Imposter Syndrome Uncovered: Finding Your Power and Owning Your Space w/ Dr Pascale

 In this powerful episode of Girl Come Sit With Me, we dive deep into the reality of imposter syndrome—what it is, where it comes from, and how it disproportionately affects women, especially Black women. Joining Dom is Dr Pascale, a trailblazer in public health and founder of the Black Women in Public Health Connect Collective. 

Together, they break down the psychological roots of imposter syndrome, explore its ties to systemic oppression and perfectionism, and share practical strategies to challenge self-doubt, reframe success, and build community. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “faking it,” this episode will empower you to own your worth, take up space, and trust yourself fully. 

Transcript

Dom (00:00)
Okay. And you know I can edit anything. And I'm looking at, when you start speaking, which camera should I look at? It won't show you until you see yourself on the actual screen. Okay. Yep. So right now it's just you? Okay. So whenever it's just me, if you got to pick your nose or something, that's the best time. I think that would be the best time to do it. Okay. All right, everyone.

Nah, that's how I start my classes. Oh, Jesus. Just sounded like Professor Dog. OK. Hey, y'all. Welcome to Girl. Come sit with me. And we are in with a treat, OK? So girl, come sit with me as we tackle something many of us focus on and many of us struggle with, but we don't necessarily give it a name all the time. And that's imposter syndrome.

I've got a powerhouse guest with me today, someone who's not only does she break barriers, but she's lighting the way for Black women in public health. So y'all, please give a warm welcome for Dr. Pascal. I am so happy that she is with us today. Y'all, when I tell y'all, she does so much work with her business, Health Equity Innovation.

the Black Women in Health and Public Health Connect Collective. Her work is unmatched and I just can't be more excited that she's here. Thank you, Dom. I am so excited to be here. As Dom mentioned, my name is Dr. Pascal and I am the founder of Health Equity Innovations and the creator of the Black Women in Public Health Connect Collective. I am so happy to be here today to discuss imposter syndrome with Lee Won and Oni Dom.

Girl, thank you so much. So I had, it was one question that just kept popping into my head repeatedly when you and I first decided that this is what we were going to discuss today. So my thing is, I just want you to share your story and how you even realized that you were experiencing imposter syndrome. Yeah.

That's a deep question, Dom. So I think for me, first off, let me say like most people of color, Black women and men experience imposter syndrome. But I think for me, imposter syndrome, I recognize that I struggled with imposter syndrome, most likely during my dissertation, when I was doing my dissertation or my doctoral program for public health. And so I think there was always that sense of...

I'm breaking barriers for my family, right? I'm the first the only to pursue a doctorate in public health. And so it was just like, do I belong? And then most likely with black women, yes, we're the ones who were the most educated now, right? But when you're in these spaces, universities and colleges, you're the minority. And so at the time I was at the University of South Florida.

And there weren't many of us. Yes, USF, I am a bull, a two time bull, Northwestern and USF. And yes. I can't escape the bulls. No, you cannot. And so for me, there was always this questioning of like, am I enough? Can I do this? Right? Not having the blueprint. I was the blueprint. Right. And also there was this whole thing of perfectionism. Right. So most people who

And that's an imposter in itself. Exactly. Perfectionism is one of the signs of imposter syndrome. There's perfectionism, there's the superwoman syndrome, there's the soloist, like those who don't know how to ask for help. And I think there are two more that I'm missing. And so for me, was like a perfectionist. I'm still a perfectionist. And why is that? It's because I've always had to measure myself against the white standard.

The white is the norm. You're always like measuring yourself up against white people. Like if so-and-so could finish their dissertation in three years, why can't I? Why can't I? Right. But not recognizing that so-and-so has like, and when I say so-and-so who's like a white woman, they have like so many different privileges that I don't have as a black woman, right? And so I'm competing against the privileges that this white person has to, you know, meet this particular objective.

And because I'm competing against them, there's that sense of like, am I enough? Can I do this? Like, am I worthy of this and all this? So I think, yeah, for me, I really recognize that I suffered from or was experiencing, I don't want to say suffered from, but was experiencing imposter syndrome as I was finishing up my doctoral dissertation. But there are other factors too, like within the workplace. That's another one, yes. Yes. And I can go on and on and on about it, but within the workplace, you're the only one.

