Voices of Leadership: Insights and Inspirations from Women Leaders

Pathway to Purpose: A Conversation with Dr. Cynthia Mickens Ross

• Bespoke Productions • Season 1 • Episode 25

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On today’s episode, we talk with  Cynthia Mickens Ross, a spiritual leader, author, executive coach, and keynote speaker whose mission is to help people unlock their potential and live with purpose.

From facing the loss of loved ones to navigating major life transitions, Cynthia takes us through the highs and lows of her personal journey with a blend of humour and wisdom, revealing how she discovered her purpose. We talk about the inspiration behind her book and program, Pathway to Purpose, and explore her commitment to addressing issues like housing and food insecurity, as well as supporting at-risk children.

Cynthia’s insights on mentorship are a must-listen! She explains how mentorship isn’t just about your position or age—it’s about the wisdom and support you can offer others. Plus, don’t miss the unforgettable story she shares about elephants, which perfectly illustrates how we can all lift each other up, no matter where we are in life. It’s a heartwarming and powerful analogy you won’t want to miss!

Resources and Links
Pathway to Purpose Website
Cynthia's Book
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Cynthia:

When I discovered my purpose, I really and truly knew that, even though it didn't resonate with me at first, that it was something that I could believe in. I define purpose as the anchor of our existence. As the anchor of our existence, it gives meaning to our lives and it serves as a compass that directs our decisions, our actions and, ultimately, our legacy. For me, it fuels my resilience when I'm facing obstacles. I know it's a challenge, I know it's an opportunity and I know I'm going to get through it if I just keep going and I keep the focus how this aligns with my purpose.

Amy:

Welcome to Voices of Leadership, the podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women of the International Women's Forum. I'm your host, amy, and I'm inviting you on a journey through the minds of trailblazers. On today's episode, we talk with Dr Cynthia Mickens-Ross, our first guest from Dallas, texas. She's a spiritual leader, author, executive coach and keynote speaker with a passion for helping people unlock their potential and live with purpose. Cynthia takes us through the highs and lows of her personal journey with a blend of humor and wisdom, revealing how she discovered her purpose. We talk about the inspiration behind her book and program Pathway to Purpose and explore her commitment to addressing issues like housing and food insecurity, as well as supporting at-risk children.

Amy:

We also discuss mentorship. Cynthia believes that mentorship is less about your age or position in an organization and more about the wisdom and support you can offer others. She also shares an unforgettable story about elephants that perfectly illustrates how we can lift each other up, no matter where we are in our life. It's a heartwarming and powerful analogy you won't want to miss. Hi, cynthia, welcome to the show. It is so fantastic to meet you.

Cynthia:

Oh, Amy, I can't tell you how excited I am to be with you today. This is such an awesome moment and I'm so happy you allow you are allowing me to do this.

Amy:

Well, you are our first member we've spoken to from the Dallas chapter, so we're very excited about that.

Cynthia:

Oh, I love being a first. It's kind of like a trend right for us women Right we've got to start somewhere Now.

Amy:

can you tell us a little bit about the history of the Dallas chapter and how you first became involved with IWF?

Cynthia:

Absolutely, absolutely so. In 1987, former United States Senator, the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchinson, joined the International Women's Forum and participated in an IWF trip to the Philippines and she met the president and it was at that time that she decided that hey, maybe we need a chapter in Dallas. Now there was a chapter, and is a chapter, in San Antonio, but, as you know, san Antonio is quite the distance from Dallas. And so she said is quite the distance from Dallas. And so she said we really need a Dallas chapter. So in September of 1987, she hosted a small group of preeminent women in her home to start organizing the Dallas chapter. Now, she didn't have permission, she didn't ask for it, she just decided that this was something she thought should happen, right? Isn't that the way we do it? That's the way it gets done Right?

