TRANSCRIPT
Truth to Power: Jotaka Eaddy on Representation and Embracing Imperfections
SEASON 1 · EPISODE 4
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Welcome to the #BeTheBossNow Podcast and I am your host Gregory Allan Datu Cendana, President and Co-Founder of Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting, Chief Creative Officer of Greg Dances and #1 International Best Selling Author of Be the Boss Now Book: 15 Key Steps to Start, Run, and Grow Your Own Business.
So often, people don’t take risks because they are afraid of failure or rejection.
As an openly gay, Filipino American who was raised in a working class, immigrant, and Catholic household, these experiences shaped my values and the entrepreneur and leader I have become and led me to found and run different companies and nonprofits. I’ve also built a business that grew during the pandemic while creating opportunities and increasing access for people from diverse backgrounds.
The #BeTheBossNow podcast will lift up the stories of different folks who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern, woman, queer, people with disabilities, and those living at the intersections of multiple of these identities.
I believe there is a boss in ALL of us - especially for those of us who have historically lacked representation in leadership. Furthermore, when we embrace fear and failure as inspiration to guide us on our journeys, it will be for the better and in service to making our biggest, boldest and most audacious dreams a reality.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Jotaka L. Eaddy is the founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies LLC., a social impact consulting firm committed to advancing transformative change and global impact. Described as the "Olivia Pope of Silicon Valley" by Forbes Magazine, Jotaka is a dedicated and seasoned strategist with more than 20 years of experience in policy advocacy and movement building. Within her current practice, Jotaka works with clients, including corporate, nonprofit foundations, technology, and government organizations seeking to advance policy ideas and change. Jotaka has led regulatory, legislative and social impact initiatives at the federal and state level for leading nonprofits and within the C-suite of leading technology companies, helping to bridge the gap between Washington D.C. and Silicon Valley.
Jotaka has served at the forefront of efforts that have created lasting change. In 2020, she founded the movement #winwithblackwomen, an intergenerational intersectional group of Black women leaders representing business, sports, movement, politics, entertainment, and beyond.
Hello, and thank you. Salamat, gracias Jotaka for being a guest on the Be the Boss Now Podcast, where we help people understand they have the agency and freedom to decide what a boss means for them, live their wildest dreams and make change in their communities. Um, so welcome. We're so excited to have you as a guest. And to kind of get things going, our first question for you is: what does it mean to be a boss for you?
Jotaka Eaddy: Oh, well, first of all, thank you for having me. I'm super excited. One, because I'm a big fan of you. Congratulations on your book and this podcast. So, you know, being a boss, you know, a boss has meant many things to me over my life. Uh, earlier part of my life, "boss" was the person that you reported to at your job. Uh, I think as I've evolved, I've realized that a boss is exactly the essence of who you are. To me, being a boss is, it's an essence. It's, it's, it's just, it's a vibe. It's, it's how you interpret your own power and how you exude that power into the world.
And to me, that's what a boss is. A boss is someone who lifts as she climbs, a boss is someone who leads, um, from within. A boss is someone who recognizes that you're in a constant state of learning. And ultimately a boss is someone who is thinking about others and knowing that it is something much bigger than the individual, uh, and that you're a part of a greater collective. To me, that's, that's what boss is. But" boss" is, is, is, is not necessarily a, uh, noun, but I think "boss" can be an adjective. It can be an adverb, uh, and definitely a verb as well.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: I, I appreciate that. And a lot of what you're saying really resonates. Um, I'm wondering, you know, you, you kind of alluded to this in the start of your answer around it's, it's a, it's kind of evolved for you, especially as you've kind of gone through life.
Have there been any particular moments or experiences that, um, you say have kind of, that helped you lead, like lead you to this understanding of what a boss means? Or, or examples that you think we could, could help illustrate how you got to this definition and understanding?
Jotaka Eaddy: Yeah. I, I think it's been many things. First, it's been people around me, bosses, examples of, to me, what it is truly means to be a boss. That, um, you know, that definition of a boss that is "a leader from within," it's really come from seeing others be that type of boss that I have abscribed, you know, continue to strive to be. And that's really been the greatest impact - is just sort of seeing women and men, largely women that I admire, operate in a way.
