This Sisters with Superpowers story is sponsored by Chevy.
Maya Hightower is the community relations director at Witherite Law Group. As a community relations director, Hightower works with nonprofits and schools in areas where personal injury clients in underserved communities in Dallas, Atlanta, and Chicago reside. She establishes and maintains relationships within those communities to provide the resources, basic essentials, and support needed to serve clients year after year.
As a Black woman, what do you consider your superpowers to be?
My superpower as a Black woman is my vision and my empathy. To be the most effective in my current role, I must be able to see the needs of others over and beyond what they are able to communicate. I must listen to their story, read between the lines, and put myself in their shoes. In truly connecting with our partners, I need to hear the unsaid, anticipate needs, and put together an executable plan that not only aligns with their brand, but one that best serves the people.
What key skills or qualities make you unique as an African American female leader?
The key qualities or skills that make me unique as an African American female leader is my desire to connect to communities and people who grew up like me and who live in underserved areas like the ones in which I lived. [It’s important] to know and understand the desire to want better for yourself, your family, and your community, to know that when given the proper resources and opportunities, we can soar. As a leader at Witherite Law Group, I am in a position to make decisions that can be pivotal to the trajectory of the lives of many. I take that responsibility very seriously and handle it with great care.
Why is it important for women of color to work in leadership roles and decision-making capacities?
It is important for women of color to work in leadership roles and decision-making capacities to not only serve as an example and inspiration to young professionals of color, but to also ensure that our voices [are] heard, that we are considered in the decisions being made, that we are not misrepresented, and our perspective is communicated appropriately.
Why should more experienced Black women reach back and help younger women of color?
It is not only important but critical for more experienced Black women to reach back and help younger women of color. Reaching back and including them in your journey lets them know that they don’t have to walk and navigate their professional path alone. Our experiences supply them with the cheat codes, cliff notes, and guidance needed to navigate a world that was not meant for us. It is our job to show them that they are not alone and don’t have to figure it all out for themselves. Though learning their own way is key, they don’t have to do it blindly when we have the blueprint.
As a successful woman in business, what is your greatest or proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement as a successful woman in business is being in a position to bring other women up with me.