Cynthia:

1990, the board, the global board, admitted the Dallas Women's Forum to the group, and so today we are so excited, as always to these women who were they. You know they were so forward thinking, so courageous, you know, to just step out there and do these things. So every day of my life I try to pay homage to the women who paid the price and paved the way for us to be here today. So hats off to these great women who started this organization. And it was a former state representative, helen Giddings, who called me one day. Now I was just in my office, minding my business, trying to get my work done, and my friend Helen Giddings called me and she says hey.

Cynthia:

Cynthia, I've been thinking about a great organization for you, and she said I'm going to nominate you. I had never heard of the International Women's Forum and I took the opportunity, like most of of us, and I started Googling Right, and I was like, oh my gosh, I could not even see myself in an organization of this magnitude. I mean the women that were listed. I was like I only dream of meeting these level of professional women, and so the rest is history. Before I knew it, I was a member of the Dallas chapter and shortly after that I've only been a member of the Dallas chapter a little bit under four years and became president. That's what you get for working hard. You see, that's right, I mean working hard and getting no pay, but I love the organization. I'm so honored to be a part of this amazing group of women who are doing extraordinary things, and so IWF is the group that I think is the best place for women who want to be highly successful.

Amy:

Wow, it sounds like, funny enough, the similar journey of our chapter. In Waterloo, a couple of very you know strong-willed, powerful women got together and said we're doing this and it's very. It's interesting how it's similar across the world, are you?

Cynthia:

still the president. I am. I am the president until June of 2025.

Amy:

Then you get the best job past president.

Cynthia:

Past president, but while I'm president, we're going to be celebrating our 35th anniversary in March of 2025. So I'm excited to be a part of that once in a lifetime celebration.

Amy:

Congratulations. Now in our chapter, everyone's favorite event is the Diner Round. Is that the same in Dallas?

Cynthia:

I would say so. I would say that Diner Rounds are the most popular thing because it actually brings out a lot of our founders who are still around and we do a Founders Day luncheon. So I would say it kind of run neck and neck in a way, but dine-arounds are very popular.

Amy:

Yeah, I love it. You get to meet someone and have a great conversation with them that you maybe haven't met yet or don't know quite as well.

Cynthia:

Exactly.

Amy:

So I'd like to know a little bit about you. You come from the corporate world and you're now a spiritual leader, a teacher, an author, speaker and so many other things. How did you get to where you are today?

Cynthia:

Well, let me tell you, it's been a unbelievable journey. I've had my highs and I've had my lows, but it's been an amazing journey and I wouldn't change a thing. I come from the perspective that nothing is for naught. Everything you've had in the past you can take in the future and it will make you better. So, even my lowest moments, even my most difficult seasons, they made me the woman that I am today. I didn't know it. Back then, of course, I was like why me? Why am I having to go through this? Back then, of course, I was like why me? Why am I having to go through this? I struggle with the why, right? But now I have the answer, because if I had not gone through those things, I would not be prepared to be the woman that I need to be in this season of my life. So nothing is for naught. I've done a lot of things, you know. I don't know if you know about Pan Am, but I was with Pan American World Airways, so I'm dating myself. I realized that.

Amy:

I think I got. Oh no, is that American Airlines? You got the little wings when you came on the plane.

Cynthia:

Yeah, I think all of it.

Amy:

You were a young person, yeah, when I was young and I would go to Florida to visit my grandparents. They'd give us the little wings, yeah.

Cynthia:

Absolutely so. I had 13 years of that. And then I went into the death care industry, where I managed funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories, but I also managed our sales force, and so I was the first person of color and, of course, the first woman of color to rise to that level, and so that was an amazing journey for me. And then I went into the healthcare industry and love, love, love that job, working with our community and our elected officials, and that was a I believe it was 11 year journey, and it was during those times that I really had started my own nonprofit and my for-profit business.

Amy:

So let's talk a little bit about some of that. You're the founder of Pathway to Purpose. What inspired you to create it?