And you just sort of sit back and you're like, "I see you, like, I see how you're leading. I want to lead like that." And that's really helped change and evolve. And then also it's just been really just sort of seeing the world. Um, you know, I come from a very small town in South Carolina. And so the word "boss," you know, really growing up, it was, you know, you went to a job and you had a boss.
And so that's what sort of "boss" meant. And sort of, as I've evolved, as I've traveled, as I've seen, uh, various parts of the country and the world, I've seen various definitions of "boss." And that definition of boss has evolved to, you know, you could be your own boss. Um, and you can be bossy in a very wonderful, uh, and a, an extremely, uh, collective way.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: I appreciate that. And as you were talking about coming, you know, from a small, a small town in South Carolina, I'm reflecting on kind of even the, where I grew up in Sacramento in Cali- California, which, um, I grew up in the suburbs there and... like, I, I think as you, as you were talking, I was reflecting on like, "you don't know what you don't know."
And so as, at least for me -- and it sounds like similar in your case, as you got to see more things, got to experience more things, that just, um, uh, provided an opportunity to unlearn, to grow, to, um, and also just to, to shift and shape kind of our values and, um, goals and visions. And, um, uh, and one thing in particular that I've really been reflecting as I've been following you on your journey, Jotaka, is that you've kind of spanned multiple sectors. Um, I know that we met in a nonprofit public policy realm. I know you're, you've, you've, um, been in organizing. I know you've -- and you're in tech and media. Um, and so I want, I would love if you can share a little bit about what, um, helped you like bust out of the box? And, and able to kind of move from sector to sector?
And was there a common denominator as you were kind of going into these different fields? Um, and, and was there any, uh, motivation that drove you to the respective or particular organizations that you went to?
Jotaka Eaddy: Interestingly, if I look back at my career, if anybody looks at my career, they're like, "Oh, she's been NAACP.
She's worked in, uh, the United Nations. She's, you know, Silicon Valley, media, how does it all connect?" And for me, if I had to best, describe it, I would describe it as, you know, "the winding path forward." Um, and you know, having worked in Silicon Valley in tech, you know, when you build a tech platform it's called "stacking," like you stack tech platforms on top of each other, and that's sort of how you create great technology. And much like a tech platform,
my career has been like that. I think the through line for me has always been impact. It has always been, how are we taking people that are pushed to the margins and putting them back to the center? And so, um, my inspiration for everything I do, it goes back to how I grew up. So I grew up in this small town, 1400 people. Uh, 1,491 people, one red light, McDonald's in 1995.
And I grew up on a dirt road to give you a sense of just how intimate and small my town I grew up in is. And it continues to be. But you know, the first time I had an opportunity to attend a national conference, it cost $3,000, and it was 3000 extra dollars that my family didn't have. And it was the people in my community, often people who didn't have a whole lot, um, they raised the money to send me to this conference.
And, and that really was a, a, a real igniting point in my career. And I have always thought about those people who invested in me, the community that poured into me that made me the woman that I am, as the people that I often think about in all the work that I do. And so, you know, I started my career in criminal justice reform, and a lot of people don't know that about, about my work.
I spent probably about maybe eight or nine years in and out of death rows, working on death penalty cases, and worked, um, on, uh, the landmark Supreme Court case Roper v Simmons, which is actually, I believe the most important work that I ever did in my life, was the work to abolish the juvenile death penalty.
And so, that work really solidified for me, the importance of organizing, being a connector, and being rooted in community. And ever since then, my, my work began to evolve, but it evolved really from a basis of organizing around, you know, communities that were being marginalized. And you, and I've met, uh, when I was doing more political organizing and political strategy work because, you know, I went from being, you know, "an expert" in death penalty reform to how do I just take, uh, basis of strategy and organizing and apply that to other progressive issues? Whether that's expanded health care or the work at the time, to end the war in Iraq or, um, you know, work around investing in America's true priorities, which is its people. Um, and then just sort of took that on to political and working with the NAACP and civil rights.
Uh, and then where the sort of biggest shift in my career came is at a time when I was at the NAACP, and I had been the senior advisor to the president of the NAACP for probably about six or seven years. And I got a call, uh, to go into Silicon Valley. And for me, it was like, it didn't seem like a match.