Right? And so you're always, you know, trying to make sure that you don't mess up. You don't slip up. Yes. You know, in these white environments. yeah, I think probably even, you know, I'd been sure to say probably even before the dissertation when I was working in predominantly white spaces within the health department in Florida. But I didn't know what it was called. Yes, we don't have a name for it. Exactly. We understand that we're feeling a particular way, but we don't necessarily.

have the tools or even just the knowledge to put a name on it. Exactly, yeah. And think about what we're taught as we grow up. As little black girls, they tell you, hey, or even black children in general, they tell you, you have to be better than everybody else. Right. You see how they can get away with mediocracy or whatever the case may be? You are not allotted that same amount of grace. Not only do you have to do what they do, but you have to do it three times, five times, 10 times.

better than this. Yep. Yep. And that's pressure. It is. Even, you know, I can even say now, like within like, you know, the, work for like this national public health nonprofit organization and where my department is, you know, two black women leading this department. So there's always this pressure of like, can't mess up, right? And when we do mess up, it's just like, when I tell you, like, I feel like,

Just like the weight of it on my shoulders and I'm just like, because like we, you take on the notion that you represent all black people within the space that you're in. So there is no room for error. Exactly. And that shouldn't even be the case because it's not possible for us to represent, you know, but we keep that pressure. We naturally put that pressure on us. And then it gets to a point where the world.

expects us to do these things. So on days where we're tired, you can't be tired. You can't days where you don't feel like doing it. Yeah, you can't. You aren't a lot of that. No, they're like, no, no, you need to get it done. Exactly. It's like, hey, I don't. Mama need a break sometimes, too. Yeah, no, I'm allergic. I'm allergic. OK, so then you mentioned I like how you mentioned.

you experiencing that in multiple facets. at least what I see on the internet is like, oh, and posthism is only in the workspace. No, it's not only in the workspace. for, you know, when I say people of color, I mean like Black, Hispanic. let's just talk about Black people right now because we know white adjacent, they have certain privileges that Black people.

Don't have but no it's not only within the workplace. It's within the school setting, right? You can even be a mom with your you know toddler bringing them the you know preschool and Experiencing imposter syndrome or having to navigate imposter syndrome with the child

that you have within, like, if it's like, for example, like a private school, predominantly white private school, that could be another setting. But I think imposter syndrome isn't only relegated to the workplace. I think the workplace is where we predominantly experience it. But then there are other, you know, other environments where we also experience imposter syndrome. But I would say the workplace is where we predominantly experience it because you're at work for what?

eight, nine hours a day. Most of your life. Right, most of your life. So I think that's where you predominantly experience it. But I think there are other places that you experience imposter syndrome too. If you're, you know, seeking higher education within the university and college setting as well. But I think, you know, going back to what we said, like, you know, I remember when I was in college, I didn't have a name for it, but I knew there was something. You know it's something. You may not have a name, but you know it's something. feel it.

Actually, so I was embarrassed with imposter syndrome in the workplace, at school setting, things like that. But recently I realized that I was experiencing imposter syndrome in every facet of my life and didn't realize that that was what I was experiencing. So when I was younger, in grade school, things like that, I would visit these frame groups.

And a lot of people knew me, knew of me, things like that. And I would visit them, hey, y'all, how y'all doing? Pop in, and I'd pop right back out. and that fast forward to me as an adult. When I was going through my divorce, I would hang out at my kickball coach house with him and his fiance and their family. And every time, they're like, why do you leave so quickly? They're like, we literally gave you a cold door house. Why do you leave so quickly? Because you're not comfortable?

And it's yes. And it's weird because their home was a safe space for me. It was like a safe haven. I knew if I was feeling some type of way, I knew I could go over there. I'm going leave. I'm going to feel better. I'm going to just chill, debrief, things like that. But I realized it was because of imposter syndrome. just, it was difficult for me to understand that I belonged. Makes sense. You know? So it's like, in my mind, I would say, OK.

I wasn't there from day one, then I can be a guest in that space, but not a permanent fixture. Yeah. Yeah. And they were like, girl, you are a permanent fixture here. What's wrong with you? Even some of my friend groups now, they're like, you are a permanent fixture. Like, you can't still feel like this. And I was like, y'all, it's not even y'all. It's all internal. And let me ask you, too, with those friend groups, those are white friend groups or? These are all black spaces. wow. That I love, I feel safe in, comfortable.

