Amplified Voices | International Women’s Day with Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Celebrating International Women's Day with Luvvie Ajayi Jones
LUVVIE AJAYI JONES | NYTIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, SPEAKER, AND PODCAST HOST | SHE/HER
BR is excited to celebrate International Women's Day with Luvvie Ajayi Jones, a three-time New York Times bestselling author, speaker and entrepreneur. Read our conversation with Luvvie about finding courage, inspiration, and what it means to be a "Professional Troublemaker."
What does it mean for women to be "Professional Troublemakers?"
To be Professional Troublemakers, it means we are committed to elevating the rooms we’re in and disrupting the status quo for the greater good in the most thoughtful ways we can. It means we are speaking up even when it’s difficult, and using our powers to bring truth into our work.
What advice would you give to women today?
I would love us to take up space as women in this world that wasn’t built to honor us. To “be too much” is to understand and celebrate our superpowers. It’s to know that what makes us different makes us stand out and we need to use it in service of ourselves and the greater good. And that really starts with knowing that we deserve to walk in any room as our full selves. Because that in itself is a revolution. All the systems that tell us we aren’t enough are lying to us. All the ways we’ve been convinced that we are only acceptable when we create representations of ourselves are wrong. So let’s take up space, without apology.
What does the idea of power mean to you?
To me, power is the ability to act. It’s that simple. It can be big, or small but it’s the ability to make choices, take action, in any room you’re in, in your life, in the world. We have to recognize what power we have, because of our privileges, and sometimes in spite of our margins. How we can lead by example is by showing up with our voices, ready to use them to speak hard truths. Whether it’s by making a call to vouch for someone who wouldn’t otherwise have access or challenging an idea we don’t think feels inclusive. Our presence wherever we are is an opportunity wield our power, which I believe is an infinite resource.
How do you advise women to reframe their relationship with failure?
To be a person of impact in this world is to fail many times and keep going, better than ever before. Failure truly is the greatest teacher because in the times I’ve fallen on my face, I’ve learned something necessary for the next season and level of my life. For women, failure can be more expensive because we’re often on uphill climbs. However, if we only make moves that are guaranteed to work, it means we aren’t taking risks, which means our rewards are also limited. We end up creating ceilings for ourselves that are shorter than the glass ceilings that we’re trying to shatter.
Which women inspire you?
I’m endlessly inspired by women I know. I’m surrounded by peer mentors and women who are lateral to me, who teach me everyday what it’s like to be purpose-filled, successful and integrity-led. Truly, the women in The Power Guild are women I chose because I deeply respect them and look to them to walk side by side with me, as a village of badasses. Those women are: Alencia Johnson, Cassidy Blackwell, Claire Soares, Eunique Jones Gibson, Felicia Leatherwood, Jessica Nabongo, Jotaka Eaddy, Jovian Zayne, Kailei Carr, Kellee Edwards, Kimberly Blackwell, LaToia Jones, Naima Cochrane, Stephanie Young, Tiffany R. Warren, and Watchen Nyanue.
What does legacy mean to you? And what do you want your legacy to be?
Legacy is the imprint of our lives on the world when we leave. In what ways did we leave it better than we found it? When I take my last breath, I want people to feel and say, “She did her part. And job well done.”
What did you dream of doing when you were a little girl? What advice would you give that girl today?
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a doctor, because I was told I was smart and it was heavily suggested to me. What I would tell that girl is “honor yourself and let your dreams be yours alone. Disappoint whoever you need to, because as long as you honor yourself, your purpose and your God, you’re doing okay.” I would also let her know that her wildest dreams will be blown out the water. To revel in gratitude. That’s actually what inspired me to write my first children’s book Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, to not only affirm who I was as Little Luvvie but also affirm today's littles too.
Celebrating International Women's Day with Luvvie Ajayi Jones
LUVVIE AJAYI JONES | NYTIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, SPEAKER, AND PODCAST HOST | SHE/HER
BR is excited to celebrate International Women's Day with Luvvie Ajayi Jones, a three-time New York Times bestselling author, speaker and entrepreneur. Read our conversation with Luvvie about finding courage, inspiration, and what it means to be a "Professional Troublemaker."
What does it mean for women to be "Professional Troublemakers?"
To be Professional Troublemakers, it means we are committed to elevating the rooms we’re in and disrupting the status quo for the greater good in the most thoughtful ways we can. It means we are speaking up even when it’s difficult, and using our powers to bring truth into our work.
What advice would you give to women today?
I would love us to take up space as women in this world that wasn’t built to honor us. To “be too much” is to understand and celebrate our superpowers. It’s to know that what makes us different makes us stand out and we need to use it in service of ourselves and the greater good. And that really starts with knowing that we deserve to walk in any room as our full selves. Because that in itself is a revolution. All the systems that tell us we aren’t enough are lying to us. All the ways we’ve been convinced that we are only acceptable when we create representations of ourselves are wrong. So let’s take up space, without apology.
What does the idea of power mean to you?
To me, power is the ability to act. It’s that simple. It can be big, or small but it’s the ability to make choices, take action, in any room you’re in, in your life, in the world. We have to recognize what power we have, because of our privileges, and sometimes in spite of our margins. How we can lead by example is by showing up with our voices, ready to use them to speak hard truths. Whether it’s by making a call to vouch for someone who wouldn’t otherwise have access or challenging an idea we don’t think feels inclusive. Our presence wherever we are is an opportunity wield our power, which I believe is an infinite resource.
How do you advise women to reframe their relationship with failure?
To be a person of impact in this world is to fail many times and keep going, better than ever before. Failure truly is the greatest teacher because in the times I’ve fallen on my face, I’ve learned something necessary for the next season and level of my life. For women, failure can be more expensive because we’re often on uphill climbs. However, if we only make moves that are guaranteed to work, it means we aren’t taking risks, which means our rewards are also limited. We end up creating ceilings for ourselves that are shorter than the glass ceilings that we’re trying to shatter.
Which women inspire you?
I’m endlessly inspired by women I know. I’m surrounded by peer mentors and women who are lateral to me, who teach me everyday what it’s like to be purpose-filled, successful and integrity-led. Truly, the women in The Power Guild are women I chose because I deeply respect them and look to them to walk side by side with me, as a village of badasses. Those women are: Alencia Johnson, Cassidy Blackwell, Claire Soares, Eunique Jones Gibson, Felicia Leatherwood, Jessica Nabongo, Jotaka Eaddy, Jovian Zayne, Kailei Carr, Kellee Edwards, Kimberly Blackwell, LaToia Jones, Naima Cochrane, Stephanie Young, Tiffany R. Warren, and Watchen Nyanue.
What does legacy mean to you? And what do you want your legacy to be?
Legacy is the imprint of our lives on the world when we leave. In what ways did we leave it better than we found it? When I take my last breath, I want people to feel and say “She did her part. And job well done.”
What did you dream of doing when you were a little girl? What advice would you give that girl today?
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a doctor, because I was told I was smart and it was heavily suggested to me. What I would tell that girl is “honor yourself and let your dreams be yours alone. Disappoint whoever you need to, because as long as you honor yourself, your purpose and your God, you’re doing okay.” I would also let her know that her wildest dreams will be blown out the water. To revel in gratitude. That’s actually what inspired me to write my first children’s book Little Troublemaker Makes a Mess, to not only affirm who I was as Little Luvvie but also affirm today's littles too.