It was like, I'm very busy fighting for voting rights. I'm very busy fighting for criminal justice reform at the NAACP. And I love it. I don't see myself in this industry. And what I was told, and what I now realized is that there was an actual dire need for people who were organizers. People who had a true understanding of community and people who were strategists to go into tech, particularly like in 2013 and 2014 when there was not as many, uh, Black executives in tech.
And so I went into tech and I basically was applying the same skill set of an organizer, a strategist, a connector, but doing that for large scale tech companies and tech organizations. And that work, um, you know, has evolved and continued to evolve. And so I just really see it as all connected because ultimately I've just been an organizer in all these various places and spaces, with a goal of really having a through line of, of social impact along the way.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Thank you Jotaka, um, I appreciate the, the through line that you're offering. And also what I'm also hearing is this grounded-ness around our interdependence because it sounds like, you know, from the folks that's helped support you go to that first conference to the many kind of folks who help to provide support and guidance in your journey, that like, we, we, we can't do these things on our own. Like we are a part of and connected to much broader networks. And so it's, I like to talk about our interdependence. Like even for myself, I'm like, there's no way that I can say that I got to where I'm at without the support and love and the care of family, loved ones, mentors and fem-tors,
and, and, and other folks who provided support and guidance along the way. And so I appreciate you kind of bringing that in too, as part of how you were able to have the support moving from sector to sector. And also taking what I think, um, I agree are very applicable skills from, from an organizing context and bringing it to these other sectors.
Um, to dig in a little bit more on your experience in Silicon Valley, you know, you, you kind of talked about the, um, the kind of a growing need, or the representation, especially in the year that you went, there weren't as many Black executives. Um, can you, can you share a little bit more, like, what would you tell people of color and women and particularly women of color who are interested going into tech?
Like, what, what, um, what needs to, what do you think can be, or should be done to create a more inclusive or equitable world, um, and, in tech for women and people of color?
Jotaka Eaddy: Well, the first question, I would tell, uh, people of color, particularly women of color, that there's a need for us in tech. There's a need for us in every aspect.
There's a need for us, you know, in these companies, there is a need for us in the C-suite of these companies. There's a need for us to found, uh, and be founders of companies. There's a need for us to be on boards of companies, and there needs uh, to be more of us in the funding realm and the VC realm that's actually releasing critical funding to all of these companies and you know, investors. So there is an whole tech ecosystem. The entire nation and world is moving very quickly around technology. If you think about just our day-to-day lives, like when you go to, you know, the way we enjoy entertainment is through tech platforms now. Uh, when you go and even service your car, it is through tech platforms. Um, every aspect, how we order our food, is through tech platforms. And it's even changed! And now even inside of restaurants, people are using technology. You know, people, I, last time I went to a restaurant, I had to take a photo of a QR code and that's how the menu came up.
And I paid everything on a tech platform. Someone is developing those tech platforms and more importantly, someone is profiting off of the use of those tech platforms. And so it's not enough for us to be massive users of technology, because particularly people of color, we over-index in the use of technology, but we are underrepresented across every aspect of the tech platform.
We're underrepresented in terms of the number of employees. We're under-represented, uh, in terms of the number of us that are funded founders in tech, and we are absolutely underrepresented as it relates to the dollars that we receive. I mean, just as an example, Black women receive less than 0.1% of venture funds, uh, for our tech ventures.
I mean, if you, you could, there's probably about 50 Black women who've received over $1 million in venture funds. That's not, you know, a good statistic at all. And when you look at the fact that Black women are the most educated demographic in this nation. We create, and we start companies at a faster rate than any other demographic in this nation.
And we also carry a large amount of capital investment, uh, in buying power in this country. And you have to ask yourself, why is it that we don't have the same opportunities? Um, and it's largely because, um, there's just an underestimation in terms of our power. Um, and we're largely overlooked, um, in, in, in those industries.
Now there are many success stories, you know, folks like Morgan DeBaun at Blavity, and Julia Collins, and Jewel Burks Solomon, and others that have done really great things in tech. But there are so many other Black women that have that same potential as those great women that have not been offered those opportunities.
And it's important for us to shed light on this. Uh, it's important for us to get out of our own way and make sure that we're taking our rightful place in the industry. And it's important for us to make sure that we are lifting up those women in tech, because I'm a firm believer - it's very hard to, uh, to, to want to be something that you cannot see.