Like they know me in and out. And I still, I realized for me, my imposter syndrome mostly stems from with my childhood, my dad was in college as I like to call it for 15 years. Okay, gotcha. huh, huh. I gotcha. yeah. So with him being incarcerated, I would like, in my mind, I felt as though I had to do everything right. Okay.

as if I had to excel in every single thing that I did so that way they'll want me to be around. I'm not trying to be a burden. Like my dad is already not there. He wants to be there. He writes me things like that, but he's not physically there. So in my head, I would just make it easier for people to deal with me. I also wonder too, I know you're interviewing me on this podcast, but I also wonder too if those feelings come from

like a sense of not wanting to be a stereotype or a statistic. Yes. Yeah. Yes. I don't want to be like, oh, OK, well, her dad's like that, so we don't really have to expect anything. You know? And my family always championed me. Mm-hmm. Always. Always made me feel like I was loved, belonged, championed me on both sides of my family. was kind of one of the favorites. Makes You know, like, they was like, oh, Dominique always going to be right. Mm-hmm. But I would just always do what I thought was right because.

It's like, I don't know how you view my dad and I don't want how you view him to transfer to me. That makes sense. Yeah. While also trying to make sure I don't get to a place where I don't like you for not liking my dad. Yeah. Because of where he is. And that's a lot. It's a lot for like a child to have to carry. It's a lot. Yeah, it is. It's heavy. It is. And that's where I realized, that's where my imposter syndrome comes from. Uh-huh. It stems from that.

Yeah, I can get that. Yeah, and I think too, to your point, like with imposter syndrome, it's different. It manifests in different ways for, you know, different people. Like, so, you know, yours comes from like, you know, not wanting to be like a stereotype because of like, you know, the context of your family, whereas mine comes from these white spaces.

that I've had to navigate. like you said, like growing up, like you always have to be three times twice as better for half as much within these spaces too. So I think, yeah, to your point, imposter syndrome manifests in various ways or is a result of the different ways that we're, what's the word I'm looking for? In the different ways that we're in our upbringing too. Yeah, that's what I want to say. Yeah.

It is. And it sucks because, you know, here we are as adults. Here we are as adults unpacking these things from our childhood. And one, first understanding what imposter syndrome is, right? And then also figuring out or navigating a space where we are able to say, OK, how do I make sure I minimize these imposter syndrome?

these feelings that come with imposter syndrome. Because sometimes imposter syndrome will look like self-doubt. And you can know that you know everything that they're talking about, but that's self-doubt.

It's there. It's kind of like, I love to use this example. When you see a gorgeous woman, she is drop dead gorgeous, pretty face. Everyone in the room will tell her how gorgeous she is, how pretty she is. But guess what? If she doesn't believe it, it's null and void. If she doesn't see it, it's null and void. And imposter syndrome reminds me of that. Yeah. Because I think, you know,

Impostor syndrome, I think, has to do with how you see yourself as a result of how the world sees you. Yeah, so it's like a reaction to our upbringing and the perceptions of the external, you know, others, how others see us, right? So like, for example, going back to like,

how like my imposter syndrome, I wouldn't even venture to say like, you know, I'm Haitian American, right? And so, yeah, so you get it. So like with being Haitian American, like our family, like, you know, the first, you know, we just celebrated our Independence Day yesterday, right? And so it's, have like the sense of pride, right? And with that sense of pride also comes like this huge sense of responsibility and how we move about and navigate this world that.

isn't for us or wants to see us succeed, right? And so with that being said, like imposter syndrome is really a reaction to the external environments. then like, you know, sometimes it's also like for internally, like if you don't know something or for example, if you're doing like, if this is like my first podcast, right? I'm gonna question whether or not I'm doing it right, you know, whether or not I have enough or know enough to.

host a podcast or do a podcast. Things like that. Right. But then if you have like, you know, if you're, you have like three, four degrees or masters or whatever, and you are a perfectionist or like not the perfectionist, like a leader in like whatever skill set that you have, for example, I'm a leader in public health, right? And I have all the receipts. I have the degrees. have the doctoral, you know, I have all the receipts to say that I am an expert in this particular field.