Cynthia:

Well, I can tell you, the inspiration for creating the copywritten Pathway to Purpose course stemmed from a deep desire to help individuals discover a life of true significance and fulfillment. Through my own journey, I realized that accomplishments, titles, designer clothes, expensive jewelry and whatever they do not necessarily lead us to a life filled with passion and purpose. I will say it like this I believe that it's possible for you to achieve extraordinary things yet still not have feelings of significance. Of significance, you know. You can have all the titles and accolades but still be empty inside, void of passion and purpose, void of significance, void of a true identity. And so that's where I was. I too found myself in that space successful by conventional standards, but feeling empty, disconnected from passion, purpose and my true identity.

Amy:

Yeah, that really resonates because you're right, you can be successful, and it doesn't mean you feel fulfilled on the other end. So then did you have a pivotal moment in your life that made you think about your purpose?

Cynthia:

So then, did you have a pivotal moment in your life that made you think about your purpose? Absolutely. I always tell people that it was one of the most difficult times. I had a pivotal moment that forever changed my perspective on purpose. It was after three major life changes that I embarked on a journey of self-discovery. That I embarked on a journey of self-discovery.

Cynthia:

At the time, I was a corporate executive at the peak of my career, excelling, I mean girl. I was knocking it out of the ballpark, right. Everybody was mad at me, a little bit jealous, right. However, it was these three significant life events that occurred that altered the course of my life forever. The first was the passing of my father, with whom I shared an incredible close bond. He was my lifeline, especially after my mother passed away when I was nearly five years old. His loss left a deep void in my life. The second was my only child leaving for college. While this was a moment of immense pride and it was but it also brought devastating separation anxiety, the realization that I could no longer be part of her daily life or guide her decision was almost unbearable. And then, lastly, I went through a divorce. All three of these changes happened nearly simultaneously.

Amy:

Oh wow, that is a lot simultaneously.

Cynthia:

Oh wow that is a lot, yeah, and it sent me into a downward spiral. It was during a time of deep revelation. I would go home every day after work and I had a beautiful home and at the time this home was a sanctuary for me, but it was also empty. It was just me in this big old house, all by myself, and I would just go home and I would lay out in my white carpet and I would just cry because I was grieving. I was grieving the loss of a marriage, I was grieving the loss of my father, I was grieving the loss of the relationship. I was grieving the loss of my father. I was grieving the loss of the relationship that I had with my daughter and I would just cry out who am I? Why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing with this life?

Cynthia:

And even though I would dress up every day and I don't know if you know anything about the designer St John, but I would wear my St John suits every day and I would have my Rolex watch on and I would have my diamonds and I covered up all my pain because I wanted people to see me the way I wanted them to see me, and so it was only at home that I could take it all off and I could just get naked with myself and God and say who am I really?

Cynthia:

Because none of my accolades, none of my worldly possessions, none of what people thought about me really meant anything to me, because I didn't know who I was and I had a 2 am experience that changed my life forever and I didn't hear an audible voice. I heard an internal voice and it told me all the things that I'm kind of doing today is what I heard. You're going to travel around the world speaking, you're going to have facilities for people, and it was like what is this? Who is this? This sounds nothing like me, right? Because it wasn't what I was doing and it wasn't what I ever saw myself doing, and it just kept playing over. It was like a broken tape or something. It just kept saying the same thing over and over and over again until I realized that this was the answers to the questions I had been asking for several months, and it was there that I understood that living a life of purpose was not just a personal pursuit, but it was a divine mandate.

Amy:

Wow, that's very. I like that statement. It's very powerful. It's so interesting that through your low that you did come out the other side. I find that interesting because not everyone is able to do that, so why do you think you were able to do that? Why do you think you were able to do that?

Cynthia:

Well, I will tell you, it was at a very low time. As you said, those are significant life changes, but I've always had this belief that everything that you encounter in your life can make you better or it can make you bitter. Ooh, I like that no-transcript. If we realize or come from the perspective that every challenge that I have in my life is an opportunity, it's an opportunity to give me something that I didn't know I had, because what happened to me was Amy.

