A unique and colorful Rhino
I need to start this month’s blog with an apology. In my blog, A Woke Awakening, (an essential blog for new readers), I misrepresented the length of The Awakening by Kate Chopin. As noted in that blog, I read this late 19th century novel in the late 20th century. In the back of my mind, I remembered it as a short but powerful read that brought and still brings clarity to my life, and particularly my transition. In my minimal research, I misread the length as quite a substantial book. I hesitated recommending a 300 page book read. It turns out my memory was better than my fact finding. The book is under 100 pages. I can now highly encourage everyone to read this remarkable novel of self-awareness, non-conformity and a woman’s fight against society’s norms.
How did I find the error of my ways? Thanks for asking. I was recently honored to speak to MicroStrategy’s LGBTQIA+ and Women’s Leadership DEIA groups, I began with a quote from The Awakening. it was suggested I use a copy of the book as a prop. Amazon delivered on the suggestion with an unexpectedly very thin book. Verifying my memory, adding a prop to my talks and not adding a heavy load.
The world, unfortunately, is full of firsts and pioneer leaders. The first woman leader of …; the first black woman to win …, the first openly gay … athlete, the first all women endeavor to be nominated for the … award, the first trans actor to play a trans role, etc. Someday there will be a first non-white male NASA administrator and maybe even a first female president. Why did I start with “unfortunately”? Each of these firsts is a marker of how long and tortuous a road to a diverse and inclusive leadership world we have been on and how much traveling is still ahead.
I describe myself as a reluctant pioneer when in the 1990s I transitioned at NASA my transitioning from male to female in the 1990’s. I did not want to have that “first” recognition. I just wanted to be recognized for my leadership and skills. I now better understand the importance of having firsts to point to and can revel in being a pioneer and leader. Even today as my accomplishments are met with awards and accolades, in most if not all instances I am the first rans-woman to be so recognized. I also continue to be one of the few women in a room full of primarily white males particularly in leadership and technical areas. An experience I had a few years ago is very illustrative of hope vs. reality. A company asked me to attend a panel of female leaders to discuss leadership and increasing opportunities for women in the private technical sector. It was an intimate discussion – only about a dozen people. There were four women – the panelists (including the Secret Service deputy CIO in full Secret Service uniform – very impressive). And the rest were all male. Oh, wait, they did have one female from the company there – she was outside the meeting, signing people in. The company leadership was saying all the right inclusionary statements and brought in an interesting panel, but they needed to recognize what message their own leadership portrait displayed.
While it is unfortunate that we have many firsts still occurring and so many more still to happen, each one needs to be recognized and celebrated. My path was made easier by a number of circumstances including a strong support for diversity and inclusion within the ranks at NASA – from the amazing women of Hidden Figures fame to my current leaders of Sarah and Karla. I have had strong role models including ly my mentor and friend, Mary. I suspect most people associated with firsts and with being a leader do so with a purpose of fulfilling their own potential without regard to the firsts. But that does not mean the obstacles are not there and even after the firsts the seconds, thirds, etc. may still be few and far between.
Ultimately, I am limited in speaking about direct issues I have faced either as a woman or a trans-woman rising to a high profile and highly successful leadership position. I am sure they existed and still exist for me. The three leadership focal points for me are: inspiration, representation, and trail blazing. All three go both ways. I am inspired by the increased number of women leaders and the still nascent but growing LGBTQIA+ staff and leaders. I write this column and am speaking out where asked (and maybe sometimes when not) in the hopes of inspiring others by my story; past, present and future. While not yet understanding the meaning of representation 30 years ago, one prime example that moved me was the documentary Paris is Burning. The film is focused on the New York drag scene and also included a trans woman’s story – how is that for representation within representation. Today, I recognize my role as representing both women leaders when I am in that otherwise all-male meeting and also as a highly visible trans-woman leading a visionary and successful major Government program. Trail blazers such as my mentor Mary and many other Governmental, Industry and personals women leaders cleared my path and others in ways that I may never fully appreciate. I also have blazed a then non-existent trail for trans-women especially in the Government and in senior positions. I am not speaking writing, inspiring and representing for self-glory or money. I do so to blaze the trail so the seconds and thirds will have a clearer path that will eliminate the need for numbering the women and trans leaders unnecessary.
(behind the scenes notes: I typically think about the theme and main points to write on for days if not weeks in advance, and then I write a final (and first) draft in a few hours and then re-edit for the published post soon thereafter. This post took much more effort and re-theming and re-writing over multiple days. I had many routes that leadership discussion could go and I ended up with about 2 and a half posts before gaining the focus that I hopefully provided in the end)
Rhino Ramblings 
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