ISBLI has cemented how I will move forward as a leader: I will listen deeply, be honest, value surprises, and pay attention to how I am leading others.

As a kid growing up in Houston Texas, I was often the one nominated to lead the group. From those days until now, I have always held leadership roles. Currently, I serve as the Director of Training for the International Human Trafficking Institute (IHTI). When the opportunity presented itself to apply to ISBLI, I knew I would be stepping out of my comfort zone by participating in a leadership program sponsored by a religious community I had no previous knowledge of or contact with.

By enrolling in ISBLI I expanded my world view by meeting people from other cultural backgrounds while enhancing my leadership skills. As the Director of Training for IHTI, understanding my own bias is imperative for me to be more intentional with my words and actions in group settings. My participation in ISBLI was an opportunity for to take a look in the mirror and explore my leadership qualities.

ISBLI has been an unforgettable experience with memories of phenomenal speakers etched in my mind. Listening to and interacting with our speakers helped me to learn how to lead more intentionally and understand that no project is just about me or my thoughts. What made the Blue Team work well together was the mutual understanding that everyone felt free to voice their opinions and that those opinions mattered. The Blue Team shared the workload, developing a successful project for Al Falah Academy.

Personally, I think this experience has prepared me to continue moving in professional circles with ease. ISBLI has cemented how I will move forward as a leader: I will listen deeply, be honest, value surprises, and pay attention to how I am leading others.

I would like to thank the ISBLI team for the opportunity to sit with some of the most brilliant minds in Atlanta. I also want to thank ISBLI for pivoting in the midst of the pandemic to offer an Institute that will assist me in strengthening my capacity to advance several of the sustainable development goals in my community. I thank ISBLI for inviting phenomenal guest presenters to share their thoughts, work and wisdom with us. As a professional, I am grateful and I am confident that I will bring this experience to IHTI, its training program and other organizational boards that I serve on throughout metro Atlanta.