by: Sara E. Richmond
Northeastern Technical College
Cheraw, South Carolina
While in Washington, D.C., for the NCMPR national conference I had the privilege of attending the She Leads: Stories, Strategy, and the Power of Women in Leadership with Toya Webb, Ed.D., and Mandy Heil. This would be my first national conference, and I was excited about all the possibilities. But I didn’t walk in with a clear head. I carried with me the weight of a recent workplace situation, one that had tested my patience, professionalism and sense of self. In my heart and mind, I knew I had done what needed to be done. I handled it. And in the quiet moments afterwards, I even wrote myself a few reminders in my notes app, words I needed to hold on to.
Those notes I’d written to myself read like this:
“Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a choice.” You don’t need a formal role to advocate for yourself or your team, because no one will ever champion your cause more powerfully than you will.
Sometimes that advocacy looks like an uncomfortable conversation: a shaking voice, a flushed face, tears you didn’t plan on. But that’s not weakness. That’s courage. Assertive, direct communication is how we establish mutual respect and build workplaces where people actually thrive. You have already done hard things. You are doing hard things right now. And you will keep doing hard things because that strength has always been inside you.” What I didn’t realize at the time was how much those words would be reaffirmed just days later.
When Dr. Webb and Mandy Heil opened the floor for conversation, everything they said landed differently for me. It was personal, relevant, and echoed what I already knew deep down; they gave it clarity and confirmation. There have been a few moments in my career that required the kind of quiet courage it takes to stand alone and advocate for myself or for a team I was part of especially when that meant speaking to those at a much more senior level than I.
The first time, early in my career, I was overwhelmed. My hands shook, my face flushed red, my voice cracked and I even cried. The second time, it wasn’t much different. My voice cracked and the emotion still showed. The third time, I didn’t cry, but my voice still wavered and my flushed red face gave me away. But then there was this most recent time. This time, the only sign of nerves was the heat rising in my face.
I share this because doing the right thing is almost never the easy thing. In fact, it is almost always the hardest. But what I’ve come to learn over time is that while the nerves may never fully disappear, something else begins to happen. Your confidence grows, your voice steadies, and your ability to stand steadfast in tough moments becomes stronger. Each time, I found myself more confident and capable of speaking up in spaces with senior leadership saying, “This is not acceptable. And this is how we can do better.” So, if you find yourself in a similar moment, do it anyway. Do it shaking. Do it with a voice that trembles. Do it with a face that gives away your nerves.
And that’s where She Leads shifted something for me. It didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, but it reaffirmed it. It strengthened it. It reminded me that leadership is not reserved for those with titles but for those willing to act with integrity even when it’s uncomfortable.
So, what now? Now, I continue to carry that lesson forward with even more intention. I continue to speak up when it matters, approach hard conversations with clarity and purpose, and advocate for not only myself but also for the kind of workplace I want to be part of.
Coming back from the conference, a senior leader set aside time to speak with me once they became aware of the situation. In that conversation she said something I won’t soon forget: “We have to be willing to have courageous conversations.” And honestly, that mattered. It spoke to something bigger than just one moment or one conversation. It reflected the kind of culture we are building, one where leadership is encouraged at every level and where women are not only stepping into their own power but actively supporting and empowering one another.
Sara E. Richmond is the communications coordinator at Northeastern Technical College in Cheraw, South Carolina.
STAY CONNECTED