On the Blog: IWD
ON BEING SEEN
Getting vulnerable with our JB Fam
We caught up with some inspirational women to honor International Women’s Day this month. With vulnerability being top of mind in many spaces (Meghan and Harry's Oprah Interview, President Joe Biden’s winning campaign, Glennon Doyle's Untamed, etc), we thought it apropos to ask some of our JENNY BIRD fam about vulnerability, what they’re choosing to challenge in 2021 (this year’s IWD theme), and more.
Sarah Nicole Landry
Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host
JB: What advice would you give your younger self about being vulnerable?
"I love the saying ‘Once a secret is told, it loses its power.’ Sometimes that’s what being vulnerable is all about; taking apart what has a hold on you, and peeling back the layers to which they hide.”
Dina Nur Satti
Ceramic Artist
JB: The theme of this year’s IWD is #ChoosetoChallenge. What do you choose to challenge in 2021?
“I'm challenging myself to break down some of my limiting beliefs around what I can achieve. Sometimes it's so easy to stay small and comfortable, but I want to push myself to go for the things that seemed impossible to achieve just a year ago.”
Alex Cunningham
Writer & Host: 'This Family Tree Podcast'
JB: The theme of this year’s IWD is #ChoosetoChallenge. What do you choose to challenge in 2021?
"I choose to challenge my own notions of womanhood and raise two daughters who aren’t bound by the same societal pressures that I was. I choose to make conscious decisions that will help impact them positively. I want them to become inclusive, anti-racist, kind, and aware of the power they wield.”
Shashi Behl
Owner & buyer
JB: The theme of this year’s IWD is #ChoosetoChallenge. What do you choose to challenge in 2021?
"To challenge the limits and labels we put on ourselves and others. I hope one day we do not need qualifiers such as 'female leader' or 'BIPOC leader'—that we are leaders with an equal voice, and there is respect for the diversity that we all bring to the table.”
Kimberly Lewis
Owner & Buyer
JB: The theme of this year’s IWD is #ChoosetoChallenge. What do you choose to challenge in 2021?
“Myself and others. We can all do better in so many ways. There is a lot of pain and devastation around us. We all need to do the work to make a difference and bring about the necessary change so our communities and nation can heal.”
DeAnna Rivers
Style Blogger & Author
JB: Give us an example of when you were brave enough to be vulnerable?
"In June 2020, there was a lot of unrest around racial issues that eventually came to a head. I feel like I never expressed my true feelings about things because I hadn’t sat down and really processed my feelings. At that time, my mentor really encouraged me to share my thoughts on the situation because it could help others. I was really nervous to share because I wasn’t sure how anyone would take it, but I wrote a blog post and also shared a preview of the blog post by posting a video on Instagram explaining the post instead of a perfectly curated photo. It definitely put me out of my comfort zone but I learned that you become way more relatable when you’re vulnerable. "
Nana AgyemanG
CEO & Founder
JB: What advice would you give your younger self?
“I got this amazing quote from Gabrielle Union when I interviewed her. Don’t wait for someone else to give you a seat at their table, create your own table. It really means, don’t’ wait for those opportunities, create your own opportunities, start that business that’s been on your mind, that side hustle, just go do it. I’ve made it my everyday mission to continue being the boss.”
Mosha Lundström Halbert
Editor, Entrepreneur & Co-founder @thermakota
Advocate @15percentpledge
JB: Give us an example of when you were brave enough to be vulnerable?
“When I took it upon myself to audit the Black and Indigenous-owned brands of Canada’s major retailers, with the help of some journalism master’s students. We published the findings in an op-ed I wrote for The Toronto Star. It might have burned some bridges, but I believe so strongly in the work of my friend Aurora James and her 15 Percent Pledge organization, which advocates to have store shelves better reflect the diverse population in the US and Canada. Indigo was the first Canadian retailer to take the Pledge, so it was well worth the ruffled feathers. As a privileged white woman, it’s always been important to me to open up opportunities to more diverse talents through my work.”