But when I get to the work environment and as a Black person, as the only one in the work environment where I'm constantly being questioned about my level of education or skill set, whether or not you have what it takes to succeed in this particular role, that's when the self-doubt will begin to creep in because you're constantly questioned about your expertise or the knowledge or what you bring to this table.

And so that self-doubt starts to creep in and then that's where you'll see, you know, imposter syndrome. And so that's like an example of how imposter syndrome is a manifestation of the external environments that we navigate and is a reaction to the external environments that we navigate. So, you know, I'm a psychology professor and I started in my 20s. So that means you have this young black lady.

coming in and I'm making changes. Right. We're going to add more technology to this classroom. Yes, we are. We're going to bring this up today. We're going to have real life examples. I do understand everyone learns differently in different types of ways or even with sensory things when it comes to people learning visually, auditory, you know, I'm going to push the narrative every time. So coming in with that in a space that does not reflect

doesn't reflect what I'm accustomed to being born and raised in Miami, especially in Texas, things like that. Texas. Yes, it is a thing. my Yeah, Texas. Yes, or even going to UCF. Same thing. Girl, started college on a summer semester, and I was the only. This was.

Years ago, we'll just say. Don't date yourself, mom. Couple years ago for undergrad. And when I tell you that entire semester I was the only black girl, well, only black student period in all the classes I took that summer. When I tell you it was a culture shock coming from Miami, being surrounded. And I was born and raised in North Miami. And even when we moved from North Miami, we moved to Myanmar. Still.

Nothing but black people. Exactly. Exactly. Black people and islanders. Yep. That's what you're going to like. That is what you're going to experience. So to move into that and trying to navigate it while being myself and being authentically me meant that I was questioned a lot. Mm hmm. A lot. Or they'll be like, well, so I had this thing. So that since I was the only one.

In my mind, I told myself I had to get straight A's that semester. So it got to a point where my professors were just like, oh yeah, we already know Dom got it. It seemed like they barely grade my work because they'd be like, Dom got it. Or they'd be like, no, you see Dom up there? You need to be like her. And then it's like a C. And think about it, these are my introduction courses. at UCF, it's huge. So you know we have 50, 60, 70, 80 students in one classroom. they're all like,

can't miss her is the black girl. Oh, okay. Oh, the black girl again? Okay. Okay. Yeah.

How do I get used to this? You don't. And you don't. That is the thing. Yeah, you don't. You don't. It's almost as if you just have to up your self-worth, in a sense, and talk to that person in the mirror. What Kat Williams say? Talk to that star playing in the mirror. It's almost like you have to do that to keep pushing forward and understand, award yourself.

the same amount of grace that all these other people get awarded every single day. Yeah, I think grace is very important. In addition to grace, would say like, you're you say Cat Williams, I think about Issa, right? Like, you know, when she be in the mirror just like hyping up herself. Right. And so I think like, you know, for me, it brings back like those the words of those words of affirmations.

you know, how you speak to yourself matters when navigating these spaces. And then also like, you know, reminding of yourself that, you know, I am a daughter of the most high, right? So can't nobody, you know, bring me down, you know, or, you know, lower, you know, my self worth too. So I think for me, when navigating these spaces, I always have like words of affirmations and also reminding myself, going back to the Bible, reminding myself.

that I am a daughter of the most high. And then in addition to that, like thinking about your inner circle, like your board of directors, right? Your sister groups, your tribe, right? And nine times out of 10, because people like to surround themselves with people who look like them, right? Nine times out of 10, your tribe is gonna be reflective of you, right? And so your tribe, a good tribe is one that's uplifting you.

and is speaking positively to you when you're navigating imposter syndrome. So I think those are some ways in addition to giving yourself grace, some ways to better navigate imposter syndrome because it's not something that we'll ever get over, especially as high achieving black women navigating white spaces. You're always gonna have to.

experience, you'll always have experiences of imposter syndrome, but I also think it's important to recognize that you are not in fact an imposter. It's just that- You're to be there. Yeah, you are meant to be there. You should be able to belong. if that table, if they don't want to pull up a seat for you at that table, create your own table. Yeah, I think that's something that we can't be afraid to do is black women and men.

Sorry, now I'm going to go on a rant. No, talk to me. I don't like you having me glued in right now. these institutions weren't built for us, right? And so like, it's going to take years for these institutions to be dismantled. So that way we can actually have like spaces that are inclusive of, you know, diversity and, know, diversity and, you know, race, ethnicity, know, LGBTQ, all of that.

