I have a question for you at what stage in your life did you decide that you
in your life did you decide that you
in your life did you decide that you weren’t enough think about that question
weren’t enough think about that question
weren’t enough think about that question for a moment and I would like to tell
for a moment and I would like to tell
for a moment and I would like to tell you a few stories three in particular
you a few stories three in particular
you a few stories three in particular that navigated me through that journey a
that navigated me through that journey a
that navigated me through that journey a story about a dream a story about a
story about a dream a story about a
story about a dream a story about a death and a story about a child that
death and a story about a child that
death and a story about a child that ultimately led me to recognizing the
ultimately led me to recognizing the
ultimately led me to recognizing the power of authenticity so I would have
power of authenticity so I would have
power of authenticity so I would have this recurring dream I’ll call it a
this recurring dream I’ll call it a
this recurring dream I’ll call it a dream but really what it was what was
dream but really what it was what was
dream but really what it was what was this full body mind spirit experience
this full body mind spirit experience
this full body mind spirit experience that occurred while I was in deep sleep
that occurred while I was in deep sleep
that occurred while I was in deep sleep my mouth was full of stuff and this
my mouth was full of stuff and this
my mouth was full of stuff and this would happen at the most inopportune
would happen at the most inopportune
would happen at the most inopportune moment when a question had been asked
moment when a question had been asked
moment when a question had been asked that I needed to respond to when a
that I needed to respond to when a
that I needed to respond to when a decision had to be made and verbalized
decision had to be made and verbalized
decision had to be made and verbalized that was life or death when someone that
that was life or death when someone that
that was life or death when someone that I admired and looked up to like Michelle
I admired and looked up to like Michelle
I admired and looked up to like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey and yes I dream
Obama and Oprah Winfrey and yes I dream
Obama and Oprah Winfrey and yes I dream a lot about those two fierce females
a lot about those two fierce females
a lot about those two fierce females asked me a question and I had the answer
asked me a question and I had the answer
asked me a question and I had the answer the perfect answer for them the perfect
the perfect answer for them the perfect
the perfect answer for them the perfect response but for some reason in those
response but for some reason in those
response but for some reason in those moments where a response was required of
moments where a response was required of
moments where a response was required of me my mouth was full and what it felt
me my mouth was full and what it felt
me my mouth was full and what it felt like was that I had I’ll call it sticky
like was that I had I’ll call it sticky
like was that I had I’ll call it sticky chewing gum in my mouth and I would try
chewing gum in my mouth and I would try
chewing gum in my mouth and I would try to pull out this chewing gum from my
to pull out this chewing gum from my
to pull out this chewing gum from my mouth and the more I try to pull it out
mouth and the more I try to pull it out
mouth and the more I try to pull it out the more it filled my mouth I want you
the more it filled my mouth I want you
the more it filled my mouth I want you to picture a clown with one of those
to picture a clown with one of those
to picture a clown with one of those tissue boxes and she’s tugging at the
tissue boxes and she’s tugging at the
tissue boxes and she’s tugging at the tissues and the more she talks the
tissues and the more she talks the
tissues and the more she talks the longer that tissue line of colored
longer that tissue line of colored
longer that tissue line of colored tissues becomes that was me but I wasn’t
tissues becomes that was me but I wasn’t
tissues becomes that was me but I wasn’t smiling I wasn’t laughing
smiling I wasn’t laughing
smiling I wasn’t laughing I was actually embarrassed and
I was actually embarrassed and
I was actually embarrassed and frustrated and oppressed even in my body
frustrated and oppressed even in my body
frustrated and oppressed even in my body in my mind and my spirit because
in my mind and my spirit because
in my mind and my spirit because instinctively every single time I woke
instinctively every single time I woke
instinctively every single time I woke up from that dream from that experienced
up from that dream from that experienced
up from that dream from that experienced I knew in my gut and in my spirit that
I knew in my gut and in my spirit that
I knew in my gut and in my spirit that had been hindered from being verbalized
had been hindered from being verbalized
had been hindered from being verbalized was important but it had life-changing
was important but it had life-changing
was important but it had life-changing power but it had influential abilities
power but it had influential abilities
power but it had influential abilities that it had the ability to impact and so
that it had the ability to impact and so
that it had the ability to impact and so I had failed can you imagine going
I had failed can you imagine going
I had failed can you imagine going through this experience over and over
through this experience over and over
through this experience over and over again not days not months not years I’m
