Written by: Aisha Saintiche, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As we step into International Women’s Day, let these words serve as a poignant reminder of the untapped potential residing within every woman. Let the essence of this message become clear – leadership is not merely about titles, positions, or hierarchy; it is about leading with purpose, an authentic source of you true power.
"Nothing can dim the light that shines within you." – Maya Angelou
So, let’s get down to business. Today let us remember that we are game changers. That we are passionate and dedicated to all that comes with being a leader. That we are no longer willing to accept status quo. That we realize that not only do we Have to carve out our own space in this world, but that we get to and without the permission of those who too often feel like they have the right to tell us where we belong.
You see my role as your personal hype woman is not to give you tips and tricks on how to lead or bring power to your voice. My role at this very moment is to remind you that your capacity to lead through your own power, purpose and passion is already within you.
So “power” is defined as the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others over the course of events. Seems simple. For those of us who are in “positions” of power, your responsibility is to direct, support and positively influence others to do what needs to be done- hopefully for the greater good. And if we are not necessarily in these “positions of power” then we know we are here to move in the direction of our leaders to achieve what needs to be achieved – with the hopes that it is in alignment with our beliefs and values. It seems like a pretty easy concept to understand and live by – and yet here we are, in 2024, still unpacking this “simplistic” concept as this very basic application of the idea of power has left many of us feeling disenfranchised, unheard, and in too many cases ignored.
So, what are we going to do about it? We’re going to get clear about our purpose – both individually and collectively.
To gain clarity about your purpose (which, remember, I said is your actual power source), you must first understand the role of your voice. Now, when I say voice, I don’t mean the intonations, vibrations, or pitch. I am talking about the clarity, the intention by which your voice speaks to or about things that are important to you or hold significance in your life, work, and relationships.
You see it is our voice which can reflect the depths of our being. It is our voice that speaks to our likes and dislikes, our pain, our triumphs, our heartache, and our joy and most importantly to our passion and purpose.
Because of this, it is an invaluable tool in experiencing our true selves and finding purpose in life. Using our voice, from our true selves, helps to make us better at communicating, happier, more alive, and more present in our lives. Our voice has the capacity to put us in touch with places within ourselves we have not visited before, as our voice also contains our untapped potential.
The titles we are given certainly identify where we stand on the organizational chart, where we have decision-making power, the projects we are assigned (based on our field of work) and certainly a reflection of your hard work and tenacity, but that doesn’t always translate to having a real voice and space at the table. We know that women are disproportionately represented at many of these tables, and when you add some of the other dimensions of diversity, it becomes even more scarce. What would become increasingly apparent during my own transformation was that my capacity to lead, the ownership of my voice, lived experience, perspective and expertise was not controlled by my title, but was determined by my recognition of self as having value that no other person around me could bring to the table. And I say that not because there weren’t other great women around me – but because there were no other great women like me. My purpose, my power, my voice was for me to decide where and how it held authority – and it wasn’t until that “transformation” that I began to really understand the significance of my voice.
The true power of our voice is not demonstrated by our open proclamations of change, growth, fight, or triumph. It is quite the opposite. The power of our voice is reflected in the intentionality with which we choose to live our lives.
I didn’t need permission from anyone to be a leader. I needed my voice to convey the message to those around me that in fact I had power. Not the power that was assigned to me. Or the limited power that people don’t desire to relinquish. But the power that I had finally decided to wield through self-discovery, self-awareness, and self-actualization.
Igniting your own power and using your voice means you have agency and capacity to influence and change things without hurting others. That you are more than just your work, but a catalyst for change. That you accept that you may be the voice for those who have been silenced, or not yet discovered their power source.
It’s time for you to start telling yourself the right story.
There is a quote that goes “It only takes one voice, at the right pitch to start an avalanche.”
While the band of many voices holds significance and demonstrates a collective and shared commitment – do NOT underestimate the significance of your voice to make a lasting impact.
Leadership is not something we are seeking. Leadership is something we decide to invoke where and when it aligns with our purpose or mission – and today it shall be invoked!
Today is a new dawn (every time I say that line I think of Scar from The Lion King when he stands before the hyenas and lions solidifying this new union) but the analogy is somewhat fitting because we aren’t waiting for the amalgamation, we are waiting for the world to take notice that we have arrived!
Aisha Saintiche, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Aisha Saintiche is a certified Health Coach and the founder and owner of MetoMoi Health. With over fifteen years of experience in Mental Health, Accessibility and Diversity and Inclusion, Aisha has used her experience as a strategic advisor and health coach to understand the complexity and intersectionality of the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual barriers that keep people from achieving their optimized health and wellness.
Aisha also holds a Masters in Public Policy Administration and Law, as well as a certification in Change Management, Advanced Crisis Intervention and Counselling and Health Coaching. She is also an Integral Master for the Canadian Olympic Committee of Canada, and most recently she became a Published Author.
Always seeking opportunities to bring about change, she is also an active member and Board of Director for the Woman Abuse Council of Toronto (WomanACT) and the Board Chair for Afiwi Groove School.