Right? But right now we're not there. And so it's forcing us to create spaces that are inclusive of the diversity of America. But it's going to take some time. And I think we have to not be afraid of like, if this place is no longer serving you or was never meant to serve you, let me create a space that does better serve me and the people who look like me or who might be experiencing these same challenges. Yes, we have to find our tribe and we have to find our people.

Because sometimes we can get burnt out significantly faster when we aren't with our tribe. Right. Because I want to expand. love when you say, you know, your tribe, your sisterhood, think that your circle, what is for you is for you. The people who are for you are for you. So I love when you mention making sure these are the same individuals who are going to uplift you. And I want to take it a step further.

Because sometimes the people who uplift us are those individuals who know us more than we think they know us. So if you are a perfectionist, you may have someone in your group like, you know, I see you're doing it again. I just want to remind you, hey, you look good in this video, you're doing it. You're doing the dial-down thing. Like, you got this. You don't have to do that again if you don't want to for something so small. You know? You're doing it.

Like how you do with your social media, your content. I was just thinking about that. Her videos. So we record, we're actually recording right now at Cold Space, which is in Miami Gardens. It is a beautiful co-working space. It has a podcasting room. It has a beautiful art gallery that has some of the most beautiful work and authentic work I have ever seen in my life.

You can do content creation here. You got mailboxes here, all of that, right? So we're here, all of us, we motivate each other and we push each other to get it done. And sometimes we can tell when someone else is in their head because we've been doing this work on ourselves continuously. It is a continuous process. really is. So it's times where she's like, hey, Dom, you did a great job.

That was good. doesn't you girl. You told me y'all she told me she was like Perfection is overrated. Listen, and when she told me that I was like, hey, she was like, yes, perfection is overrated. And I remember you mentioning how you said Joy had told you one time something similar to as long as the content is out there. Exactly. You know, it doesn't have to be perfect. But as long as

your message is getting across, your goal is achieved. Your goal is achieved. Yeah. Girl, listen, when I tell you you forever change the game, when my girl comes sit with me content, y'all. I'll credit you to Joy though, because I think that's what Joy, I think I had a session with Joy, and she was like, Pascal, you're overthinking it. Just do it. And then so once I became comfortable with doing my reels or whatever,

Y'all literally just to do one reel, it would take me an hour because that was a perfectionism in me coming out. And then after I was like, girl, no, you are wasting time. Just one and done and get it out the way. And ever since then, it was just like, yeah, perfectionism is overrated. And my times out of 10, the things that you're nitpicking at, people aren't going to even recognize. It's the message that they're receiving that they'll take with them.

So yeah, perfectionism is overrated. is. And it's funny because it's it's interesting because everything still is circling back to imposter center. know, wanting to feel like, this has to be perfect in order to get out because I represent or this group of people or because I am this person or, you know, I am like with you, you are a black woman with a doctoral degree, know.

So I feel as though there's certain pressures. I felt pressured even when I got my masters. I was like, wait a minute, it's adding pressure instead of alleviating the pressure. I think that's like a hard truth. The more degrees we have as black women and the higher that we go up in like, you know, our careers, the more pressure we experience.

and the more imposter syndrome or the more feelings of being an imposter that we experience. Yeah, I think that's just a hard truth and a hard pill that we have to swallow. But with that hard truth and that hard pill that we have to swallow, I think there's, going back to how do you navigate it to make sure that you're not, who you authentically are isn't being chipped away piece by piece too. But yeah.

Yes, it's almost like a double-edged sword, like having these degrees, because someone put it to me like this, right? We're trying to break the glass ceiling, right? But we might break the glass ceiling, or we will break the glass ceiling, right? But at the same time, with breaking the glass ceiling, have to make exactly, we have to make sure we don't get cut from the glass that's like broken. Yeah.

girl that it's so then my question to you is with that how do you what do you tell yourself I know you mentioned affirmations and you said that one of your affirmations is saying hey I am the daughter of the most high right but what are some other affirmations that hit home for you that really gets you out of that space and reminds you like hey I am that girl I think for me

And this is something I'm going to give credit to Dr. Marvette Lacey, our dissertation coach. She used to always remind us that you are enough, you have enough, and you know what.

