Whose role model are you? π«
When I was eleven years old, I experienced one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was the ’99 Women’s World Cup and as a young soccer player, I was thrilled. Plus, NSYNC played.
To honor the 20th anniversary of the game, Nike released new uniforms, reminiscent of what that dream team wore. The accompanying video made me cry and instantly brought me back to what it was like to be there and watch some of the world’s greatest athletes play (Mia Hamm, anyone?)
My dad organized buses to take my team and I’ll never forget what it was like to enter a stadium, filled with thousands of girls my age, all cheering for our lady heroes. I never thought it was possible to see professional female athletes.
Going to that game showed me the importance of strong female role models. Playing on a team also taught me the value of working with others, and the discipline it takes to achieve big goals.
Between International Women’s Day (last week) and Equal Pay Day (next month), I’ve been feeling extra grateful that at a young age, I had exposure to incredible women doing incredible things.
I’m thankful to have grown up in an environment where I was encouraged to be ambitious. I owe a lot to my parents, who coached all my teams, invested in my education, and talked to me about money at a young age. I never thought that being a girl would hold me back.
It’s time to pay it forward. Tell all the women and girls in your life that you think they’re awesome. Talk to them about their dreams and tell them about yours. Don’t hold back from singing your praises and encourage them to sing their own. It’s not bragging, it’s inspiring.
Speaking of which, stay tuned for an exciting campaign we’re launching soon, all about how you can get comfortable talking about your wins, and how to tell a compelling story so you can get what you want at work. Because you deserve it.
Now go get paid.
x Ashley