It's important to be an ally. You don't have to be a black woman to think we should have more black women in tech.
Bozoma Saint JohnRead
Because my husband, Peter, died young, I've already faced the scariest thing in my life. Now I live out the dreams for both of us.
Interpretation
Facing loss can be terrifying, but it can also empower us to pursue dreams that honor those we've lost.
This quote expresses the profound courage that comes from experiencing the death of a loved one, in this case, a spouse. The speaker, having confronted the ultimate fear of losing her husband, has resolved to live fully and chase the dreams they both held dear, turning her grief into motivation and strength to honor his memory.
In practice
In a speech about resilience, this quote could inspire others dealing with loss.
It's important to be an ally. You don't have to be a black woman to think we should have more black women in tech.
The number of African Americans in Silicon Valley is dismal. It's not up to one company - it's up to the entire industry to make sure that we are moving the conversation forward. Sometimes those walls of competition need to come down so we can move the entire industry forward.
Being a black woman in America and the world and in corporate situations is something to be celebrated.
Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can bring full ideas and the wholeness of your unique abilities.
Even though society has come a long way in correcting the inequalities between men and women in the workplace, it still has to be said that women are oftentimes subconsciously playing to the gender roles which we are taught from birth.
Live today as if you don't have tomorrow: my husband was diagnosed and killed by cancer within six months.
The diagnosis was immediate: Masses matting the lungs and deforming the spine. Cancer. In my neurosurgical training, I had reviewed hundreds of scans for fellow doctors to see if surgery offered any hope. I'd scribble in the chart 'Widely metastatic disease - no role for surgery,' and move on. But this scan was different: It was my own.
I don't mean go out and get violent; but at the same time you should never be nonviolent unless you run into some nonviolence. I'm nonviolent with those who are nonviolent with me. But when you drop that violence on me, then you've made me go insane, and I'm not responsible for what I do.
The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.
I never question God. Sometimes I say, 'Why me? Why do I have such a hard life? Why do I have this disease? Why do I have siblings who died?' But then I think and say, 'Why not me?'
What I find powerful is a person with the confidence to be her own self.
Come to the edge.' 'We can't. We're afraid.' 'Come to the edge.' 'We can't. We will fall!' 'Come to the edge.' And they came. And he pushed them. And they flew.
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