again not days not months not years I’m
again not days not months not years I’m embarrassed to say how long this dream
embarrassed to say how long this dream
embarrassed to say how long this dream experience occurred a long long time
experience occurred a long long time
experience occurred a long long time what’s interesting is when it stopped I
what’s interesting is when it stopped I
what’s interesting is when it stopped I am sitting on a plane on a runway Denver
am sitting on a plane on a runway Denver
am sitting on a plane on a runway Denver Colorado International Airport
Colorado International Airport
Colorado International Airport my brother’s ashes in an urn on my lap
my brother’s ashes in an urn on my lap
my brother’s ashes in an urn on my lap he passed away rather suddenly barely 30
he passed away rather suddenly barely 30
he passed away rather suddenly barely 30 years old and I have another out-of-body
years old and I have another out-of-body
years old and I have another out-of-body experience a conversation between myself
experience a conversation between myself
experience a conversation between myself and the spirit of my brother as if time
and the spirit of my brother as if time
and the spirit of my brother as if time Stood Still and I’m in this interaction
Stood Still and I’m in this interaction
Stood Still and I’m in this interaction in my body and I asked myself a question
in my body and I asked myself a question
in my body and I asked myself a question so if this was you in the urn would you
so if this was you in the urn would you
so if this was you in the urn would you be pleased with what you had achieved
be pleased with what you had achieved
be pleased with what you had achieved with your life would you have leveraged
with your life would you have leveraged
with your life would you have leveraged every opportunity you had up until that
every opportunity you had up until that
every opportunity you had up until that moment to do the thing that you were
moment to do the thing that you were
moment to do the thing that you were created to do to give in the ways that
created to do to give in the ways that
created to do to give in the ways that only you could give to add value in the
only you could give to add value in the
only you could give to add value in the ways that only you could add value
ways that only you could add value
ways that only you could add value because apparently life happens and
because apparently life happens and
because apparently life happens and death happens and you can’t see it
death happens and you can’t see it
death happens and you can’t see it coming the answer was a resounding no
coming the answer was a resounding no
coming the answer was a resounding no and it wasn’t because I didn’t love the
and it wasn’t because I didn’t love the
and it wasn’t because I didn’t love the work that I was doing I had actually
work that I was doing I had actually
work that I was doing I had actually grown up in the performing arts world my
grown up in the performing arts world my
grown up in the performing arts world my love for media and the arts was
love for media and the arts was
love for media and the arts was introduced to me at seven years old I
introduced to me at seven years old I
introduced to me at seven years old I was playing Mary Mother of Jesus rocking
was playing Mary Mother of Jesus rocking
was playing Mary Mother of Jesus rocking baby Jesus while the Shepherd’s watched
baby Jesus while the Shepherd’s watched
baby Jesus while the Shepherd’s watched on live television at seven in my home
on live television at seven in my home
on live television at seven in my home country Kenya
country Kenya
country Kenya at 15 in high school I was writing
at 15 in high school I was writing
at 15 in high school I was writing performing in and directing
performing in and directing
performing in and directing award-winning theatrical performances by
award-winning theatrical performances by
award-winning theatrical performances by 21 I was a presentational speaker and
21 I was a presentational speaker and
21 I was a presentational speaker and anchor at a television network it was
anchor at a television network it was
anchor at a television network it was clear to those that knew me and were
clear to those that knew me and were
clear to those that knew me and were around me that I was meant to be on some
around me that I was meant to be on some
around me that I was meant to be on some sort of platform using my voice to
sort of platform using my voice to
sort of platform using my voice to influence mindsets and to impact lives
influence mindsets and to impact lives
influence mindsets and to impact lives something happened though along the way
something happened though along the way
something happened though along the way at that point in my life
at that point in my life
at that point in my life that caused me to veer off track and
that caused me to veer off track and
that caused me to veer off track and head in a very different direction
head in a very different direction
head in a very different direction perhaps it was the decision that I made
perhaps it was the decision that I made
perhaps it was the decision that I made to go to graduate school in something
to go to graduate school in something
to go to graduate school in something and study something that was totally
and study something that was totally
and study something that was totally different than perhaps what I would have
different than perhaps what I would have
different than perhaps what I would have decided to study
decided to study
decided to study had I known what I know now about the
had I known what I know now about the
had I known what I know now about the reason why I am here suffice it to say I
reason why I am here suffice it to say I
