Today we’d like to introduce you to Penelope Strong. They and their team shared their story with us below:
As a transracial orphan, a first-generation American with no network, privilege, nor community, Penelope Strong has experienced immense socio-economic challenges. Enduring racism, sexism, and microaggressions are the 1000 cuts that she and people of color have to endure every day. Exclusion from wealth, social and familial networks, and Corporate America, coupled with her unique intersectional lens is why she built four startups. Her ambition and drive to create inclusive spaces, workforce opportunities for marginalized communities, and social impact is a testament to her resilience.
Penelope is a strategic self-starter with a proven track record of success in both the business and social spheres. She is an agile and creative problem-solver with a keen eye for emerging markets. Her unique intersectional lens as a woman and minority gives her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these communities.
With an entrepreneurial mindset, Penelope has a knack for streamlining organizations and building strong relationships. She is also an expert in business development with a proven track record of achieving revenue growth.
In her role as a leader, Penelope is unafraid to navigate ambiguity and align stakeholders around a shared vision. She is also an effective executor of social impact and growth strategies. She is particularly passionate about identifying potential solutions that serve the goals of social impact.
In her spare time, Penelope volunteers and builds a community for social impact. She is a role model and mentor, using her own lived experiences as an orphan, first-generation American, divorced and returning mother to the workforce, and minority-woman entrepreneur to inspire and guide others.
Through her passion for business, advocacy for the marginalized, and commitment to community-building, Penelope embodies the qualities of a compassionate and driven leader. She continues to make a meaningful impact in both the professional and social spheres, leaving a legacy of empowerment, inclusivity, innovation, and economic growth.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest hurdle was the transracial adoptee experience. Being abandoned, orphaned, and trafficked to a couple of a different races in a hostile land is a traumatic start to life. It becomes a lifelong and lonely journey fraught with identity crisis, internalized racism-self hatred, and lack of belonging.
Growing up in a world that doesn’t look like you is extremely isolating. I wondered what was wrong with me, why I wasn’t enough, why people were so hateful and ugly, and I longed to be white!
I emancipated myself when I entered college on a scholarship. After leaving an abusive marriage of 22 years, I re-entered the corporate workplace. As a divorced mother returning late in life to Corporate America, I didn’t know the rules of the game. Advancing oneself in a world that is biased and where you don’t know the rules is a challenge. I naively thought I would get by on my talent, hard work, innovation, and drive. That is why I strive to do work for others that have been socio-economically disadvantaged life myself.
It wasn’t until the Pandemic that I realized the AAPI community was being attacked and murdered that I suddenly sought out a community for myself, one that looked like me. That was the beginning of my self-reconciliation journey. I was compelled to take another risk and reinvent myself; to earn my DEI certification in order to pursue my passion – social impact – and pursue my purpose.
As you know, we’re big fans of Diverseworks, LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We help businesses and the government achieve digital transformation and cybersecurity with diverse people, technologies, and processes to spark innovation. That innovation differentiates organizations, making them more competitive in a global and complex marketplace.
As a first-generation American, I am a proud patriot but have experienced exclusion as a minority woman. Diverseworks is a workforce development solution to help marginalized people and communities. The only way to empower those communities is through employment opportunities. The business case is mutual benefit for all; organizations get the innovative solutions they need, and we get a seat at the table.
Our vision is to bring diversity to technology and business processes to better solve digital transformation needs.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Without risks, how do you fail, and without failure, how do you learn? Life is not a textbook; it is trial and error. Life is an adventure. As Yogi Berra said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”
After all of my lived experiences, I have nothing to lose by taking a risk; it is just another fork in the road.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://diverseworks.us/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diverseworks.us/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelopestrong/
