There was a time when I sat quietly in rooms, ideas bubbling in my mind, but my voice caught in my throat. I knew what I had to say was valuable, transformative even, but I was overlooked, underestimated, and at times, completely invisible. Not because I lacked skill, vision, or drive, but because the world around me wasn’t ready to see a Black woman as the expert in the room.
In the early days of my career, I did everything “right.” I got the qualifications. I worked twice as hard. I played the part. But the recognition? It never came. I remember working on projects where I did the bulk of the heavy lifting, only for someone else to take the credit. I was passed over for promotions I was more than qualified for. Invitations to key meetings mysteriously never made it to my inbox. I was there, but I wasn’t seen. It wasn’t just frustrating. It was heartbreaking. And if I’m honest, I started to doubt myself. Maybe I wasn’t ready. Maybe I needed more experience. Maybe I just wasn’t enough. But deep down, I knew better. And slowly, I began to shift.
The first thing I did was stop waiting for permission. I gave myself the authority to show up fully. I stopped shrinking to fit into spaces that were never designed with me in mind. I stopped code-switching to make others comfortable. I embraced my voice, my perspective, and my power. And let me tell you, things began to change. I started speaking up in meetings, unapologetically. I shared my ideas with confidence and backed them with action. I stopped trying to prove I belonged and started owning the fact that I did. That energy is magnetic. Once you claim your space, the world starts to notice.
Being overbooked didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of intentional work, branding, and showing up consistently with purpose. I became my own PR machine. I built a personal brand rooted in authenticity, expertise, and integrity. I started writing, speaking, and mentoring. I positioned myself as the go-to person in my field, not by shouting the loudest, but by offering the most value. Social media became a platform, not a distraction. I used it to share insights, tell my story, and connect with others who needed to hear it. I didn’t chase followers, I built community. And when you build community, your name travels into rooms you haven’t even entered yet.
Lessons From the Journey
Here’s what I’ve learned from going from overlooked to overbooked:
- Visibility is power. You can be brilliant, but if no one knows who you are or what you do, you’ll stay stuck. Don’t wait to be discovered. Step into the spotlight.
- Expertise isn’t enough people need to experience you. Offer value freely. Share knowledge. Speak up. When people trust you, they’ll seek you out.
- You don’t have to be everyone’s cup of tea. When you show up as your full, authentic self, you repel the wrong people and attract the right ones. That’s a win.
- Your story is your superpower. Every challenge, every rejection, every overlooked moment, it’s part of your narrative. Share it. Own it. Inspire others with it.
- Success doesn’t require you to burn out. Once I understood my worth, I stopped overworking and started being more strategic. You can be booked and balanced.
Ironically, being overbooked also meant learning to say no. Not every opportunity is aligned. Not every invitation is a blessing. As I grew, so did the requests for my time and energy. But I had to learn to protect both. No to underpaid work. No to energy-draining partnerships. No to rooms that expected me to dim my light. Saying no created space for the yeses that mattered. And with each aligned yes, my impact grew. I didn’t climb this ladder alone, and I don’t intend to stay at the top alone either.
Mentorship became a sacred part of my journey. I pour into other women, and other women poured into me. I know what it’s like to navigate this world without a guide. I want to be the person I needed when I was doubting me. That’s part of what drives me every day. Not just to be booked, but to be a beacon for others.
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