LeTiffany Obozele | YWCA Women of Excellence
TK: What inspires you?
LETIFFANY: Supportive empowered women, because they support and empower other.
TK: What have you learned about yourself through the challenges of the past year and a half?
LETIFFANY: I have a strong desire to learn and grow in my profession and as a person. I embraced having a growth mindset and giving myself permission to learn. I've taken on a new role that I've never had in a new job in a very different court/environment than I've ever practiced. I actively seek advice and information from a wide variety of individuals. I share what I learn in order to assist developing those I supervise. In learning to manage in a pandemic, I learned collaboration, communication, flexibility, and humility are key. I also learned that I have an awesome circle of family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and support.
TK: How do you take care of yourself?
LETIFFANY: I practice self care, which includes taking time for myself, enjoying my friends, and community. My FAVORITE thing I'm a part of in the community right now is Forge. It's mission to make Topeka a place where all young talent want to live, work, play, connect, and lead resonates brings me great joy. There's something for everyone. I've recently become invested in the health herd because I believe good mental and physical health matter.
TK: What is the best advice you've ever been given? Or what advice do you have for others?
LETIFFANY: "Give yourself permission to learn." I tend to be harder on myself than anyone could ever be. So, when I was stepping into my new role, all I could see was what I was doing wrong/didn't know/still had to learn/what I could do better, etc. Somehow someone telling me that simple phrase helped me not take myself too seriously and know that as you learn, sometimes you knock it out of the park, and other times you keep growing and adjusting, and as you know more, you become better, and do better. It really allowed me to take the pressure off myself and be kinder to myself.
TK: My vision for our community is that all feel welcome, supported, and safe. I hope that people live, work, play, connect, and lead in Topeka where they see fit and take up causes that are important to them and make our community better, stronger, and more knowledgeable.
LETIFFANY: My vision for Topeka is a strong, diverse, vibrant, healthy community with compassion, understanding and opportunities for everyone. I’m not sure that 2020 caused my vision to change as much as it has placed a new recognition and sense of urgency for the work it will take from all of us to accomplish that vision.
TK: The mission of YWCA is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. What does YWCA's mission mean to you?
LETIFFANY: The YWCA's mission is empowering. When I think of the mission it reminds me how important it is to empower people to have humane conversations, create forums that celebrate and build up women from all walks of life, and engaging our community in a variety of ways in causes that should matter for all.
The YWCA is on a mission to empower women at all stages in their careers. Diversity in leadership is particularly vital to our vibrant business community in the Greater Topeka Area.
