91. See Your Identity as a Superpower with Shirley Collado, President and CEO of College Track

How can your identity become one of your greatest leadership strengths?

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Shirley Collado, President and CEO of College Track. Previously, Shirley served as president of Ithaca College, executive vice chancellor and chief operating officer at Rutgers University-Newark, and executive vice president of The Posse Foundation.

Shirley and I discuss how women of color can embrace their identity as a superpower and lead authentically in spaces that may not always expect them to. 

• Define Your Narrative Shirley drew strength from her upbringing as a first-generation college graduate and daughter of Dominican immigrants to define herself as smart, capable, caring, and worthy of leadership.

• Show Up in Fullness As a Dominican-American woman leading in higher education, Shirley defied expectations. She reminds us to embrace our identity fully, even in spaces where others may not expect it, and to use our voice to challenge stereotypes.

• Model Possibility for Others Representation matters. Shirley’s trailblazing career as the first Dominican-American president of a U.S. four-year college shows younger generations that leadership can come in diverse forms.

• Embrace the Strength in Differences Shirley highlights the unique strengths that come from being different, such as adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving, which first-gen students often possess..

• Turn Perceived Deficits into Strengths What makes you different is what makes you strong. Shirley encourages reframing perceived disadvantages, like navigating multiple worlds, into assets that make you a more effective and resilient leader.

Thank you, Shirley, for sharing your incredible story with us and showing how embracing your full identity can empower you and others to thrive.

#WomenLeaders #WomenOfColorRise #IdentityLeadership #CollegeTrack

Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-91-see-your-identity-as-a-superpower-with-shirley-collado-president-and-ceo-of-college-track