Yes, she used to always remind us that, remind us that. And I think that stuck with me, you know, throughout anything that I've been doing since doing my dissertation, just that constant reminder that I am enough, I know enough, and I have enough. And I think that's also what like propelled me to like start my business. Like, y'all, my business concept came to me seven years ago, before I even started my dissertation, my doctoral program, literally 2015.

Yes, but I didn't feel like I knew enough. I didn't feel like I had enough, but I didn't think I was enough. Right. And so I delayed starting my business until I felt like I knew enough, had enough, and I was enough. But yeah, I think that's one thing just constantly reminding me that I am enough, I have enough, and I know enough. And then two, just like reframing like those thoughts that tend to hold me back from achieving something. And then

that constant, I think women, we were always comparing ourselves against each other, know, all of that. So getting out of my head, that whole thing about, excuse me, I'm comparison myself with others instead of comparing myself with others. like, what can I learn from them? Instead of compare, like, what is she doing right that I can learn from and leverage?

for whatever experience that I'm going through at the time, instead of saying, she has this, but I don't, and yada, yada, yada. Yeah. I like looking at that as a sort of, how do I word it? I like looking at that as admiration. Yes. You know, as admiration. I admire your consistency. Right. You have been consistent with your content. And it's nice because.

The part that inspires me is, yes, you're helping all of these people with your organization, with your business, but it's like watching you bloom. Does that make sense? know, like, it's literally like just watching you bloom and continue to work and work on your business and stay consistent and see how diligent you are. Your tenacity is un-

Don't make me cry, Dom. Girl, your tenacity is unmatched. Thank you. I mean that. I truly admire that. And on days where I'm just like, OK, I'm tired from my two kids, but I have all these ideas of, girl, come sit with me, but I don't have time to get it out. How am I going to make this work? And I'm teaching, and I'm working full time. it's like, it gets a lot. But then for whatever reason, it's like I can blink, and I can see you at Coast Space getting it done.

Regardless. And I think that's important too, because it's just like you see like, you know, people uplift you, like the same way, like, you know, you're uplifting me, or I'm uplifting who you're uplifting me, like, I know Dom is going to be in there killing it, right? So it's not like a competition, it's just like, you know, almost like we're holding each other accountable. Accountable, partners. exactly. For, you know, our businesses, just everything that we have going on in our lives, it's like a support system. And I think, you know, shout out to Joy again.

I think that's the value of CoSpace is that you do form a support system of women entrepreneurs who are lifting each other up as they're striving to go up in their businesses and their entrepreneurship journeys. And I love it because we also get to, you know, at CoSpace we get a lot of work done, but we also have those pockets of time where it's like, okay, y'all, I just need a mental break from all this work I've been doing. And it's in the chit chat.

those pockets where, hey, I saw you doing this. Have you tried this? Or Pascal, girl, did you hear about this? software? Or this app or whatever it is? I think that helps as well. For me, it feels as though combating imposter syndrome. There's several things that helps to combat imposter syndrome. One, constantly reminding yourself exactly what you said. I love that. I am enough. I know enough.

I have enough. Reminding yourself of things like that is beyond valuable because we have to keep our self-worth up. the rest of the world is going to nitpick about everything. They're going to tear you down. Yes. But it's up to us to believe in ourselves, constantly remind ourselves, even if it's one of those where they say you keep telling you lie to yourself until you believe it's true. Do that if that's what you need to do to keep that self-worth up.

Also, think about who you have around you, your team that is around you. I'm not saying the people that work for you. It doesn't have to be that. It can just be like how we work here at Co-Space and we are all getting it done. We're working singularly, but we're still parallel to one another in this space. It's collective work. It's the co- Thank you. On collective. Yes, it is the collective work. Yeah. And that makes a difference as well. It does.