reason why I am here suffice it to say I ended up working in international
ended up working in international
ended up working in international development and then in corporate
development and then in corporate
development and then in corporate America doing a lot of meaningful things
America doing a lot of meaningful things
America doing a lot of meaningful things but not necessarily the things that lit
but not necessarily the things that lit
but not necessarily the things that lit me up that I was truly passionate about
me up that I was truly passionate about
me up that I was truly passionate about the reasons why I was here and so in
the reasons why I was here and so in
the reasons why I was here and so in that moment as I’m having this
that moment as I’m having this
that moment as I’m having this interaction this conversation with my
interaction this conversation with my
interaction this conversation with my brother who has passed away and myself I
brother who has passed away and myself I
brother who has passed away and myself I realized that perhaps fear had something
realized that perhaps fear had something
realized that perhaps fear had something to do with it fear of being
to do with it fear of being
to do with it fear of being misunderstood fear of being judged fear
misunderstood fear of being judged fear
misunderstood fear of being judged fear of not necessarily fulfilling my utmost
of not necessarily fulfilling my utmost
of not necessarily fulfilling my utmost potential that had driven some of the
potential that had driven some of the
potential that had driven some of the decisions that I had made and in that
decisions that I had made and in that
decisions that I had made and in that moment I made a decision that going
moment I made a decision that going
moment I made a decision that going forward every single thing that I did
forward every single thing that I did
forward every single thing that I did would be motivated and driven by passion
would be motivated and driven by passion
would be motivated and driven by passion and purpose I didn’t know what that was
and purpose I didn’t know what that was
and purpose I didn’t know what that was going to look like but I did know that I
going to look like but I did know that I
going to look like but I did know that I needed to make a very big change as it
needed to make a very big change as it
needed to make a very big change as it related to the everyday work that I did
related to the everyday work that I did
related to the everyday work that I did I quit my high flying corporate job and
I quit my high flying corporate job and
I quit my high flying corporate job and ventured to pursue something
ventured to pursue something
ventured to pursue something entrepreneurial and something that was
entrepreneurial and something that was
entrepreneurial and something that was truly anchored in my innate talents and
truly anchored in my innate talents and
truly anchored in my innate talents and gifts and then I became a mom and it’s
gifts and then I became a mom and it’s
gifts and then I became a mom and it’s quite interesting how children will
quite interesting how children will
quite interesting how children will quite literally
quite literally
quite literally shift your view of the world and of
shift your view of the world and of
shift your view of the world and of yourself and what truly matters
yourself and what truly matters
yourself and what truly matters my daughter was barely four years old
my daughter was barely four years old
my daughter was barely four years old when she went through the identity
when she went through the identity
when she went through the identity crisis what used to be fun times relaxed
crisis what used to be fun times relaxed
crisis what used to be fun times relaxed times of getting ready for school and
times of getting ready for school and
times of getting ready for school and preparing for social interactions with
preparing for social interactions with
preparing for social interactions with little friends at playschool McCann
little friends at playschool McCann
little friends at playschool McCann became experiences of Tears and a
became experiences of Tears and a
became experiences of Tears and a struggle that just didn’t make any sense
struggle that just didn’t make any sense
struggle that just didn’t make any sense to me till Zara my daughter says to me
to me till Zara my daughter says to me
to me till Zara my daughter says to me Mommy
Mommy
Mommy why don’t you do my hair like this and
why don’t you do my hair like this and
why don’t you do my hair like this and she makes this really interesting motion
she makes this really interesting motion
she makes this really interesting motion that didn’t make any sense to me till we
that didn’t make any sense to me till we
that didn’t make any sense to me till we navigated discussion and ultimately I
navigated discussion and ultimately I
navigated discussion and ultimately I realized that my child was struggling
realized that my child was struggling
realized that my child was struggling with her self-image she didn’t like her
with her self-image she didn’t like her
with her self-image she didn’t like her nappy hair her kinky curly locks they
nappy hair her kinky curly locks they
nappy hair her kinky curly locks they represented not beautiful in her mind’s
represented not beautiful in her mind’s
represented not beautiful in her mind’s eye this is a four barely four year old
eye this is a four barely four year old
eye this is a four barely four year old girl that was questioning her beauty and
girl that was questioning her beauty and
girl that was questioning her beauty and her self-worth based on how she felt she
her self-worth based on how she felt she
her self-worth based on how she felt she compared to her little friends that were