Um, and so representation absolutely matters. So it's important that we shine a light on people like Jewel Burks Solomon, and Morgan DeBaun, and Phaedra, uh, Lamkins-Ellis and others who have done a really great job and have been very successful as Black women founders in the tech ecosystem.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: So inspiring, Jotaka. And an important reminder of how folks have paved the way, help create space and opportunities for others. And part of what I'm hearing you say also is like, that's also part of our responsibility as, as we take up this leadership and these opportunities that how are we continuing to find more ways and opportunities to get more of our people, um, who share our values and, um, to kind of, uh, be on that journey too.
And be able to take up that space and leadership. Um, so thank you for being such a shining example of, of what that is in real time. Um, and...
Jotaka Eaddy: We have to absolutely lift as we climb and it's, those are not my words. Those are Minyon Moore's words, and I believe she got it from someone who's passed that on to her. But we, we have to, when we walk into a door I've been, you know, fortunate.
I don't know if that's the word necessarily, but I've been the first Black woman in many spaces. I've been the first Black woman in a tech company, several tech companies. I've been the first Black woman executive, a C-suite executive, at tech companies. I've been first Black woman, you know, Student Body, President at University of South Carolina, all these things.
Uh, when we become first, or we are the only in the room, but it's not enough to just be happy with being the first or being the only. It's like, when you get in a room... for me, there's a deep obligation to ensure that not only am I creating space and opportunity for others to get into the door and to get into that room, but I'm also making it easier for them
once they get into that room, so that we can you know, remove the hinges and widen the doors so that others can come in. I think that is an obligation to those that are in these spaces and places. And when you're in these rooms, it's important not just to be happy to be in the room! You have to speak truth to power.
You have to pause, call the question. That's, that's, that's, you know, yes, do your job. Uh, you know, these are companies that want to grow and, you know, they, they want to gain considerable market share in whatever area they're in, but there's also, I think, a responsibility to your people. And for me, every time I've been in a room, it's it's sometimes I, I have to raise the uncomfortable questions.
Um, but I think that is often the unfortunate, um, and some would say, unfortunate; I actually see it as power, um, to be able to, to speak truth to power. And some people feel like maybe they don't feel like they want to have to do that, but I feel like there's an obligation, uh, when you're blessed to be in some of these rooms.
Because again, as you said, I'm a firm believer that none of us got to where we are alone. Like, I absolutely know... I would not be sitting here if it had not been for absolutely my ancestors and my grandparents and those people who prayed and fought for me to be in these rooms. And for people who, along my life, invested in me, like those folks back in my hometown in Johnsonville, who said, "we're going to make sure she goes to that conference."
And then people who have mentored and sponsored, uh, me throughout my life, people who actually took an active role in my career and an active role in helping me get into rooms. I think sometimes people find themselves in rooms and they think they got themselves in that room themselves. When actually, maybe somebody mentioned your name and got you on the list and you don't even know it.
And so I think it's important for you to always be grateful when you're in these spaces, um, and also determine how you can actually pay it forward.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Uh, throughout your career, Jotaka, you kind of also gave a couple of the examples. I've known you to kind of shatter multiple glass ceilings and, um, as you're continuing to talk, really help create pathways forward for generations to come.
Especially as many folks don't see ourselves and our people represented in tech, in media, in politics, or at least I recognize that there's shifts and there's things that are changing in dynamic ways. Um, but like we still have a lot more opportunities for growth. Um, and so, you know, as you're talking, I'm curious, like when you are the first or the only, um, what do you bring into that space? And what gives you the confidence and the ability to believe in yourself?
And like you say, to speak that truth to power.
Jotaka Eaddy: Uh, the first thing is just a real sense of gratitude and a grounding. Recognizing, particularly when you are the first. And I reflect back on when I became the first Black woman Student Body President at University of South Carolina. And I was very young at the time, but I also understood the magnitude of what was happening because this is, uh, an institution that was plagued with racism. We did not integrate until 1963. Um, and this was not many years following. This was 2001. And I ran for Student Body President at a time, um, there were, you know, the Confederate flag was hanging, uh, on top of the State House dome. And I was very opposed to that.
It was used against me when I ran for Student Body President.
