How Identity Has Influenced an Impact and Evaluation Consultant's Independent Career
Rakhee, a woman of color, attributes much of their career success to strong mentors but also notes often being "the only woman in a space," highlighting the importance of confidence and self-advocacy. This experience has motivated them to become a resource for others navigating similar challenges, leveraging their identity to create a supportive network and advance inclusivity within their field.
Mentorship, Networking, Overcoming Challenges, Confidence, Women in Analytics
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rakhee Patel
Impact & Evaluation Consultant
Independent Consultant
Wellesley College (studied abroad for 1 semester at University College London)
UCLA | M.S. and Ph.D. in Statistics (2011)
Mathematics, Data Science, Statistics
Consulting & Related Professional Services, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Consulting
Honors Student, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Mentorship played a significant role in Rakhee's career journey, highlighting the importance of seeking guidance from both men and women.
2. The lack of diversity in certain professional spaces made Rakhee's identity salient, leading her to reflect on how confidence and self-assurance were crucial for overcoming potential biases.
3. Rakhee emphasizes the value of being a resource for others navigating similar identity-related challenges, demonstrating the importance of community and support in a professional setting.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a woman of color, how would that impact how you navigate your career?
I've been very lucky. I've been fortunate to have a lot of great women mentors and male mentors, but really strong women mentors in my life.
That said, I've also often been the only woman in a space in my grad program and in different teams that I've been on in the analytics world. You know, I've been lucky to have a lot of great colleagues.
But in times where I felt like that's held me back or hindered the respect I would get, or even sometimes just my casual demeanor, and I'm small, I don't have expertise. I think that confidence piece is really important, and just owning who you are and what you're good at is important.
How it's helped my career is that I make sure I'm always there for other people like me. I will always talk to anybody who wants to talk to me about navigating the world as a woman, as a person of color. I'm actually very privileged as an Indian American.
I've had a lot of experiences and worked with a lot of people to help me understand how to navigate whatever intersectionality there is in your identity. So, I think it's really important to always be a resource for other people to help them navigate those spaces too.