You Will...Hayden Panettiere

"If you TRY, and you just BELIEVE, you CAN; you WILL."

--Hayden Panettiere

https://flic.kr/p/mJHnap

#LeadershipTuesdays: Follow Your Heart...April Reign

"Find something that speaks to your passion early and determine how you can create a career around that. So don't necessarily do the thing that someone told you you are supposed to do or what you think is expected of you. But, do something that truly speaks to your heart."

--April Reign, Creator of #OscarsSoWhite

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today, we present the second part of a two part interview with April Reign, the creator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. She is an attorney, public speaker, activist and Social Media Strategist.

With the creation of #OscarsSoWhite and her subsequent utilization of her expanded platform to amplify diverse voices on issues important to people and women of color, Reign has provided a textbook example of how to use social media to create social change. She has also created other hashtags like #NoConfederate to moblize a campaign against a period drama series titled "Confederate" that HBO greenlit in July 2017. The series envisions what life would be like in the United States if slavery had not been abolished. #ReignyDayJobs is another one of her creations where she provides a space on Twitter for both candidates and recruiters to tweet about their availability and job openings.

April's career advice to others is discover your passion as early as possible and determine how you can build a career around that. Be true to yourself and follow your heart.

To view the interview, click on the video below. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, go to womenatliberty.com. The 2018 Oscars Awards take place Sunday, March 4. For more information, go to Oscars.com.

Stay Positive...Germany Kent

"Convince yourself everyday that you are worthy of a good life. Let go of stress, breathe. Stay positive, all is well."

--Germany Kent

Some People Don't Deserve You...Shannon Adler

"Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you."

--Shannon L. Alder

Your time is limited and precious. It should be spent with people who value, genuinely care and love you. Sure, we all have to do things with individuals we may not particulary care for, but don't dwell in spaces where people are always negative and continuously criticize you. You deserve better than that.

#LeadershipTuesdays: Seize This Day...Akiroq Brost

"Seize this day. Make the most of it. Don't make excuses. Focus on what you can do...today and take advantage of this precious time you were given."

--Akiroq Brost

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today, in the second part of a two part series, we talk with April Reign, the creator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. She is an attorney, public speaker, activist and Social Media Strategist.

Many remember the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag that started trending on Twitter and made headlines around the world after the Oscars nominations were announced in January 2015. "Oscars So White" was a reaction to the fact that no people of color were nominated in the 20 acting and directing categories of the Oscars. If you don't remember, the Martin Luther King, Jr biopic "Selma" was nominated in the Best Picture and Song categories, and did win the Oscar for Best Song; however, many fans felt the film's director Ava Duvernay and leading actor David Oyelowo were snubbed. History repeated itself in 2016 when no actors or directors of color were nominated and Reign's hashtag began trending again.

Reign's hashtag gave voice to movie fans and industry players who were frustrated with Hollywood's lack of diversity. The 2015 Oscars nominations were just the tipping point. #LeadershipTuesdays talked w/April Reign about the creation and impact of #OscarsSoWhite and the changes that have taken place in the industry in the last three years. Reigns shrewd activism has had a measurable impact on the issue of diversity in Hollywood. 


See the interview below. Visit the link for more information on LeadershipTuesdays. The 2018 Oscars nominations will be announced today, January 23rd at 8:22 am EST. To view the nominations live or a re-broadcast, go to Oscars.com.

LeadershipTuesdays

You're Born Worthy...Viola Davis

"There's no prerequisites to worthiness. You're born worthy, and I think that's a message a lot of women need hear."

--Viola Davis, 75th Golden Globes

#LeadershipTuesdays: Inspiring Change...Barbara Januszkiewicz

 

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Change. It is a constant in our world, but it consistently garners resistance. It doesn't matter whether the change is positive or negative. Resistance will always accompany change. As a leader, you must know this and not be discouraged because your ideas cause people to question you and/or your motives. 

Creativity. Where does creativity come from? I believe creativity, as well as innovation, comes from a curious yearning, purpose and fire that burns within. Stoke your fire and protect it by putting yourself in spaces that will support your creativity and nuture your skills. Even if your work or school  environment doesn't provide the right opportunities for this, seek opportunities through networking and other professional associations. Stay away and limit your exposure to negative people and situations. Do your work, make connections, socialize your ideas, keep learning and keep moving forward. 

cnn.com

This year at the 2018 Golden Globes we saw an example of creativity and change in action. Women who are actresses, celebrities and activists united and wore black to say #TimesUp and no more silence on sexual harrassment, discrimination, and gender inequality. Shout to Tarana Burke who founded the #MeToo movement over ten years ago. I hope that the momentum started in 2017 will continue and be so invasive that those who use their power to diminish the voices of others will not be able to hide behind their positions and titles.

Here's wishing that 2018 exceeds your expectations and is your best year yet. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, go to: womenatliberty.com.