Um... But when I was elected, it was not only for me. I recognize that I would not have been there had not students like Henrie Monteith Treadwell, who integrated the University of South Carolina, actually had the courage to walk on that campus and to go to those classrooms, despite racial slurs and threats in 1963. I realized that there had been multiple Black women before me who had ran, and they didn't win.
They deserved to have won, but because of the campus and how, uh, you know, unfortunately, there was not necessarily an acceptance of Black women in leadership at the time before I ran. Um, but I recognize that those women paved the way for me. Had they not run and sort of opened the door, I couldn't have run.
And, and so I realized that, you know, here's me, I think I was 18 or 19, and this university was, it had been 210 years. Um, and this university that had been plagued with racism and here I was a, a symbol. I think it was about two years ago.
So I will share... a story about why representation matters. I was on a whim with Black Women Call and a woman on the call raised her hand and she said, "Hey, I want to share something."
And I was like, "Okay!" And she goes, "You may not remember me, but nearly 20 years ago, when I was in high school, I was on a trio program trip to the University of South Carolina." She said, "I'm from North Carolina and I went to the University of South Carolina." And she said, "I remember as a young Black girl, just thinking to myself that I wasn't seeing other Black women on campus." And she shared that she remembered them taking her to the student government office. And she met me. She said, "You may not remember it. You were so nice. And you talked to us and they were like, 'She's the Student Body President!'" And she says, she just remembered thinking, "Oh my goodness, this Black woman is in charge of the whole university!
She's the Student Body President!" And she said that day I inspired her to want to be Student Body President of her university. And she went on to Spelman College, where she became Student Body President of Spelman College. And... 20 years later, we're on a whim with Black Women Call and we're connected. And for me, that was just this moment of recognizing you don't know, you have no idea where you are, what you're doing, somebody is watching, somebody can be inspired.
And so this was this young woman who I really honestly didn't remember. I mean, I remember students would come on campus. But me, my, my presence, just my physical presence as a Black woman, seeing me inspired her. And so I, and, and I can only imagine the countless young women that she's inspired. And so for me, it was just this touching moment to, to reinforce the importance of representation, and for us just to show up. Uh, just to show up and just to be, and what that can do for other women alongside you and women that are coming behind you.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: That's such a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing that. It, um, it is bringing up for me, you know, a lot of times when I, when I, myself, am doing like public speaking engagements, I always mention that I'm gay. And I, there was a couple of times where people were like, "Why do you, why do you feel like that's such an important thing to do, to share, share with people, that you're gay?"
And I tell them that, and I said, "Well, I share for two main reasons. One, I want to honor and name the... how far we have come. And how far, um, and me being able to have the opportunity or moment to say that I'm gay. Um, and two, how much more work we have to do." Um, because I know that while we have made advancements and while there are more out, um, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender folks, there's a lot more needed for equity and justice.
Um, and I think about multiple folks at these different conferences coming up to me just saying, "Hey, I am gay, or I'm a lesbian, or I'm trans. And you, you sharing, just sharing your story and being able to be like here as a, and to know that we have people who, who are 'like us' or who share these experiences is, is..." Um, to your point, um, you don't realize or understand the impact -- and you may not!
So, how do you live in your full truth? How do you live, bring your full selves into any space you're in, knowing that there is a chance or an opportunity for you to inspire, for you to, um, encourage and to be encouraging to someone, especially if they might be having a bad day or who have lots of questions or wondering what, um, you know, what's next, what's their next steps or what their next dream or vision is going to be? Right. Like seeing you inspired her to become Student Body President of her, um, university. And so, um, I'm, I'm inspired and just continue to be reminded of like, our roles in doing that in part of me, that's part of being a boss. It's like, if we can be our full selves, if we, if we can help inspire others to be their full selves, that is part of how we build an ongoing generation and cadre of more, even more bosses. Um, I want to shift a little bit, cause I'm, I'm thinking a lot now about, um, uh, failure and rejection and how often people sometimes don't take risks because they are afraid of failure or rejection. Um, in, in, in my journey, I've found that experiencing setbacks have actually taught me some of my own greatest lessons and strengthened my sense of self. Can you, um, tell us about a time when failure or rejection was your friend?
