More Perfect Union’s Post

Greetings, LinkedIn, As promised, this is my monthly fellowship update, post 4 of 12. But this is different from my typical professional update. In the professional spaces that I'm in, I often hear about #imposter #syndrome, but I want to take this opportunity to speak about my struggle with #survivor's #guilt. I've explained that I'm not your average college graduate, and my austerity comes from my upbringing and experiences in the streets. I'm a burgeoning Black male professional in Atlanta with no ties to any #HBCU, #Black #fraternity, or #Black #organization. I didn't graduate from a known university in the state. Yet, most Black male professionals I work with can't say the same. It never fails; people underestimate my intelligence because of my tattoos and accent, but I know how to use that to my advantage. I don't speak better than most, but I listen, write, comprehend, and work harder. When I'm in these professional spaces, the last thing I think about is what the other people in the room think about me because they are RIGHT nine times out of 10. Yes, I'm a Country, Street ***** who's blessed to have a degree instead of a felony, and the people I grew up around have to dream and live through me. See, survivor's guilt is a complex and often misunderstood emotion that can affect anyone, including white-collar professionals like myself. As someone who has achieved a certain level of success throughout this journey, I sometimes struggle with guilt for having more opportunities than those from where I'm from, especially when I think about the hardships my family and peers still have to endure. In the fast-paced world of white-collar professions, it's easy to become engrossed in our ambitions and goals, often losing sight of the struggles that others bear. However, through personal reflection, I've realized the importance of acknowledging these feelings of guilt and using them as a driving force to make a positive impact. Whether volunteering, donating to charitable causes, or simply being more mindful of my privileges, I believe we can all play a part in improving the world. Survivor's guilt is a powerful reminder to be grateful for what we have and to use our position to uplift others. It's a call to action to be more empathetic, compassionate, and engaged in the well-being of those around us. As white-collar professionals, we can use our influences and relationships to contribute to a more equitable and supportive society. ...and make money in the process 😉. Clayton State CC: Charles Howard, Bridgette McDonald, and Georj Lewis PIN CC: Jamal Lewis, Clarence Anthony, Jr., and Debra Lam EI2 CC: Cassia Baker and B. David Bridges Beltline CC: Kara Lively, Kelvin Collins, Nonet Sykes, and Clyde Higgs ATL Leaders CC: Sonya Halpern, Anna Roach, Christopher Nunn and Andre Dickens https://lnkd.in/eb8rYs7s

"When you work in manufacturing, you quickly realize that all business is people-focused...None of it happens without people. Creating great teams from every part of an organization can change the trajectory of a project, company, and at times even a marketplace." Check out this great interview with our President Joe Dyer as he shares about company culture, making a positive difference, his career path, and what it's like doing business in West Michigan.

Taking time away from the to-do list isn’t easy, but it is worth it, especially when we get the opportunity to work together to make something to help someone else. This is exactly what our recent Belden team building experience offered. It was rewarding to create something that helps others while learning something along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the other leaders in our company to build a prosthetic hand that will be donated to a person in need. It wasn’t an easy task and was certainly one that reminded us of the importance of transparent and clear communications for us to meet a common goal. What a good lesson for all Belden leaders as we work to bring Belden team members along on our journey to a solutions provider.= #Belden #Leadership #TeamBuilding

There is absolute no way that I can overstate how hard Simba Gandari has worked throughout his collegiate and professional career. In the same vein, I cannot overstate his humble desire to help others, and the intelligence and insight he brings to every conversation. If you have the interest or curiosity to learn about life as an Ivy League student, attend this webinar.

"Politics, while it's part of our civic duty, was never intended in our system to be the center of life." - Mitch Daniels, Former Governor of Indiana and President Emeritus of Purdue University. Mitch joined Willy Walker for this week's #WalkerWebcast to discuss details of his notable career, including running for governor of Indiana and entering the higher education sphere, how he managed to find success in three distinct sectors, leadership lessons he's learned, and more. To watch the complete episode, visit https://lnkd.in/eM7ceWtK #Politics #HigherEducation #WeAreWD

Got a leadership question you’d love to get insights into? A situation you’d love to unpack and gain wisdom around? Join us for an AUA on April 16 in a safe space to accelerate your growth, share and ask. #leadershipskills #leadership #coaching #leadershipgrowth

I've had the transformative experience of working in nature with Janine Davis, PCC, CDTLF, Investor/Advisor, and I've also worked with the powerful Courtney Orsinelli on multiple coaching engagements. Both are excellent coaches and humans. So, if you're curious about how to shift your energy to impact people positively, and you want to spend time in nature with good humans, I've only heard excellent feedback on the Leadership with Wolves program. #leadership #wolves #coaching

I learned so much from Michal (Mic) Berman and Leaders@Scale about how to lead with authenticity and empathy. 👏🙏🫶 Join an AMA with Mic and her team on April 16th. When Mic says ask anything, she really means it! Leaders@Scale is the Ted Lasso of leadership coaching 🙌 #leadership #professionaldevelopment #mentorship

It’s time to have your say. 💬 Through our community providing feedback on what was liked and what we could improve on, we can then tailor our next Picture This event to be even better. It’s as simple as filling out a form that only takes a few minutes, but makes all the difference. Find it here → https://lnkd.in/ghxhZSzr Haven't been to Picture This before? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear. #MKEvent #MKNetwork #MKCommunity #ThoughtLeadership #CommunityLed #MiltonKeynesBusiness #MKBusiness