SHREVEPORT – It takes guts to be the first at something.
Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968, put those guts on display often in her fight for female representation and rights.
It’s one of Crystal Ellison’s favorite sayings, and she chose Chisholm as her example of a woman who’s impacted her journey.
Ellison was part of a panel discussion around female leadership during a program called “Honoring the Legacy of Women in History,” organized by LSUS sorority Lambda Nu Chi.
“Shirley Chisholm displayed an incredible amount of faith and fear in her walk to break a lot of barriers,” said Ellison, who is the director of the nonprofit MineMatters and community manager at Valiant Residential. “She set examples in education, in women’s rights – she was an influential figure.”
Keynote speaker Katrina D. Worsham knows something about being the first.
“I am proud to say that I am the first African-American woman to be a State Farm insurance agent in Northwest Louisiana and the first African-American woman to be a State Farm manager in the state,” Worsham said. “I am the first of many in my family to graduate from college.
“What I would ask is if your obituary were written today, what would your legacy be?”
Worsham had to face that question personally after doctors told her 30 months ago that she had six months to live.
Worsham, now a two-time cancer survivor, said she drew on the strength of her ancestors and didn’t just accept her medical fate.
“My ancestors lived through a lot more than cancer, and I wasn’t going to just accept that,” said Worsham, who said she’s now cancer free. “I just returned from a two-week trip to Ghana, and the strength of the women there was incredible.
“They were carrying children on their backs and products on their head – but they stood tall and straight like the weight was nothing at all.”
Worsham was named the 2024 Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman Award winner.
Much like the Ghanan women balance their physical load, American women are often asked to balance their careers and families.
“People always say work-life balance, but it’s my opinion that there really isn’t a work-life balance, there are priorities,” said Modesta Williams, president of Living The Vision Foundation and a cybersecurity professional. “What’s important to you -- you have to prioritize in that moment.
“My husband and family are important to me and they come first, but my career is important to me as well. It’s not a ‘this or that’ – it’s a ‘this and that.’ Determine that priority in the moment and learn how to delegate things to happen when you’re not there.”
Stephaney Tew, director of Contact Center Operations at Liviniti, offered that no matter how high the career ladder one climbs, never forget to learn from others.
“Know your strengths and opportunities,” Tew said. “Know the skillset that’s required to be in the role you want, but also make sure that position aligns with who you are and your values.
“Never stop being coachable. Having confidence in yourself whenever someone has a difficult or uncomfortable conversation, that confidence allows you to see it as a growth opportunity.”
Lambda Nu Chi academic chair Makayla Blaze organized the event to spotlight women’s contributions and inspire the next generation of female leaders.
“With everything happening right now, we wanted to highlight the contribution of women to our society,” Blaze said. “Women are the foundation of our history.
“Many things couldn’t have happened without the involvement of women, even if they weren’t specifically invited to have a seat at the table.”
