Dr. Sam Collins works with communities and organizations to create the right conditions for empowerment, equality, and change. Throughout her 20 years of experience, she has worked with women and has seen some common themes appear over and over, like lack of confidence, fear to speak out and share their voice, and being fit into a blueprint that women have to take on all of life's responsibilities. However, it doesn't have to be this way! Dr. Sam shares her thoughts on this week's episode.

Key Takeaways

• Sam has been doing this for over 20 years. How did she get into this field?
• When Dr. Sam first got into this, well-intentioned people were worried she was alienating half of her target market. Her dad was worried people would call her a — gasp! — feminist.
• As women, we have very unique skills and talents that have not been valued up until now. The good news is, things are changing.
• The whole system needs to change right now. We're at a time where we all want change.
• Sometimes we ask ourselves the wrong questions.
• Women have been given a blueprint that says, if you do this, you will have to sacrifice something else.
• Over the years, Dr. Sam has not seen a lot of progress in a woman's confidence.
• By us sharing our stories, you inspire other women to speak up, too.
• People think you're born brave, the truth is, you have to learn it.
• Sam has consciously worked on being bolder and not worrying about what people think. It's a lifelong journey.
• Sam shares what her experience was like when she first visited the Congo.
• Do not compare yourself to others. You are on your own journey.
• Take your own steps, and they can be small ones! You don't need to take huge leaps and bounds in order to feel productive.
• Sam recognizes it can be challenging to speak up, but people need to hear your voice.
• What does Dr. Sam like to do in her free time?

Resources

Drsamcollins.com

Dr. Sam on LinkedIn

Quotes

Michelle's quote: "It's a time to start challenging ourselves and one another to come together, but to think differently."

"Let's measure empathy. Let's measure femininity. Have you seen a performance review measuring our level of feminism? I haven't."

"There will be a consequence to the things I say, and I am okay with it."

"It's a huge deal to speak up at a meeting when you wouldn't normally and there could be all sorts of judgment and consequences happening as a result of doing that. So, the more we make that okay, that's how we learn and grow."