Within the past decade, there has been a surge of female leaders within the corporate world. Although this increase has demonstrated the strides that women are making in their respected fields, the ratio of women receiving equal pay to men; continues to remain disproportionate.
Selena Rezvani, author of The Next Generation of Women Leaders, has committed her life to empowering women in understanding their professional worth. She has a regular column in The Washington Post and has been featured on ABC and NBC programming as well as Forbes and The Wall Street Journal.Selena, a woman with an MBA and exceptional problem solving skills did not feel powerful in her position.As she began to conduct research for her book, she became fascinated with women who were powerful in a positive way who also wanted to assist other women in owning their own power. What started off, as a research project has now become a platform to encourage women to take charge over their careers, by becoming more assertive, utilizing negotiation tactics without fear and demand respect for the measurable outcomes that they produce.
Selena, the President and Founder of NextGenWomen, LLC, and the newly appointed Ambassador for Vital Voices a non-profit empowering women globally; believes that women are often underestimated in their talents, not only by men but also by one another.“If we can just wrap our minds around the power that we possess and encourage another woman to see that power, how amazing would we be?”
LW: What do you believe truly keeps a woman from defining her personal goals?
Selena Rezvani: I have always said that I would rather be loathed for something that I am rather than something that I am not.Often times, we don’t bother to look inward.We attempt to travel down a path that belongs to someone else or we take the easiest road to attempt to avoid disappointment. The other issue is that many women know what they want but
don’t go after it.I would suggest that they find out who they are and have the courage to be that.
LW: What would you give to a woman who has an idea to pursue her own business but listens to every excuse not to?
Selena Rezvani: There will always be excuses and naysayers.Expect that to be apart of the process. Make it a point to surround yourself with people who encourage you. If one or two people dissuade you, you don’t deserve to have it. You have to evaluate from different angles, be honest with yourself and trust yourself to act.
I started a Peer Circle where there are women assembled together to hold one another accountable to their goals.Start with five women.These women can be in different stages. However, the common factor is that everyone has big goals.The women are forced to talk about their goals for ten minutes and the other women assist with resources with that specific goal. It is a power hour!
LW: What is your desire to see with regards to women in corporate business?
Selena Rezvani: I would like to see more women represented in the decision-making roles.I would like to see women paid fair and equal.They are very capable and need to be valued and appreciated.I would like to see more women in mainstream.
LW: How do you believe that women can further nurture one another’s dreams?
Selena Rezvani: Ask yourself, right now, am I helping a younger woman with fewer credentials and less experience?If you answer no, you need to question why.
There is so much talent around us that we don’t give enough credit to. Are you engaging in those relationships?Are you making yourself available, especially to those who need a helping hand? We must remember that we started at a point farther back than where we are and it took someone to assist us to help us take the first step.
LW: What is the number one mistake that women make in business?
Selena Rezvani: I would have to say that women diminish their credibility when they don’t mean to.In communication we feel that we have to qualify what we say with an explanation. The other mistake is that we are not risk takers.Accept that taking risks is apart of the deal.
LW:What do you enjoy most about your job?
Selena Rezvani: Definitely seeing a woman do something that she thought she could not do.I want women to find their leadership voice.When I see a woman strengthen her negotiating voice, it amazes both her and I.What she believed she could not do before becomes apart of her everyday life is very empowering.
LW: How would you as a leader in business define your life, your purpose, and your name?
Selena Rezvani: I believe that women are each other’s best resources. I want to lift other women up.I want to be a
catalyst to help women promote other women.I believe that we all have to get moving to action. We must become apart of something bigger and that in itself will create a rippling affect!
To learn more about Selena Rezvani or to purchase her book, please visit www.nextgenwomen.com
