I have been told that I am a leader who exudes soft confidence and that one of my superpowers is making people feel comfortable through humor. It’s been said that laughter may be a form of courage, but another form of courage is facing the unknown.
I have decided to be more courageous in my career, but in all honesty, these acts of courage haven’t all been wins. Courage doesn’t always result in immediate victory, sometimes it means that you may fall flat on your face and then muster the courage to get back up. Other times it’s just hard to open that laptop in the morning, but I do it anyway with a little bit of courage.
I have been an AIGA member for many years. However, I have been wanting to apply to volunteer for AIGA for YEARS but never had the courage to do so.
Like many introverts, (yes, I am an introvert who makes people laugh) the notion of meeting new humans is terrifying. In November 2021, I armed myself with courage and filled out the AIGA SD/TJ Chapter Leadership interest form. I submitted it expecting nothing in return.
A month later, I received an email from MaeLin Levine, the newly elected President of the AIGA SD/TJ chapter, thanking me for my interest and asking me if I might have time to meet and discuss possibilities.
Two days later, I had a zoom meeting with MaeLin. I was nervous but her soft confidence made me feel at ease right away. I walked her through my creative leadership experience and my passion for volunteer work. I wanted to see the cities of San Diego and Tijuana flourish as one community through design.
For the next few months, I attended the monthly chapter calls to humbly listen and learn. By March 2022, I was asked to be a Board Member as the Events Coordinator for AIGA SD/TJ. At that moment, I was happier than the day I paid off my student loans. My main responsibility was working alongside Amy Levine, to help with the Y Design Conference planning, taking place that fall.
By the summer, I was asked to be the panel moderator for the Y Design Conference’s Leading In House Creative Teams ThinkShop. I was filled with fear, so I immediately said “yes.”. The panelists included John Alexander from ServiceNow, Sara Jacobsen from Yogananda Seva/Voluntary League, and Chase Wood, Taco Bell Creative. I courageously met with three strangers (panelists) over lunch where we shared career values, culture aspirations, and creative challenges. I had the massive job of encouraging them to tell their stories, and somehow blend it all together into compelling topics. At the end, I knew I had done a good job when I made the audience laugh.
Here’s what I have learned so far. Courage doesn’t have to be loud and it can come in many forms. In this case, as a submit button, a terrified “yes,” and the curiosity of what else I can do for the San Diego and Tijuana design community.