Jotaka Eaddy: Hmm. I don't think we talk about failure enough. And I, as much as I love technology, as much as, um, technology has been a very important part of - particularly the last, uh, several years of my life. I also think that it is a perpetuator of the notion that everything is often perfect in most people's lives. And it could be the furthest thing from the truth. I think that we need to embrace failure more -- and I don't necessarily like to think of it necessarily as "failure," but the lessons, the lessons that we learn...
throughout life. And, and for me, um, you know, there, there are two that stick out. Um, I'll talk about one. It's, it's really the, when I transitioned into Silicon Valley. When I went into tech in Silicon Valley, I was very reluctant. I dealt with imposter syndrome. Um, you know, not feeling like I belonged. You know, despite I had, you know, helped win a Supreme Court case,
I lobbied in the UN, and helped expand voting rights in, you know, states across the country. I still didn't see, uh, you know, a place for myself. Um, but, I, you know, mustered up the courage, pushed along by many mentors, and supporters, and friends. And when I went into the industry, it was very public. Because at the time, there had not been a transition for many people like myself into the tech industry.
And so it was a very public thing. It was, you know, a big leap for me because I was leaving like a career in civil rights at the time to go do this new thing. But eight months into my journey into tech, uh, the company that I first went to work with, um, had what was called a "reduction in force." So, basically, I was impacted by that. And I no longer had a job.
And I remember feeling a range of emotions. I felt like a failure. I felt like I had let down all of my friends. I was embarrassed. I was like, "Oh no!" Like, "I, I did this very public thing and here and now, it didn't work out." Uh, now when I think on it, I'm like, it's just the thing that happened. It happens all the time in tech companies.
Um, you just kinda go to the next thing. Um, but for me, if you could imagine you grew up your whole life and everything has been about like a job and you stay in a job and a career for many years... Um, tech is very different. A lot of people stay at a tech company for two, maybe three years and they go to the next thing.
Um, but it was very, you know, devastating for me. And I remember feeling very embarrassed. I remember feeling very much like a failure, and I remember just being incredibly sad about what had happened. I didn't want to see people. And there was this video that I saw on Facebook. And it was a video of Oprah Winfrey. And she was speaking at Stanford University.
And in this talk at the end of the conversation, they asked her, did she have any other comments? And she sat up and she says, "There are no mistakes. There are no mistakes." And I felt as if Oprah was talking directly to me, when she said this. She says that marriage that doesn't work out, that job doesn't work out, it is simply the universe... just to paraphrase what she was saying. It's simply the universe moving you in the direction that you are divinely meant to walk. And at that moment, it became clear to me that I had a choice. Either I was going to sit here and sulk, and I was going to feel sorry for myself about something that I had no control over, that had nothing to do with my talents, or, you know, my skill set, and everything to do with outside funding source. Or, you know, was I going to sort of recognize that this was a pull in my life? A different, you know, this was a pull in a different direction. And honestly, had it not been for that moment, I probably would not be here today. You know, after that moment, my career took, you know, this massive leap forward. I went to another company.
I became a C-suite executive. Um, I became a board advisor to many tech companies. Um, things just sort of really went amazing for me. And now here I am. You know, now I own my own company. I'm an investor in many, many tech companies. I'm a board advisor to several tech companies. Um, and I've helped many tech companies grow and scale not only impact, but also revenue.
And so I think back on that moment of, you know, feeling like a failure, and I think that often happens to us. And I think the important thing for us is to recognize the lesson in all of these moments. You know, there've been so many times, you know, in my organizing, uh, you know, you know, the work that I've done - and I've, I worked on death penalty cases.
And so a loss or not winning or feeling like you did, "If I would've did this, maybe this person wouldn't have been ultimately executed and, you know, justice, and justice prevails." Um, so there, there are many different consequences and, and not to compare those type of failures, but I, I think often we have to ask ourselves:
what are the lessons? You know, what did I learn from this? How can I grow from this? What do I take from this? How do I build strength from this? And how do I take that strength and move it to the next thing? And whether or not that was, you know, losing a battle around a death penalty case, you know, how do I actually take the lessons learned? And try to ensure that we create justice for the next person. Or whether or not that's just a setback in life. Um, because often I think setbacks can set us up for great success in the future. If we kind of just really reconfigure how we think about things. You know, I'm definitely the girl that thinks of the glass as half full, um, and not half empty. Uh, and I think similarly, when we think about setbacks, if we think about them that way -- we think about them as lessons -- I think that we can grow from them and evolve, uh, from them.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Mmn, I appreciate that.