Yeah, I think it's, you know, for me, all about community. So, you know, I come from, you know, working my nine to five where, we're a minority, myself and my boss. But then I come to Coast Space where we're the majority. Right. So it kind of like balances itself out. But I think community is very, very important, especially knowing that you have a group of Black women.

or it could be black men if you're navigating, know, imposter syndrome as a black man, but where you have a group that's reflective of who you are in the similar experiences that you're going through to help navigate the space, these feelings of not, you know, belonging and everything. I think community is very important. Like, what's the term?

too I am because you are. that's really a that's really a thing like we can't do life alone especially as a white people we can't do life alone because this world is literally trying the system I should say is really trying to tear us down so where do we find like ways to uplift each other it's through community and I think that's been essential to the black experience period like you know in

when we were enslaved, right? Where did we find those moments of respite in community among those who looked like us in everything? So yeah, I think you literally can't do life alone. You can't. And to add to that, another thing is celebrating the small wins. A win is a win. Yes. I cannot stress that enough. A win is a win. Yes, ma'am.

So I have a question for you. Now, what exactly has been the most rewarding part of empowering other women to just rise above self-doubt? Like, rising above it. I think the most rewarding part for me, would say, you're making me think, Dom. Let see, I wasn't ready for this question. Yay!

I think for me, I would say the most rewarding part of uplifting black women or getting them to rise above self doubt is like, again, I think it goes back to being a reflection of each other. And so I have this one young lady that I'm bringing on to the Black Women in Public Health Connect Collective. And she is so bright. Literally from day one when I interviewed her,

as I was doing my assessment to develop the Black Women in Public Health Connect Collective. She was so enthusiastic about everything. so recently, I reached out to her. I was just like, hey, do you want to be a part of this team? And she was like, yeah. And then come to find out she's now in school for her doctorate program. I think, yes. So I think it's really important to be, I guess I'll say it this way, you never know who's watching you.

Right and because you have you can be literally a light to someone else like I think about the song this little light of mine I'm gonna let shine, right? So you can literally be a light lighting the path for someone else's success Without even knowing it because again, you don't know who's looking at you and who's watching you navigate Life because they're learning from that and they'll leverage like some of your your experiences in your lessons

to propel them in their particular life path, if that makes sense. Yeah. That makes perfect sense. I love that. Yeah. That's very inspirational because, and relatable, because a lot of times when, as women or people in general, but I'm talking specifically to women, what ends up happening is sometimes when you can't see yourself worth,

It's hard for you to see how you are inspiring others. Right. It's hard for you to see how there's someone that you don't even realize is your mentee and you're mentoring them from afar. Big And you don't even realize it. Big acts. Especially in this day and age with social media and we have access to so many people. I look at the women that we see around all the time. And I'm just like, OK, I can do that more too. I love that. OK.

I never even thought of that. today's one of them days. But I'm finna get it done. I'ma get it done, because that's what we do. We gonna get it done. I'm focusing on this. So seeing that is just beautiful. It is. It really is. It's impactful. It's impactful. Yeah. It makes me think of like, you brought up Minty.

you sometimes you'll realize like, you know, or you don't know that you're mentoring someone because they're just watching your everyday like life or whatever. But you made me think about my actual mentee. Shout out to Vanessa. If you ever listen to this podcast. Right. She and I met. went to see who did we go to see? It was it was actually in Texas. OK, Dallas, Dallas, Texas. We met last September. Jackie Hill Perry.

Yeah, we went to see Jackie Hill Perry with like a group of women in church and she and I were roommates at the time, right? And so we were just chatting it up or whatever, right? And then she just like asked me, would you mind being my mentor? Right? And so it's been a year in like some change and you know, I've been mentoring her and like, I remember starting off with having her identify her goals.

And one of them was like, she wanted a job and like, she's in the advertisement and marketing world, right? And so just like from, you know, just seeing her growth and now she's like, literally she has a job in marketing and advertisement and everything, but just like seeing her growth as it's like, and she's so young, she's so cute, 25, right? I remember when I was 25, right?

And you know, we really, you know, at that age it's like, I know all of this. Yes. But she, she, think is like another example of uplifting Black women and just seeing how like she's come so far and still has so much further to go as a result of like our relationship and our dynamic. yeah. And look, that's another person that you're putting out into the world.

Yeah, in a sense, in a sense. as far as I feel as though with mentors one I'm glad we're touching on this actually because someone did ask me one day how do you get a mentor and my answer to them was just yes, just fast. Yep. Just ask because a lot of times, especially once again, circling back to imposter syndrome a lot of times or sometimes when we are in these spaces and we are the only ones that occupy these spaces.

