How Identity Influenced a Leadership Coach's Career at HED Space Coaching
Cheddy's multifaceted minority identity— encompassing Black Afro-Caribbean heritage, immigrant status, military experience, and disability— initially felt like a barrier to fitting in, but they later recognized their differences as strengths. This realization enabled a career marked by success in international settings, leveraging their diverse background to connect with people from all walks of life and build bridges, demonstrating that "all of my differences are actually my strengths."
Executive/Leadership, Communication, Overcoming Challenges, Diversity & Inclusion, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Cheddy Matthews
Executive Leadership Coach
HED Space Coaching
NC State University 2000
UCLA EMBA 2024
Political Science, American Studies
Coaching, Speaking & Writing
Strategic Management and Executive
Disabled, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Veteran, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Embracing differences as strengths: Cheddy highlights how her diverse background—including her race, nationality, military experience, and disability—initially felt like weaknesses but became her greatest assets in connecting with people from various backgrounds and cultures. She emphasizes that these differences allow her to build bridges and foster understanding in diverse settings.
2. Navigating identity in the workplace: Cheddy shares her experience of being perceived as different and the challenges of fitting in. However, she uses her personal narrative to show how she overcame feelings of not belonging by realizing and leveraging the power of her unique identity. This offers valuable insights into the importance of self-acceptance and self-advocacy in a professional setting.
3. Using differences to excel: The interview showcases how Cheddy's diverse identity enables her to work effectively with diverse teams and international organizations. Her ability to connect with individuals from different cultures and backgrounds, even through unexpected methods like language, exemplifies the strength of embracing one's unique identity and leveraging it for success in executive leadership coaching.
Transcript
Cherry, as someone who identifies as a multifaceted minority, how has that impacted the way you navigate your career?
Wow, that's a lot to unpack. I'm going to get my fingers out so I can count all these. I'll probably miss a few, but I'm a Black, Afro-Caribbean person from Jamaica. I'm actually of European descent because my parents are from Jamaica, and I'm from England. I'm an immigrant, a military vet, and I'm disabled.
I'm sure there are other things out there, but all those differences growing up made me feel small, like I didn't fit in. I realized something when I was younger, probably in junior high: "Stop trying to fit in. Just be you." I've realized that all my differences are actually my strengths.
I've used my differences to work with international organizations, people from different countries, and dissimilar organizations. I've used all of my differences to help people feel very comfortable in a room, whoever they are. I can have a conversation with most people because I'm not trying to assimilate. I'm just trying to be me, and I'm going to respect your culture and see who you are. I want to see you for who you are, and I realized that I want to be seen for who I am, and I want other people to be seen for who they are.
I had a boss who once told me, "You dance to the beat of a different drummer." I wondered what that meant, if it was code for something else. He didn't say, and I let him go there and say what he was trying to say, but he didn't. I have so much respect for that human being. I said, "Of course I do. I was born in a different country. My whole pedigree is different than yours. My whole life is different than yours. Of course, I'm different. I should be."
So, what he was trying to tell me was that what he perceived as a weakness is what I consider my absolute strength. I've used my diversity and the different minority statuses that I may have to excel in those spaces. I can talk to those groups. I can talk to most every group, but I can also find the thing that not only is different about us, but I can find the thing that brings us together.
Once, I was in Iraq, and a person asked me if I spoke a certain language. I said no. We were trying to talk, but we couldn't. I realized he could speak German, and I could understand German, but I couldn't speak it. I could speak French, but he couldn't speak French. This gentleman spoke to me in German, and I responded in French, and that's how we communicated. That's how you use your differences. It's not only a superpower. Mic drop on that one. The end. Stay amazing. Be you.