Episode 234: Self-Advocacy with Selena Rezvani
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How often can you say you qualify yourself and stand up for what you deserve? Selena Rezvani, Speaker and Leadership Consultant, is helping the Beyond the Business Suit family uncover how life-changing self-advocacy can be in your life.
In this episode, Selena takes us through the common types of advocacy and which one she uses to stand up for herself in negotiations, her quality of assignments, the way people treat her and much more! You can expect to gain a new sense of confidence for tapping into your inner negotiator and fighting for your rights as a woman and as a human in general.
About Selena Rezvani
Selena’s mission is to help women carve out paths to leadership – and to activate allyship at all levels. She also consults with employers on how to make work truly “work” for women – by creating culture change that improves working women’s experience. She’s the author of 2 leadership books, “Pushback” and “The Next Generation of Women Leaders.” In 2018 Selena delivered a TEDx talk called “Interrupting Gender Bias Through Meeting Culture,” which was recognized with The Croly journalism award. Selena is based in Philadelphia where she lives with her husband Geoff and 8 year old boy-girl twins.
QUOTABLES:
“Asking for what you need can change the course of your life.”
“If somebody has told you ‘No,' or this is impossible, how can you write a different ending to that story?”
“It’s important to qualify yourself.”
“Negotiate with the person and not the power.”
“You are the chief negotiator of your time, sanity and opportunities.”
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS:
- When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I used to play a talk show host with my cousin.
- What is one quote that you live by or has inspired you? My self advocacy mantra is “do no harm, but take no [bleep].” That has helped me be strong in these conversations. I can be hard on the problem, but respectful of the person.
- What is one book that has impacted your life? I’m reading it now! It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage, by Arlan Hamilton. Her quotes, her life, her being unapologetic of being has been a huge positive influence on me. One of y favorite quotes from the book is, “I’m here for the cake, not the crumbs.”
- If you could have brunch with 3 people, dead or alive, who would you invite? Definitely Michelle Obama, my dad (maybe not at the same brunch) and my grandmother, Helen, on my mom’s side.
- What is the best advice you have ever received? Bet on yourself. You have to bet on yourself, not just on the big gestures but on the little things. So much of my life has been disqualifying myself.
*BONUS: What was your first job ever? It was at a bakery called “Rolling in Dough”. I got to do that teenager job with 4 of my best girlfriends and it was so fun! They were so nice to us.
How you can contact Selena Rezvani:
Instagram: @selenarezvani
LinkedIn: Selena Rezvani
Website: SelenaRezvani.com
LinkedIn Learning Courses: Level Up Your Leadership
TED Talk: Interrupting Gender Bias Through Meeting Culture
View the full LinkedIn Live session:
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