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Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: And I'm, and as a follow-up to that, um, where do you think... how do you, how do you think folks formulate or understand if the glass is half full or half empty, or if they see a setback or, or a lesson? Like, do you, is there a place you think that that comes from? Or something that helps, helps people think or understand it in that way? And if so, how, how could we support or help shift that as, as we become more aware? As we learn and unlearn? I'm curious your thoughts on how we can support more folks having some of these perspectives.
Jotaka Eaddy: I think it's talking about it more. And I think the first thing we have to do is acknowledge.
I just wish there was a day that, you know, people would on social media, would just acknowledge like, this, this is, you know, this is what I, how I messed up this week, you know, make it very real for people. I think that's the first thing is just acknowledging that we are not perfect. We are perfectly imperfect humans. And that is so important for everybody to understand, is that we were not built to be perfect.
Indeed I believe that God intended for all of us to be masterpieces. But even the best masterpiece has slight imperfections that actually make them unique and perfect. To, to... I mean, it's sort of, kind of like throwing it on its head. But that's like my, my ultimate belief. And I think we need to own it more and talk about it.
I think it's also important for us to think about, um, our perspectives on just evolution and growth. You know, every day - and I've been doing this every day this year. I wake up in the morning and I say, "Jotaka, you have a choice. Either you're going to evolve, or you're going to repeat." Not every day I evolve. Some days I'm in a slum of repeat. Repetition. Kind of fall into a slumber. But it is my hope and my prayer that I will evolve more than I repeat. And I think it's important for us to give ourselves grace. To give ourselves space and to love on ourselves enough to say, "It's okay when you don't get it right." But what's more important is that when you set back or when you repeat that you recognize that there's space and room for you to bounce back and evolve and to grow. And I think that's what it's gonna take. It's gonna take us giving ourselves grace, and space, and giving each other space and grace. And saying it's okay.
It's absolutely okay. It's all right. Um, you know, and the more we do that, I think we can then truly be the boss.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Mmmn.
Jotaka Eaddy: We can truly be our whole authentic selves, because society has led us to believe that we have to operate and live inside these unnecessary boxes created. And boxes are something that suffocates us. And I think when we think about our friends circle or we think about even just how we put parameters around our own selves, our own thoughts, our own dreams, that when you find yourself in a box it's uncomfortable. It's, it's, we're not meant to be in boxes. And I think we have to start breaking out of those boxes, um, and allowing ourselves to be authentically, whoever it is that we want to be.
And when you are able to be who you want to be? Now, my friend, that is truly being a boss. That's the definition of a boss.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: You are such a gem, Jotaka. I, I, we, we met when, um, I was, I started with the United States Student Association. And one thing that I, uh, we used to say as a joke, but I think as I'm like, um, advancing in my career, it's like less of a joke, but just part of life around, you know, we're, uh, lifelong students. And that, that learning goes beyond the walls of a classroom and that there's this a certain level of humility in it. And, to knowing that the openness that you can learn and get new lessons from other folks. And that in addition to you offering things that like part of this is, is this collectivity and ability to kind of learn and grow and challenge and unlearn together.
Um, and so I, I, I, I love you saying like "perfectly imperfect humans." 'Cause I think, I think, um, we, we, we are so socialized and forced to be perfect, to have to be at a certain level and it's, and um, sometimes it's like, well, based on whose standards? And how are we actually, how are we actually flipping it on its head to say like, how can we be our best selves? And how can we support and create culture and spaces where that allows us to be our best selves, to be our truest selves, our fullest selves.
And so my heart is so warm, just hearing you talk about what that means and knowing that -- and seeing you in different places and spaces, being able to, to bring that to life and to, to offer like in real time, the examples and spaces where folks can do that. Um, and that's what I guess that's a big vision and dream of mine is like: how do we, how do we have this be felt by everyone?
Everyone deserves joy, everyone deserves happiness and, um, the ability to be their full selves. And so may, may all of our collective efforts continue to bring that kind of peace, and, um, uh, inclusiveness, and justice and liberation for us all. Um, another question I would love to ask you is, um, as you are reflecting on this incredible journey that you've been on so far -- and I can only imagine what's to come-- when you think about the younger Jotaka: the younger Jotaka before she had a chance to go to this conference; before she, left, uh, moved from this small town in South Carolina... is there anything that you would tell her? Um, um, then? That, um, after the experiences that you've had through the years?