compared to her little friends that were
compared to her little friends that were different from her I ultimately ended up
different from her I ultimately ended up
different from her I ultimately ended up having conversations with other women
having conversations with other women
having conversations with other women who like me had daughters about Zara’s
who like me had daughters about Zara’s
who like me had daughters about Zara’s age and discovered that many of them had
age and discovered that many of them had
age and discovered that many of them had had similar conversations if it wasn’t
had similar conversations if it wasn’t
had similar conversations if it wasn’t about the hair it was about the size of
about the hair it was about the size of
about the hair it was about the size of her hips if it wasn’t that it was about
her hips if it wasn’t that it was about
her hips if it wasn’t that it was about just different aspects of a girl’s
just different aspects of a girl’s
just different aspects of a girl’s physicality that influenced how she felt
physicality that influenced how she felt
physicality that influenced how she felt about the place that she had in in the
about the place that she had in in the
about the place that she had in in the world and how she compared to her
world and how she compared to her
world and how she compared to her friends and those peers and influencers
friends and those peers and influencers
friends and those peers and influencers in her life I ultimately took to social
in her life I ultimately took to social
in her life I ultimately took to social media because I wanted to understand if
media because I wanted to understand if
media because I wanted to understand if this was an issue that was bigger than
this was an issue that was bigger than
this was an issue that was bigger than just Zara and I on our neighbours and my
just Zara and I on our neighbours and my
just Zara and I on our neighbours and my little network of friends and I was
little network of friends and I was
little network of friends and I was blown away by what I heard from more
blown away by what I heard from more
blown away by what I heard from more than four hundred almost 400 women
than four hundred almost 400 women
than four hundred almost 400 women situated all over the world different
situated all over the world different
situated all over the world different backgrounds different walks of life
backgrounds different walks of life
backgrounds different walks of life different socializations the one
different socializations the one
different socializations the one similarity being that they had a girl
similarity being that they had a girl
similarity being that they had a girl child in their life that was aged
child in their life that was aged
child in their life that was aged between 3 and 12 the stories that they
between 3 and 12 the stories that they
between 3 and 12 the stories that they share
share
share were heart-wrenching things like I can’t
were heart-wrenching things like I can’t
were heart-wrenching things like I can’t remember the last time she ate a full
remember the last time she ate a full
remember the last time she ate a full meal
meal
meal she’s been starving herself I worry that
she’s been starving herself I worry that
she’s been starving herself I worry that she does not dream big enough for
she does not dream big enough for
she does not dream big enough for herself she stuck on a specific
herself she stuck on a specific
herself she stuck on a specific perspective on of who she is and what is
perspective on of who she is and what is
perspective on of who she is and what is possible for her I’m really concerned
possible for her I’m really concerned
possible for her I’m really concerned that she’ll try and hurt herself again
because she doesn’t fit in can you
because she doesn’t fit in can you imagine that no mother should have to
imagine that no mother should have to
imagine that no mother should have to suffer the loss of a child to suicide as
suffer the loss of a child to suicide as
suffer the loss of a child to suicide as a result of them not fitting in and so
a result of them not fitting in and so
a result of them not fitting in and so it became quite apparent to me that this
it became quite apparent to me that this
it became quite apparent to me that this was a much bigger issue and as I spoke
was a much bigger issue and as I spoke
was a much bigger issue and as I spoke to the women themselves grown women
to the women themselves grown women
to the women themselves grown women mature experienced educated women about
mature experienced educated women about
mature experienced educated women about what kept them up at night when they
what kept them up at night when they
what kept them up at night when they thought about themselves I realized some
thought about themselves I realized some
thought about themselves I realized some of the issues I was struggling with as
of the issues I was struggling with as
of the issues I was struggling with as an individual they were struggling with
an individual they were struggling with
an individual they were struggling with as well we are so hard on ourselves we
as well we are so hard on ourselves we
as well we are so hard on ourselves we put ourselves down for all the wrong
put ourselves down for all the wrong
put ourselves down for all the wrong reasons we nitpick we there’s always
reasons we nitpick we there’s always
reasons we nitpick we there’s always something to change something about us
something to change something about us
something to change something about us that is imperfect that we dwell upon and
that is imperfect that we dwell upon and
that is imperfect that we dwell upon and the issue became that we relate our