Cynthia:

I realized that there were things inside of this woman that I didn't know existed, and it was through those painful moments that she evolved, that she actually created a presence in this world, and I think that if we could just remember that everything in life had to pass through heaven to get to us, and if it touches our lives, it's not there to destroy us. It's there to reveal something that we didn't know we have, and so that's what happened with me. All of what I'm doing today came out of that moment. I didn't know it in that moment, but I knew that I had more inside of me than what I was providing and what I was giving, because I didn't feel significant, and what I was giving because I didn't feel significant, I didn't feel valued, I didn't feel that I had, I didn't even have passion. I was just making it happen because we can do that, we can do amazing things and still not have purpose and still not feel valued and still not feel significant. And so my transformation happened because I asked the question.

Amy:

Oh, I like that. That's probably one of the most important parts. I think we all probably have something inside of us and it almost seems when you talk about it that purposes, or finding purpose, is a choice. So is that part of why you think purpose is so important?

Cynthia:

choice. So is that part of why you think purpose is so important? Well, I believe that if you don't know your purpose, you really don't know who you are. When I discovered my purpose, it didn't resonate with me immediately. It actually scared me because it was really nothing that I had created for myself right, because I created this life for Cynthia. I mean, I had this beautiful woman I created and I would show up and I would expect that people are going to receive her, because I had done a good job of making sure that I dress nice, that I was open to people, that I was open to people, that I was friendly and kind. So I had kind of put together a pretty good package.

Amy:

Yes, we all do that we do.

Cynthia:

Exactly. And so when I discovered my purpose, I really and truly knew that, even though it didn't resonate with me at first, that it was something that I could believe in. It was something that I thought is going to help people. I was here to be a benefit to others, to serve others. And so I define purpose as the anchor of our existence. It gives meaning to our lives and it serves as a compass that directs our decisions, our actions and, ultimately, our legacy right.

Cynthia:

Without purpose, we are like a ship just drifting in an ocean, vulnerable to all the winds and the dangers of circumstances. Right, but when you have purpose, you have clarity, you have focus, you have purpose, you have clarity, you have focus, you have a sense of direction and it fuels for me, it fuels my resilience. You know, when I'm facing obstacles, I will say that I don't feel fear a lot. I may feel a little bit of anxiety because it's something new, but it doesn't make me feel fearful. I know it's a challenge, I know it's an opportunity and I know I'm going to get through it if I just keep going and I keep the focus. How this aligns with my purpose, right.

Cynthia:

So I always tell people when you know your purpose right. So I always tell people when you know your purpose, you know what fits and what doesn't. I can quickly say no because it doesn't align with my purpose, or I can consider it because it does right. And so purpose is important because it connects us to something greater than ourselves and it aligns with the true person that's living inside of you. She may be dormant right now, okay, but if you seek to know who she is, she will be birthed in a way that may scare you at first, but I can tell you it'll change your life forever. It'll give you such a great place of peace and significance and that you will know that what I'm doing matters. My life matters because it's going to impact the lives of others. Purpose is how you serve other people.

Amy:

Well, that is very inspired. I'm feeling very purposeful right now, but what I really liked what you said is that when you started you didn't have all the answers and it was just the beginning. You were just inspired by it and it wasn't a fully formed idea, because sometimes I find too, when we talk to people that have successful companies, they call that out too. There really is no overnight success or there's no overnight finding your purpose and your direction. So it's always good to call that out when people listen or talk about it, that they don't feel intimidated by it, because it's a journey, it's not an instantaneous thing.

Cynthia:

Absolutely, and it will continue to evolve as you stay in a line with it. So when I first started out, I just heard I'm going to speak, I'm going to have facilities. You know, I kind of had a big picture, but it wasn't all there. And so, at first, the first thing I did after discovering what my purpose is, was to write the course, the Pathway to Purpose, because I wanted everybody to discover what I had discovered. It had changed my life, so I thought I'm going to share this with everybody. So it was on a. It was on New Year's Day one year I can't remember exactly what year it was and I sat down at my kitchen table and I wrote the course almost from scratch. I mean just almost. It was definitely inspired. It was bigger than me, okay. And then, when I started the course, it was so amazing because most of these women were already C-suite executives, so you would think that they already know what they're supposed to be doing with their lives, right? Not the case. By the eighth week of the class a 12 week course. By the eighth week, the light bulb was going off. A 12-week course by the eighth week, the light bulb was going off.

