What is your title?
Lauren Wesley Wilson, President, ColorComm Inc.
What inspires you to show up to work every day?
I’m a connector, relationship builder and businesswoman. As the President of ColorComm Inc., which houses the professional membership organization for women of color in communications and C2 (ColorComm’s Conference 2014), I work to help strengthen the voices of those who are often underrepresented in business and political discourse.
I became frustrated with the lack of diversity at the senior level among people of color. I wondered why women of color weren’t getting to the VP level or above at the places where I worked.
I’m on a mission to diversify the communications industry and to bring more brand visibility to women of color at the mid- executive level. How can we believe that we can reach an executive level career if we don’t see examples around us?
How did you determine your career path?
Research. Research. Research. No one grows up saying, “I want to go into PR. I want to do communications.” You grow up wanting to be a lawyer, doctor or professional athlete, because those are the only type of careers that you’re exposed to at such a young age. Everything that I’m doing now is everything that I’ve always wanted, but I didn’t know what to call it. I read books, learned the industry, met the right people, put myself out there and realized, this is exactly what I want to do. This is my career and my calling.
Describe the future skills essential to future business leader and innovators.
1) Learn your business, industry, and environment. 2) Hire slowly, fire fast. 3) Have an end game in mind; else you will be working for the sake of working. Always make sure that the work that you’re doing is in line with your end game, goals, and purpose.
Names three books that changed how you saw life and you recommend to others.
Got What it Takes by Bill Boggs; You, Inc. by Harry Beckwith Christine Clifford ; and Basic Black by Cathie Black
What are the three most important factors of being a successful woman?
Be persistent. Be proactive. Give back.
Technology plays what role in your daily life?
I have three cell phones. I don’t want to be responsible for any other devices.
What social media or digital tool has made the biggest difference in your life and why?
Instagram, because it’s pure entertainment for me and sometimes we need to be entertained. Every other social media platform —LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc. — truly feels like work.
If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?
For everyone to slow down, just a little bit. We are all moving so quickly, yet we forget to live in the moment, we forget to enjoy one another’s company and to listen to the conversation. Our heads are always down on our phones — looking for the next email, responding to the next text, uploading an IG photo. We are not living in the moment; we are pretending to create moments.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
The ability to say no without giving a reason and to stop apologizing when I’m not really sorry.
What are the do’s and don’ts for young women in business?
Dos
• Do your research and know the players in your field. Who do you see speaking on panels, who do you see authoring articles, who are the visible leaders?
• If you want something, speak up.
