Meet Member
Angelina Brathwaite
What is the biggest challenge facing women leaders in our industry today and how do you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges facing today’s women leaders is the “Imposter Syndrome”. Imposter syndrome is that nagging doubt that can creep in sometimes – that you are somehow about to be “found out” as unqualified.
When faced with systemic gender bias and inequality, women often have difficulty forming an accurate self- assessment. Self-doubt interferes with our ability to stand confidently in our accomplishments. If you doubt yourself even when you’re doing all the right things, are you doomed to feel like an imposter, no matter what. I did not even know this was a “thing” until WLP had an event that broached this subject. I never knew there was a coined term or even knew that women in power or leadership could even feel this way, especially in light of their successes. Some of the best ways I have overcome the “Imposter Syndrome” are:
I acknowledge its presence. Before I could address it, I had to consciously think like a non-imposter and recognize the value I bring to the table.
There are times when I felt inadequate when comparing myself to my peers. I had to recognize that it happens to everyone despite their title, race or financial status. Recognizing that I am not alone changed the lens.
A sense of belonging fosters confidence. Sometimes I am the only person in a meeting or conferences that looks like me. Oftentimes I am “the older one” and I think it only natural that I sometimes feel like I don’t totally fit in. As a woman of color there’s that added pressure to represent the entire black community. Instead of internalizing my self-doubt and allowing it to undermine my confidence, I recognize that it might be a normal response to being on the receiving end of social stereotypes about competence and intelligence. I see it sometimes as an opportunity to change that narrative and to brave and bold as I was meant to be.
I focus on the positive and give gratitude for my blessings. At the end of each day I write a minimum of 10 things I am grateful for. There is always something to celebrate no matter how bad your day may have been.
Another key is to continue to strive for excellence not perfection when it matters most. I have learned to forgive myself when inevitable mistake happens. A mistake opens the door to learning - how can I convert this into an opportunity?
I have learned not to be afraid to ask for help. When I ask for help, I create an opportunity for someone else to provide guidance, and that helps others validate their self-worth.
In the last few years, I have used visualization to support my success. I do what professional athletes do. At the beginning of each year I spend time picturing myself making successful presentations/pitches, celebrating exceeding my KPIs and visualizing myself healthy on a yacht in Santorini (okay so maybe not this year).
And finally, I don’t have to be 100% confident to start putting myself out there. Courage comes from taking risks. If we continue to change our behavior first, I believe our confidence will continue to build.
What is the leadership/business framework you use most often to help you lead effectively?
I would define my leadership style as "inclusive leadership". I intentionally and actively seek out and consider different point of views and perspectives. In doing this, I try to be mindful of my own biases and preferences and the inclusion of a diverse team helps to stimulate creative tensions leading to better decision-making.
As the North American Leader of the America's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Brunel it is imperative that I always ensure there are fair practices of inclusion for our internal staff, clients, candidates and contractors.
What trend in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry does not get enough attention?
The healthcare industry thrives on innovation, but there remains a need to promote equity in clinical trials, where first-in-class medicines are typically brought to market based on data from majority of male patients. There are unique barriers present for minority and underrepresented populations to participate in Clinical Trials: Social Economics of Health, Mistrust, Awareness.
Women and minorities have demanded and achieved greater representation in government, pop culture and industry, but year after year, researchers have flagged a lack of diverse inclusion in drug trials. The result is medications that simply do not work the same way in women as they do in men, or that prove more harmful to certain races than to the participants in whom the drugs were tested.
It is important for clinical trial participants to reflect the diversity of the population that is going to use the product so that sub-population data can be appropriately analyzed, and more meaningful clinical data can be communicated to the public.
There are many benefits to diverse participation. Racial and ethnic minority participation helps researchers find better treatments and better ways to fight diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. These and other conditions disproportionate impact diverse communities. It’s essential to uncover differences by race and ethnicity in order to deliver safe and effective therapies for all of us instead of just some of us.
I am confident that with heightened awareness and commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials we will see this turn around.
Source: Medical News Today
What does Black History Month mean to me?
It really is a sense of pride, a time of celebration, acknowledgement, and an opportunity to educate each other about the contributions Black people have made to science, education, entertainment, government etc. For me Black History Month is a time to rejoice and reflect on the challenges that we have overcome.
What is the most important thing you learned from a professional failure?
I have learned to turn lemons into lemonade. I look at the situation and ask myself what went wrong and why? What is the lesson? How can I convert this failure into an opportunity?
Self-talk can be incredibly damaging, especially after a failure. I have learned to handle my self-talk after a failure. I let it sting for a moment, and then do everything I can to stay positive and get back on track. My gratitude journaling really helps with this.
What is one characteristic you believe every leader should possess?
I believe that every leader should be humble, have a sense of self-awareness and focus on developing others. Humble leaders listen more effectively, inspire great teamwork, and focus everyone (including themselves) on the common goal.