Cynthia:

I had women who quit their jobs. I have one who went back to law school. One started a jewelry business. 38% of our graduates went on to start their own business and 18% of them are employed by their businesses full-time Totally different than anything that they were doing before the course. And that's what my book is about. It's just stories of destiny. It's the stories of the women telling what they were doing before the course, what happened during the course and what they're doing now, since the course. So it's just life transforming.

Cynthia:

Once you know what it is that you have been created to give to this world, you are a gift to the world. I was speaking somewhere a couple of weeks ago and the title was you Are the Solution to the world's problems. I like that. Yeah, now all of us are life changers. All of us are world changers.

Cynthia:

We just have to know where is our domain. There is a space on this earth that has your name on it. It's your domain, has your name on it, it's your domain and you should know it, own it and appropriate what you're supposed to in your domain. I can tell you that, after 22 years of knowing my purpose, knowing my purpose every day is an amazing experience, because I get to serve somebody in some way, form or fashion. I don't often wake up knowing who it's going to be, but I know that I'm a gift and that wherever I show up, there is a contribution that I must make, and that could be you're beautiful. I love your dress. Can I give you a hug? You know if it's just a compliment or if it's just making sure that somebody knows that we see them, because everybody wants to be seen, and so every day I wake up knowing that I have a gift to give to this world.

Amy:

That is such a lovely sentiment and on that, let's talk a little bit about more, about how you do that for your community and the broader world, because you tackle some very large and prevalent issues such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, children at risk. How did you come to focus on these issues?

Cynthia:

Well, that's the journey. So I didn't know it at first. Remember now when I heard my purpose, it was you're going to have facilities, right? Yes? So I started out with the course first, and it was in 2008. I met Mr Filgo and Mr Filgo was selling two houses, a church, a multipurpose building and a little bit over two acres of vacant land. I didn't think that I had met him by accident and as I got to know him, I knew that that property was for us. Wow and Amy. Here's the short story. Wow and Amy. Here's the short story. Mr Filgo sold Cynthia Mickens Ministries the two houses, the church, the multipurpose building and the land for one dollar down and did owner financing. And at the closing, Mr Filgo looked across the table at me and he said Cynthia. And he was probably at the time in his late 70s. He didn't look like me, so I hope you know what I'm saying. And he looked across the table at me and he said Cynthia. I think my purpose is to help you fulfill yours.

Amy:

Wow, that's incredible.

Cynthia:

An incredible story of how God can orchestrate your life, when you agree with him, because none of us got here on our own. I don't know one human being that can create another human. So, so, so, whatever you believe, you know, set me on a path, a journey that I could never accomplish myself. Everything that I'm doing, amy, is bigger than me. It is something that I don't feel qualified to do necessarily, and I'm not qualified to do from a conventional standpoint, but I'm qualified to do. Know it, I have no qualms about it. I don't need to debate it. All I need to do is show up, giving the world every day what's inside of me that's already been designated for them.

Amy:

Well, and really, at the end of the day, knowing who you are is half the battle, and then you're so well equipped to go forward and fulfill your purpose, I guess.

Cynthia:

Absolutely, Because you know, before, when I didn't know my purpose, I spent a lot of time creating what I thought every day that the world wanted for me. It took a lot of time. My hair had to be the right, perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect car, perfect job. I mean, everything had to be perfect according to my standards, to my standards. Well, guess what? All I do now is wake up every morning knowing that I'm here by design and I have a unique contribution to make to the world that I exist in. It's so much freedom and I'm not going to tell you that everybody, that everybody's okay with Cynthia when she shows up. I'm not going to tell you that because if you don't know who you are, I can make you feel very uneasy because I know who I am right. So it can rub you the wrong way. It can start to stir up those insecurities that you have right. So not everybody is going to embrace your greatness, but don't allow it to stop you from being great.

