalyst for change within the spaces I inhabited.
Lesson #2: Resilience will be your most trusted anchor when facing adversity, particularly as a woman forging her path. I don’t just mean the overly marketed concept of “bouncing back” after a crisis or setback. Rather, the strengthening that happens when people and life attempt to push you down. Resisting the pressure to break makes you stronger and more infallible.
Lesson #3: Assertive is not a bad word, especially if you’re a woman. My experiences have taught me that being assertive is not about aggression, despite what people (who want you to shrink) may say. It’s about confidently asserting my worth and contributions. It’s about advocating for the right to take up space, even in rooms where I may not historically be welcomed.
By acknowledging and channeling these painful lessons, we pave the way for empathy and understanding for ourselves and others. By sharing my journey, I become beautifully intertwined with the broader narrative of many women besides me who are courageously owning their stories, no matter how messy, complex, or nuanced.
Together, we are not just narrators of our stories; we are architects of a future where equity is not just an aspiration but a lived reality.
Bryetta Calloway is a Marketing and Brand Senior Executive, Growth Catalyst for Startups, Speaker, Mentor, Author, DEIB Researcher, and Entrepreneur. With a passion for democratizing access to tech, information, and support for historically marginalized thinkers, innovators, and founders, Bryetta has a background that spans tech startups, nonprofits, and academia. She has launched and grown brands across various industries, and her research on the barriers faced by Black women in professional development and corporate America was featured on Bloomberg’s Black Business Beat in 2022. She has worked with renowned organizations such as Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, The Gay Men's Health Crisis, AIDSWalk, WeWork, Flatiron School, ThriveDX, LifeLabs Learning, Emory University, and MassChallenge. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryetta-calloway/ ; https://www.ivebeenthinkingpodcast.com/