How Identity Has Influenced a Director's Career in Special Education Consulting
Anjanette's career trajectory in education, while initially typical for women, became more challenging as a woman in leadership; the additional scrutiny around communication style and emotional expression, amplified by their Latina identity, required careful navigation to effectively advocate for students and families, specifically highlighting "the importance of having language representation, language materials and language access for students who are multi-language learners and their families."
Leadership, Women in Leadership, Education, Diversity and Inclusion, Latinx Representation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anjanette Pelletier
Director
Special EducationConsulting
UC Berkeley
Cal State Hayward, Masters in Clincial Child School Psychology
Psychology
Coaching, Speaking & Writing, Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Being a woman in leadership positions, especially in education, can present unique challenges, including additional scrutiny on communication styles and emotional expression.
2. As a Latina leader, it's important to focus on lifting up the voices of younger Latina women and representing the needs of Hispanic students and their families.
3. Using one's leadership role to advocate for language representation, materials, and access for multilingual learners and their families is crucial. Being mindful of how personal characteristics might influence others' perceptions and interactions is important for navigating a career.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a Latina woman, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
I think that being a woman influences how a career path flows. I went into education, which is common for many women. There are lots of women in education.
As I moved up in my career, from service provider to leader, being a woman in leadership, even in education, became less common and more challenging. As a woman entering leadership, it's important to consider the additional scrutiny you'll receive regarding communication, emotional expression, word choice, and leadership style. This includes how you give people space or if you are more detail-oriented.
Being Latina also influences this. I present as white, so I have the privilege of choosing when I share that I identify as Latina, as it's not immediately obvious. However, as a Latina in leadership, I felt it was important to focus on amplifying the voices of younger women and Latina women.
I also aimed to represent the needs of Hispanic students and their families. A key aspect of my leadership was voicing the importance of language representation, materials, and access for multilingual learners and their families.
I chose to use my leadership role to voice the needs of those I served and make space for their voices. I didn't have ownership of everything that needed to be said. Being aware that others see you, and recognizing that saying "I'm not just a woman leader, I'm a Latina leader" can influence perception and interaction is crucial.
These characteristics can influence how others see and interact with you. You need to be thoughtful about your words and opportunities. This may not be fair and can be exhausting, but it's something to consider as you advance in your career.
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