Amy:

Ooh, that's very powerful. I like that. I'm going to use that for sure.

Cynthia:

Yeah, I mean, that's the truth. Because it's the truth. I always say that everybody can't embrace your greatness, but don't allow it to stop you from being great, because then you're betraying yourself. True, and you always want to show up in your authentic self, because that's what purpose is. Purpose is showing up in the authentic self that you have been created to be.

Amy:

I like that. That's a very succinct way of looking at it. Yes, yes, yes. So I want to ask you this. So in my research, I discovered that you have been quoted as saying your mission is where your misery used to be. Can you tell us a little bit about what you mean by that?

Cynthia:

So I love it. I wish that I could say I coined it myself, but it's not mine. I believe I heard it from Bishop TD Jakes. I believe that is a part of my purpose.

Cynthia:

There was a time in my life that, when Pan Am closed their doors, I didn't get another paycheck and I was going through a difficult time, and I can tell you that at that time I was faced with the possibility of being homeless. Now, that was a very embarrassing moment. It was a moment that I would not have wanted anyone to know about, but that moment prepared me to have a heart to serve the people who are homeless that are living now in our facilities. Nothing is for naught. So that was a very miserable time for me. It was a very embarrassing moment for me, but it prepared my heart to have compassion for those who are in that state today. I couldn't serve them with the right heart if I had not experienced the threat of it myself Right. If I had not experienced the threat of it myself, right.

Cynthia:

So everything that we go through, if we allow it, it can be used to provide good things for other people, even though we think it was a bad moment in our life, a miserable moment in our life. It's really preparation for us, preparing us to be of service to others. So I can serve my children, I can serve the single mothers with children, I can serve the people who come to our food pantry. I can serve the people who are part of our community garden because I've been through all phases of it and I can see pain, because I've experienced pain. But I don't see it in judgment, I see it in service. How can I help? What can I do to make a difference in the life of that individual? And it's all because I've been through a whole lot of stuff myself.

Amy:

You have and I'll say that, even if it isn't your quote, your stories and explanation of it is very clear and inspiring. Well, thank you. So you talked a little bit just now and previous about the facilities that you have and the course and all of the work that you do. A lot of it seems to have a strong mentorship component. So why do you think mentorship is so important?

Cynthia:

Oh, my gosh. Now here's what I will tell you is that I wish that I had more mentors in my life. You know, just like I asked you before we got started, I said, Amy, can you do me a favor, Can you send me an email and tell me what I could do better? Yeah, that is because we all need each other. I don't have it all right. You have gifts that I don't have. I have gifts that you don't have, but if we work together, you will be better than you can without me. I will be better than I can without you, right?

Cynthia:

So for me, mentorship is a vital component for your transformation, because we're always what developing and evolving, right. So we need people at every stage of our lives. If I haven't been there before and I can have the benefit, haven't been there before and I can have the benefit right of somebody who has, then I would be far greater. I would be so far ahead because I have the benefit of the resources that this person, who's now my mentor, is going to give to me. So I believe that mentorship is essential because it provides guidance, encouragement, accountability elements that are critical for personal and spiritual development.

Amy:

Such a great way to look at it, and I really liked how you called out that we do need mentorship at every stage of our lives. Sometimes, when people say mentorship, we think someone older mentoring someone younger, and I don't know that that's always the case. It's one of the cases.

Cynthia:

No, absolutely I don't think age really has anything to do with it.

