My Leadership Journey

            My leadership journey has been a series of highs and lows. I have always had an opinion about the world and my place in it. My parents were not well educated people but knew they wanted a better life for their children than the life they experienced growing up in Mississippi during the depression. They had very few material possessions so their goal was to work hard, save their money and always be prepared for a rainy day. They did that and put both my brother and me through private colleges with money they saved. We did not have student loans and because we are only 2 years apart, that meant we were both in college at the same time for two years. We appreciated their sacrifice and did not waste their money.

            After college, I did a little substitute teaching, landing a long term sub position just a few months into the school year. I was place in an elementary school in the heart of the St. Thomas housing projects. My class was second and third grade repeaters with lots of special education students. Even in 1975, they were all boys. The projects were a demographic of all African American tenants, there for the school was 100% African American. The previous teacher had been white, there had been two other white teachers and all had quit. I understood the culture of these students and maintained an orderly classroom with daily instruction. I finished out the school year but decided I wanted more than this experience had provided.

            Two of my childhood friends were passing through New Orleans on their way to new transfer jobs in California, one in San Diego and the other in L.A. Each invited me to come with them. I decided to visit the one in San Diego, since we had been friends and neighbors since we were 8 years old and in the third grade. I fell in love with the slow pace and beauty of San Diego.

            Shortly after taking in the beauty of San Diego and learning the lay of the land, I was looking for work. I put in so many applications that it made me dizzy. I decided to get an employment agency to assist me in my search. At this time I though California was truly the land of opportunity and the sky was the limit for me and any African American pursuing the “American Dream”. My first interview was Montgomery Ward’s in Grossmont Center. The agency sent me, however when I arrived and the Store Manager saw me he told his secretary to tell me the position was filled. I knew the agency would not have sent me had they been told the position was filled. I walked out of the office and headed toward the elevator perplexed when a young white woman about my age ran up to me. So he whispered softly, “go to the Mission Valley store, they still have an opening for a manager trainee”. She walked away as quickly as she had come. I did go to the Mission Valley store and I was hired that same day. I was taken under the wing of an older white man who trained and protected me like I was his daughter. He wanted me to inherit his position as Merchandising Manager. He’s dead now but will always hold a special place in my heart.                                                             

            Retail didn’t pay well and I was struggling to maintain my apartment in Point Loma and car note. I learned Pacific Telephone was hiring and immediately applied. Even though I had college degree, I was offered a position as an operator. The job paid twice as much as my current retail management position, so I took it. I moved out of operator service in a year, into a Service Representative position where I remained for almost 15 years. I was denied opportunity assignments because I hadn’t proven myself. Everyone who managed me had a high school education and felt intimidated in meetings or whenever I questioned a policy or procedure. Because of that, I became a union steward. I was good at it because I took the time to do research on the situation and actually listened to both sides of the argument. I am very proud to say I got 2 people their jobs back after being fired and countless suspensions overturned and back-pay awarded. Pretty soon the union hall was getting request specifically for me to handle the grievances for employees.   I was out of the office more than I was in the office but never given the opportunity to become “ready now” for promotion.

            Our office manager wanted to roll out the company’s business plan for the Marketing Division and gathered a group of volunteers. She wanted it to have a different flavor and not be boring. One of her managers suggested that I be asked to help because I had a good sense of humor and the rest is history. I changed the rollout into a skit using Service Reps from our office and it was hilarious. Everyone enjoyed it. We had upbeat music and a fun atmosphere and catered lunch. It was the template for each yearly rollout thereafter.

            I was then given an opportunity to interview for a temporary management position in San Ramon (northern California). I got the job. Three months turned into six months and all expenses paid by the company. I was provided a condo with weekly maid service, a car, and an expense account, my family was flown up once a month and I could fly home weekly, if I chose. Upon my return to San Diego there was a vacancy in my old office. I attempted to lobby for the position by gaining the support of the existing mangers but other people who had been visible for the past six months seemed to have an advantage over me. I took my request directly to the decision maker by emailing her my resume’ and selling myself in a voicemail to her. I got the job!

            My team of 25 Service Representatives broke sales records and won many awards. I did not forget what it was like to be in their seats. I valued their contributions, recognized them often, and was lenient when life happened. By that I mean I didn’t count a minute late as most of my peers did, I listened to their reason for not trying to sell products to a person asking them to extend the bill a few more days and not disconnect their phone service, I understood that you might need a break from the incessant incoming calls after a difficult customer. Soon I was asked to head up a two team marketing sales group. I agreed, only if I could take the team I currently managed. Everyone agreed and we made history. We were number one in the state several times and my team sold with integrity. Something almost completely unheard of in the marketing world- I never had a grievance filed against the entire time I was a manger there.

            Several years later, then Pacific Bell was acquired and several External Affairs Director positions became available. These Directors were registered Federal, State and Local lobbyist and managed the company’s grants and contribution budgets. My office and cell phones were ringing off the hook with people encouraging me to apply. Well of course there had never been an African American in this position in San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Imperial counties. I applied and was stunned when I was called for an interview. The interviews were held over a weekend and we were all told we would be notified on that Monday, if we were selected. I didn’t hear anything so I thought it was over. A week and a half later I received a call with a job offer. I was offered a starting salary $15,000 less than the published salary. I questioned the offer and explained the Director’s level was not that but X. The offer was changed to the correct amount which should have been my clue that trouble was on the horizon.

            The job was heaven until my immediate boss, the Executive Director tried to keep me in the office managing clerical staff instead of elected officials. I said I was not going to be the token Black in the department and the war was on. She made my life a living hell. She lied; she gave me the worst assignments and all of the legislators who hated the company. She even called me in New Orleans while I was on vacation and claimed I did not turn in some detailed report she fabricated. My colleagues were afraid of her because she was ruthless and would get anyone who challenged her. I called a female colleague to see if she could fax the data I needed to prepare this report but instead she and two other colleagues completed the report and placed it in my drawer so I could turn it in when I returned. I realized then that my colleagues could see what was going on. I eventually filed a formal EEO complaint against. It dragged on for almost a year. I learned after she was moved that our entire staff was interviewed and they all had the courage to tell the truth. During the investigation, I received a call from an African American woman who worked for her previously in another state and she had done the exact same things to her. I was able to share that with EEO and this young woman was also interviewed.

            In the end it, it all worked out and she was buried in another state and eventually fired for pulling the same racially motivated discriminating behavior. I had two wonderful bosses after her and one of them is still a very special personal friend. He and the company have supported two wonderful projects at my current organization to the tune of $35,000 in grants over the past three years.

            My parents were visibly different on a visit to New Orleans one Mardi Gras. After having them checked by family physicians, we learned they both had dementia. I decided to leave my position and get their affairs in order. I attempted to get my teaching credential from CSUSM but Katrina happened and their house flooded and they lost everything, as did my only sibling. After getting them safely to California, they definitely wanted to return to New Orleans. They had always been planners and because I left my job to get their affairs in order I knew everything. They had both homeowners and flood insurance. So I withdrew from school and moved to New Orleans, renovated the house they still owned that I grew up in, moved them back into it while we rebuilt their house that flooded. I returned to San Diego a year and three months later and applied the Executive Director position advertised in my church bulletin. I went through three interviews, became a finalist, presented a PowerPoint plan of moving the organization forward and got the job.

            My leadership journey has been filled with roadblocks, highs and lows. I’ve learned that you should never give up on your dreams or the humanity of good people. I have learned that good people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and nationalities. I have developed a spirit of optimism that if you try hard enough you can make a difference in the lives of others. Because of my struggles, my kids say I am their hero and that matters.