Multi-America Women Represent!

Let me tell you a story of a little Afghan-American girl who had the moxie to dream of becoming a business CEO. In elementary school, she was asked to draw a picture of what she wanted to be when she grew up. The little girl drew a picture of her grown-up self wearing a power suit (black jacket, matching knee length skirt, black briefcase, and red stilettos, of course). She proudly shared the picture with her classmates, teachers, and family. This little girl knew what she wanted but she was sheltered from reality by the cloak of her childhood.

Fast forward 30 years, and while I may be wearing the black suit and red heels when I want to make a power statement in a boardroom, the journey was more convoluted than I ever believed possible. I didn't grow up knowing many influential business women leaders. Even more disappointing, I didn't see women of various racial and ethnic groups leading the way by example. Forbes 500 list of CEOs always featured men or white women, and I began to lose the vision of the business woman I wanted to become.

While women in America have generally made progress in areas such as business, education, and politics, we must face the fact that we are still underrepresented in all areas of society. When you drill down to look at the numbers of women of color or ethnic minorities, the numbers become disheartening. The frustrated little Afghan-American girl inside of me tugged at my skirt and asked "Why is this happening?" As I began to formulate the response to my childhood self, the answer was not clear. In fact, I was facing the biggest challenge of my life, and I hadn't realized it. I was facing ME and all my imperfections.

I am here to tell you, that the source of everyone's super-hero power is their story. After years of self-reflection, embracing the imperfect, and adopting a growth mindset, I was able to face my childhood self with an answer. Women from foreign-born families and various ethnic cultures living in America have been consumed with a full-blown identity crisis. Our challenges are unique, because we are in a constant state of navigation between multiple worlds, believing we have to belong somewhere to validate ourselves. The hyphenated American identity balances thousands of years of history, race, culture, and religion, alongside the expectations of a being a modern American.

We do not fit exclusively in ANY world, and are often guilted, shamed, and blamed for not living up to expectations. The result? Exhaustion, loneliness, feeling stuck, and the inability to make decisions that can help us forge ahead. We are light years behind women who are more secure in their identity, and the data proves it.

My call of action to Multi-American women with diverse ethnic backgrounds and women of color is embrace the dual-identity and the navigation challenges that come with it. We are both American and the result of the beautiful heritage that runs through our blood and the color of our skin.

Imagine a world where Multi-American women are leaders in their respective industries. We could be solving business or social problems in unique and compassionate ways. If we want a fighting chance to bring systematic equity to this world, we must believe the change begins with our own selves and enjoy the journey of living in between cultures and worlds.

Shahira Qudrat

Cross-Cultural Leadership Guide and Consultant for Multi-American Women

ShahiraQ.com