Jotaka Eaddy: Um, you know, I would tell younger, younger Jotaka... Well, one thing I would tell her: "It's absolutely okay to have 'talks too much' on your report card." I used to get "talks too much" on my report card. All the time. And it used to scare me. Now sort of, if I could go back to that girl and say, "You know what girl? That 'talks too much' is gonna work for you one day. Um, girl, you going to have a television show!
Uh, you go, you, you know, you gonna talk for a living. Um, maintain it! But it's okay." Um, but in all seriousness, the thing that I mostly would tell her is that she's enough. That she's absolutely enough. That throughout, you know, the journey, society is going to reinforce this idea that you're not enough. Whether or not what you see on television, what you read on books, what people may say to you, how people may treat you.
They may lead you to second-guess your worth and who you are. But you are someone that comes from a long legacy of greatness. And that you are absolutely enough. And to just enjoy the journey. Take it in. Live in gratitude, and know that it only gets better.
Please, please forgive me. I meant younger Jotaka, because you are still young, Jotaka.
Um, but I met the younger Jotaka that -- before, before you've had, um, the, the, the journey that you are, that you have been on. So, uh, I stand corrected and apologies.
You just said "younger."
I am getting a little bit older, though. You know, I started to look around and I hear songs and I'm like, "Who's this?" Oh my goodness. I am dating myself.
I'm a seventies' baby.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Uh, I hear a term that people are using is they're "seasoned."
Jotaka Eaddy: Seasoned! I'm, uh, seasoned baby. I'm well-seasoned.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: You're well-seasoned!
Jotaka Eaddy: I'm well-seasoned, baby!
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Um, well, I, I am, um, and I'm, I'm just, I'm actually sitting here, reflecting and thinking about the younger Jotaka, and, um, and those affirmations that you're offering, and I'm hoping that that could be a, a word of, although it could be words of, and gems of inspiration and aspiration for others. Um, cause I, I, I know that as I've been learning, it's one thing that I'm taking is like, it's never too late. Like you can -- no matter it, no matter your age, no matter. Um, whatever your circumstance, if you have a dream and a vision and a goal, like it's never too late to go for it.
Um, and I am hoping that hearing folks, folks hearing from bosses like yourself, Jotaka, and others on this podcast, that they will feel inspired to take that leap of faith. They will feel inspired to work, to, to spend that time and energy on their exciting idea and bold, audacious vision they have for the world.
Um, and so thank you, um, for being who you are, for taking some time to be on the Be the Boss Now podcast, and for continuing to be an ongoing inspiration even for myself. I, I feel really grateful to have been able to continue to share space, but especially this opportunity to, um, uh, have more folks get to learn more and love the Jotaka that I, I've been able to get to know through the years.
Jotaka Eaddy: I am so grateful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Stephanie. Um, I'm, I'm grateful and I'm inspired by you. And, uh, you know, as our good friend, David John often says "iron indeed sharpens iron."
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Thank you, Jotaka.
Gregory Allan Datu Cendana: Thank you for checking out the #BeTheBossNow Podcast with your host Gregory Allan Datu Cendana, President and Co-Founder of Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting. We believe you CAN and WILL be a stronger entrepreneur embracing fear, honoring failure, and remaining humble enough to be teachable.
Check out our book, this podcast, and other resources available for those of you current or aspiring bosses at BeTheBossNow.com. Be sure to follow Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting and myself on all major social media platforms @CSWSconsulting and @gregorycendana. More information can be found on our website at CSWSConsulting.com.
The Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting team would like to thank the following people who were critical to the production of the #BeTheBossNow Podcast:
Vanessa Shiliwala of Thrive Spice Media, Executive Producer
melissa kelley colibri, accessibility coordinator
darryn rousseau hollifield and Stephanie Chao, American Sign Language Interpreters
All my family, friends, educators, and anyone–including the naysayers–who played a role in shaping the boss I am today.
This is for you and for you and everyone with an idea of starting a business, let this be a guide, light, and motivation. We all can be the boss NOW.