Fall 2020 | Page 8
PETTY PRINCIPLES:
Operating in Excellence as a Christian Woman and Leader I typically find myself writing Petty Principles for leaders in higher education. I will take a difference stance and provide Petty Principles for Christian women leaders. Like many other woman leaders, my journey to leadership has been ever evolving. But if you add in my faith, then it will be one that I hope that other women will gain wisdom. It is a unique path, one that I would have never imagined. If someone would have told thirteen-year-old, or even the twenty-yearold, Tanjula this would be where she would be today, I would not have believed the stories told. I must say, there have been a many bumps, deep valleys, detours, and lonely places along the way. On this journey, I committed to God and myself that I would strive for excellence in all that I put my hands and mind to. Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us that “Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; I am a lover of the Message Bible, and this is how it translates, “Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!” I made up my mind early in my life that the only one to trust was and is God, no matter how tough the journey got.
I have had people to tell me that I make being a higher education leader look easy. I will never say it’s easy, but I have learned that if God has graced you with a gift and purpose, others will never see your scars or struggles. I must be honest, there were moments when I questioned God about my purpose and if this
is really what I am called to do in this life. I can give full testaments of the moments when I have felt defeated, unappreciated, and unworthy in some of my positions, not simply because I am a woman, but because I am an African American woman. On the other hand, this journey has been one that has taught me humility, gratitude, and help me build and walk in my faith. It is my hope that I will be able to share some advice, strategies, stories, and a few of my favorite scriptures which I focused on to help me become a successful Christian woman leader. I hope that I can encourage, inspire, and motivate current women leaders, but importantly, the next generation of Christian woman leaders to continue to grow and walk boldly in their purpose.
Faith, Family, and Career: Oftentimes, we as women juggle the role of our careers, our families, and other competing priorities. There are times when the situation is a bit more complex. As I began to make advancements in my career, I was a single mother (divorced) with two small children who demanded much of my time as they were active in extracurricular activities. I was not surrounded by my family as I had moved away from my hometown. So, trying to find the balance and have enough time in the day was always a challenge. I wanted to be a great mother, seek advancement in my career, and further my education. I wanted to be excellent in everything that I was involved in, all while growing on my spiritual journey. I realized that I needed to be spiritually mature
