Leadership and updating your identity

This is something I have grappled with, and I want to share my story. A little background on myself, I am a woman with a STEM background, and straight out of university, I went on to work with an amazing company.

For the first four amazing years, I was what you call "a real engineer"; I enjoyed 16-degree server rooms, writing scripts, and the hustle and bustle of being a high-level service engineer. Four years into my career, I could no longer "log in" to a server. I remember having my credentials deactivated the very same day I joined the marketing department in the products and services section. My "identity" was gone!

Back a month, I knew this day was coming, and I was really struggling with it because no one really understood what a telecom engineer was going to do in a marketing department.However, I knew where my heart was and what I was going to do there. I followed my dreams and left.

My new job began. I had many meetings in the first week, coupled with sitting in boardroom meetings where more decisions were made. I had to find a new identity, fast. The change was huge, and with it came so much more responsibility. I was still the shy person who preferred scripting to being in the boardroom. All in all, nothing prepared me for the new life. I had to leave my shell and learn to speak up and be heard! I cannot even begin to explain the humility required to go back to the basics after leaving behind what I knew so well. I had to learn afresh. This new role, as I would soon find out, required me to spend another 3.5 years learning marketing, and today I am proud to call myself a woman in STEAM!

There are difficulties when we are thrust into the unknown and meet people who are as competent as we are, if not more so. In my case, I completely changed careers, and I was completely out of my element. What then? Have the courage and humility to update your identity when life calls for it. My lesson has been the importance of learning. Change is the only constant. As a leader, you must learn when to pivot, and with that comes a new identity.

#leadershipredefined


My name is Primera Muthoni and I enjoy designing products and services.  On other days you will find me supporting women entrepreneurs by helping them navigate and adopt technology  to accelerate business growth.

Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.


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