Cynthia:

I can remember, some time ago, one of my spiritual mothers. She said Cynthia, in her voice, you know, in her serious voice, she says I'm older than you are, Therefore I have more wisdom than you do. And I said, well, I respectfully disagree with that Because, first of all, the Bible says that wisdom comes from God. So that means a two-year-old can have more wisdom than an 80-year-old. So I said, mom, my spiritual mom, I said, mom, I appreciate your opinion, but I do respectfully disagree. So I think that it is all about what you bring to the table that the other person needs. Again, it's all about serving right, Serving one another. So mentorship can be a 20-year-old that is helping a 50-year-old learn social media. Yes, that's a very good example.

Amy:

Yes, Very good example right.

Cynthia:

So I just believe that mentorship is you sharing your gifts, talents, experience, expertise with someone who doesn't have it.

Amy:

That's a great definition. I like that. It's really good.

Cynthia:

Yeah. And so you know, in a world where many people feel isolated and unsupported, mentorship can be a sense of community. You know, it is bringing the community together, giving somebody a sense of belonging, fostering relationships that empower individuals to achieve whatever it is that they're wanting to do. Next door to me is a young. I mean she's probably, I would say she. I'm guessing she's probably 30 years old. Well, she is an accomplished author. She is an accomplished artist. You think she can teach me a few things. Absolutely, it doesn't matter her age. It matters her experience, expertise that she's willing to share with me to help me be better than I am today. So I wish I had more mentors. If there's somebody listening who thinks that they can help me be better, just know that I'm always open. I'm open to learning, to growing. I will always listen Doesn't mean that I have to accept everybody's thoughts or opinion, but I can respectfully listen to anybody, I don't care how harsh they are. I can listen because I'm in control of my own self and nobody gets to control me.

Amy:

Right, and listening is the first part of mentorship, so it's good I'm glad that you mentioned that as well. Yeah, yeah, absolutely so you've. You've talked, touched on all the different places that you've been a leader. You know, in the corporate world, as a spiritual leader, pathway to purpose, the facility, facilities you have. I'd love to know. You know, what do you think the biggest challenge facing female leaders is today?

Cynthia:

Oh, let me tell you. I have this if I could share it with you and your audience. But we just had our IWF Dallas board retreat and I shared this. Somebody had asked me well, cynthia, what do you want your legacy to be, as a former president of IWF Dallas, and I said let me share this with you because I think it really capsulizes what I would love my legacy to be. And it's titled and loyalty story.

Cynthia:

In the wild, female elephants are known as fierce protectors. When one of their sisters is suffering, they circle up around her, they close in tight watch guard and even kick dust around her to mask her vulnerability from the predators. We should be the same. This should be who we are and who we are meant to be for each other. Sometimes we're the ones in the middle, sometimes we're the one kicking up the dust and sometimes we're the ones that are just holding the circle together.

Cynthia:

And so I will take that story and I will say I think the greatest challenge for women is learning how to be an elephant for every other woman in your circle of influence, looking at her and saying how can I help her to be the best that she can be, how can I protect her? How can I be a source that will lift her up? How can I open a door and pull the chair out so she can have a seat at the table, and how can I prepare her for what she needs to say when she gets there? I think the greatest challenge for women is learning how to love, respect and support one another.

Amy:

That's beautiful, and I really loved the poem story. It was lovely. I can't think of a better way to finish this episode. I don't know what else I could possibly ask. So thank you so much for sharing all of your wisdom. You're such an inspiration. I really enjoyed our conversation.

Cynthia:

And so did I, amy. And Amy, I just wish you the greatest level of success because you are the perfect person to do this podcast. I mean, you have such a welcoming spirit, your voice is so soothing and I love your great smile that maybe your audience doesn't see. But they are missing a gift, because it is truly a gift to see your beautiful smile and I love your laugh. So, my sister, enjoy the life that is ahead of you and every moment that you have in each day, because you are here by design and no one can be Amy. Only Amy can be Amy.

Amy:

Thank you. Thank you for listening today. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. When you do this, it raises our podcast profile so more leaders can find us and be inspired by the stories our Voices of Leadership have to share. If you would like to connect with us, please visit the Voices of Leadership website. It can be found in our show notes.

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Amy Schlueter

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