H
ave you ever
worked with
someone in
your respective field
and everything gelled
so naturally? You
brought one element
to the table while
she/he brought the
missing piece. You
both were aligned
and like a puzzle, you
fit perfectly together.
Individually, you
each were a force
but collectively
you were better:
more resources,
less costs. Less
individual effort, greater
impact. Collaboration
obviously wins but why is
it sometimes difficult to
pursue?
As humans, it’s under-
standable to have a desire
to be heard and seen for
your individual gifts and
to want to showcase your
value and share it with
the world. Makes sense to
me. Most of the time, it’s
not that you don’t want to
collaborate, it’s just that
you want to be rewarded
for your individuality. But
what we must see, being
such a powerful force as a
unit, is that not wanting to
share the stage is
counter-productive to
reaching massive success.
publisher’s note
Essence Atkins, said it
best when she suggested
that women view each
other as assets instead
of adversaries (pg.).
Very true. Smart leaders
know the power of
collaboration and we’ve
seen this too often when
entrepreneurial-mind-
ed women combine
their gifts for a greater
mission. Notably, we’ve
witnessed this collective
power in 2017 when
four women, Bob Bland,
Tamika Mallory, Car-
men Perez and Linda
Sarsour, came together
to lead the largest sin-
gle-day protest in U.S.
history, the Women’s
March.
Collaboration isn't
about giving up your
own individuality. It's
about realizing your
potential."
This issue is packed
with perspectives
and views on how to
proactively harness
our power as a unit.
You’ll meet women like
Jenny LeFlore (pg.7) and
Halleemah Nash (pg.45)
whose community-
focused mindsets have
ignited legacies not only
for their families but
for future generations.
As it was best stated in
one of my favorite films,
Drumline, “One band,
While doing business, I’ve
had to check my own ego at
the door. When in doubt if I’m
being ego-free, I ask myself
honest questions like, “Is this
decision for the greater goal or
is this decision being made for
my own individual bragging
rights?” What I’ve come to
realize is that my light does
not diminish when someone
else’s light is brought into
the room. The room just gets
brighter.
Kris Christian
Cheers,
Collaboration isn’t about
giving up your individuali-
ty. It’s about realizing your This issue’s Cover girl,
potential.
#mademaven
5