the issue became that we relate our
the issue became that we relate our value and our self-worth to elements
value and our self-worth to elements
value and our self-worth to elements that have nothing to do with what is
that have nothing to do with what is
that have nothing to do with what is beautiful and powerful about us and so
beautiful and powerful about us and so
beautiful and powerful about us and so that is what put me on the path to do
that is what put me on the path to do
that is what put me on the path to do something for girls like my daughter for
something for girls like my daughter for
something for girls like my daughter for women like myself and ourselves all over
women like myself and ourselves all over
women like myself and ourselves all over the world and I chose to tackle this
the world and I chose to tackle this
the world and I chose to tackle this issue from the perspective of those
issue from the perspective of those
issue from the perspective of those initial interactions that girls deal
initial interactions that girls deal
initial interactions that girls deal with play creating immersive interactive
with play creating immersive interactive
with play creating immersive interactive truly inclusive play experiences that
truly inclusive play experiences that
truly inclusive play experiences that are anchored in content and ideas and
are anchored in content and ideas and
are anchored in content and ideas and information that really equips girls all
information that really equips girls all
information that really equips girls all over the world to recognize what their
over the world to recognize what their
over the world to recognize what their value is to recognize that they are
value is to recognize that they are
value is to recognize that they are fully
fully
fully equipped innately equipped to have
equipped innately equipped to have
equipped innately equipped to have impact on the world helping girls and
impact on the world helping girls and
impact on the world helping girls and women realize that those qualities and
women realize that those qualities and
women realize that those qualities and those characteristics and those
those characteristics and those
those characteristics and those attributes about themselves that perhaps
attributes about themselves that perhaps
attributes about themselves that perhaps set them apart make them feel other make
set them apart make them feel other make
set them apart make them feel other make them feel different that that is where
them feel different that that is where
them feel different that that is where the opportunity for unique perspective
the opportunity for unique perspective
the opportunity for unique perspective for joy for fulfillment for true impact
for joy for fulfillment for true impact
for joy for fulfillment for true impact on the world meaningful impact on the
on the world meaningful impact on the
on the world meaningful impact on the world lies that that difference is in
world lies that that difference is in
world lies that that difference is in fact a superpower and that being honor
fact a superpower and that being honor
fact a superpower and that being honor honoring yourself surrendering to the
honoring yourself surrendering to the
honoring yourself surrendering to the person that you really are that’s where
person that you really are that’s where
person that you really are that’s where the power begins that’s where the
the power begins that’s where the
the power begins that’s where the freedom for light and laughter and joy
freedom for light and laughter and joy
freedom for light and laughter and joy and peace and fulfillment that’s where
and peace and fulfillment that’s where
and peace and fulfillment that’s where it arrives that that’s where it begins
it arrives that that’s where it begins
it arrives that that’s where it begins and so this is the challenge to all of
and so this is the challenge to all of
and so this is the challenge to all of us today the vision and the mission is
us today the vision and the mission is
us today the vision and the mission is so much bigger than Who I am the
so much bigger than Who I am the
so much bigger than Who I am the question is at what point in your life
question is at what point in your life
question is at what point in your life did you decide that you were not enough
did you decide that you were not enough
did you decide that you were not enough just the way you are I challenge you to
just the way you are I challenge you to
just the way you are I challenge you to reconsider that erroneous mindset those
reconsider that erroneous mindset those
reconsider that erroneous mindset those unrealistic ideals and standards that
unrealistic ideals and standards that
unrealistic ideals and standards that perhaps you strive to live toward and up
perhaps you strive to live toward and up
perhaps you strive to live toward and up to and instead recognize that your
to and instead recognize that your
to and instead recognize that your superpower lies within its the
superpower lies within its the
superpower lies within its the compassion it’s the tenacity
compassion it’s the tenacity
compassion it’s the tenacity it’s the resilience it’s the drive
it’s the resilience it’s the drive
it’s the resilience it’s the drive it’s the selflessness it’s the
it’s the selflessness it’s the
it’s the selflessness it’s the brilliance those elements are innately
brilliance those elements are innately
brilliance those elements are innately in you those are your superpower so be
in you those are your superpower so be
in you those are your superpower so be bold be brilliant and be you thank you
bold be brilliant and be you thank you
bold be brilliant and be you thank you you
”
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