It's nice when someone's just like, hey, can you mentor me? Because we have so much information. We're so knowledgeable about our particular fields. We want to share. We want to share our knowledge. We want to share our wisdom. We love it. Because if we can get someone else who's younger than us to our level or further significantly

earlier than how when we got there. What? Changing the game. Yeah. Changing the game. Yeah. And I think that's really important too, just as like black women and black men, it's like as we're climbing up the ladder, always remember who you're bringing up behind you. Right? And creating those spaces so that way they have, and hopefully it's a safe space. Well, I pray that we're all creating safe spaces that are inclusive and diverse.

But, you know, making sure that you're creating a pipeline, I should say, of others to come after you is very important. And setting a like, for example, like I think about like my boss, right. And maybe, you know, just looking at it from externally not being in her shoes, I can see how like maybe right now during her time in her position, it's not a safe space, right. But how can she create?

you know, a more inclusive and safe space within this particular company for others that are coming up behind her. Yeah. And that it really goes a long way because I remember when I started in my 20s and at the time, so my department head is a black woman. And at the time she was the she was the co-department head. When I tell you, I remember I just asked her one day, I was like.

I just walked up to him and was like, everything about you inspires me. I want to follow in your footsteps. I'm not trying to sound creepy or anything like that, but you're my mentor in my mind. Yes, that's So if you could be my mentor in real life, it would be appreciated. And she was like, girl, I've been waiting for someone to, you know, she was like, I didn't expect the praise. But she's been waiting for someone to ask her to be their mentor.

Yeah. And you know what you'll find a lot of us are willing to mentor or have the capacity to the willingness and capacity to mentor. Because we I mean, we know why it's real out there. It is. If I could share my network with someone and share my content, contacts with someone, that is how we grow. Yep. I haven't been in Miami that long. And it's through these connections that I've had and us being willing to

Say, hey, Dom, I feel like you'll be great with this. Hey, Pascale, girl, you'll be great for this. Let me share this content. Have you talked to this person yet? It goes a long way. It sure does. And it's a healthy reminder from others, once again, the tribe, that we belong here. We belong in these spaces. Why not have people who look like us in these spaces? And you also remind me of like Issa Rae's interview.

where she's like, sometimes we're so focused on networking up that we forget about networking across. And I think that's so very important because like, know, Dom is among like my board of directors, right? And when I say board of directors, like my personal life professional board of directors, cause your sister friend who's sitting right next to you can have like some knowledge and skillset that you don't have, right? To get you to the next level. So I think that's very important is to network across.

Yeah. Opposed to only networking up in whatever field you're in or like whatever life path you're walking in. Because think about it, if you are networking across and your network is, whomever it may be, all of you all are staying consistent. Or most of you, or even if it's just most, it doesn't even have to be all. Even if it's just most of you all staying consistent.

you're gonna look back in two years and be like, snap, all of us are up. Exactly, exactly. Like my girls, when I tell you, everybody does their own thing. know, everybody does something different, but it's the collective of it all. Where it's like you look and it's like, snap, everybody is successful now. And you look at it like, wow. We made it. We made it, yes. We made it. definitely did.

So if you feel like an imposter, it means that you're stepping into your growth. You're stepping into who you are. There's a reason you have those chills. So you have to make it where you are so comfortable within yourself that any space you enter into, even if it is a space where you feel completely alone, you turn it into a comfort zone. Because you can't feel like an imposter.

in your comfort zone. That's true. You can't. But is there anything else you'd like to add? I think I would just leave it for the people. Like, I'm looking in this camera, right? Just as a reminder that you know enough, you are enough, but you have enough, especially when you're experiencing those moments of self-doubt. Like, girl, you are it. You know, man, you are it.

And just like constantly reminding yourself that you are a daughter of the most highest son of the most high Even when this world says otherwise Yeah, and I'd add to that that you are deserving. Yes You're deserving. So dr. Pascal, how can they find you? Yes, so you can follow me on Instagram at health equity innovations. You can also find me on LinkedIn

And if you're ever interested, if you want to connect with me, you can also email me at info at health equity innovations with an S dot org. And then lastly, if you're interested in learning more about the black women in public health connect collective, you can follow me on BWPHC underscore collective on Instagram. Yes. Thank you so much, Dr. Pascal for taking time out of your busy schedule. Okay. To come and sit with.

Thank you. So until next time y'all have a beautiful day and remember at girl come sit with me We're all deserving. Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much. Take care y'all