Today we’d like to introduce you to Tori Augustus.
Hi Tori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
So, I’m Tori Augustus. I’m living in a full circle moment, as I am a wife & mom of 2 raising my family in my birthplace of Atlanta, Georgia. I always tell people God is so intentional. He blessed me with two boys in the home, knowing that I would grow into my passion work with serving women through education & empowerment. I always attribute my understanding of the impact of women in community to my strong family ties. Being the oldest of 3 girls, our parents always emphasized that our relationship will be one of the most important relationships in our lives. My first witness to true sisterhood and friendship was long before becoming a sister myself. I admired the bond that my mom and her closest friends shared. I had the privilege of tagging along for many of their celebrations, girls’ nights in, and moments of empowering each other. Even as a young girl, I knew that’s what I wanted my friendships to look like through my adolescence and adulthood. Growing up watching shows like Living Single and Girlfriends just confirmed what I was raised to believe- that women thrive in supportive community.
Much like many of my peers, I matriculated through school thinking a college degree was the “golden ticket”. We were shaped to buy-in on the concept that earning a college degree guarantees access to life’s rewards for hard work & achievement(s). As a Black woman looking to enter the workforce, especially in a male-dominating industry, I quickly learned that I lacked access to what others may deem as common career-readiness tools and/ or knowledge. After strategic networking and seeking out professional development opportunities, I realized my rocky job search experience was not as unique as I thought. Many women in my peer group, specifically women of color experienced various barriers when it came to accessing equity within the workplace from the recruitment process to navigating biased workplace culture. I began embracing the opportunity to share my testimony of how God used my career waiting season to nourish my gift of communication. So much so that He allowed my purpose and the connections I made along the way to shape my career rather than vice versa. My passion work is helping women navigate their career by assisting them with developing strategies that will maximize their career outlook. I founded Genesis Collaborative Career Network, a Nonprofit organization, that serves as a career-focused hub that works to cultivate a culture of well-balanced women from adolescence to adulthood. We provide the tools and resources needed for professional development, and career success.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been smooth at all. I think a common misconception is that it’s easy to separate emotions and work. Everyone knows the cliche’ phrases, “Leave work at work” or “The workplace is no place for emotions”. Phrases of which I agree with to a degree, but the truth is career success is a journey like any other life accomplishment. It comes with ups and downs. Career hurt is a real thing, whether it is the experience of job offer rejection or being a victim of workplace bias. One has to learn how to navigate that in a healthy way, on top of life’s obstacles outside of the office. After graduating with my Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration, I applied to close to 100 jobs and interviewed over 40 times before a finding a job in my preferred field. That altered my career confidence in such a way that I began to question my capabilities, and it essentially influenced how I went about my job search. Thankfully, God shifted my mindset and reaffirmed my purpose for me. Eventually, the “perfect” opportunity found me, and I officially began my career journey. I learned so much along the way and I’m grateful for not having a smooth journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of Genesis Collaborative Career Network. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Genesis Collaborative Career Network (GCCN), originally Genesis Project, is a nonprofit organization I founded back in 2016 to provide career-readiness resources and professional development education to women in need. We provided services like resume writing seminars, interview preparation and business attire styling. We have since grown to provide career-readiness related services that nourish women at all stages from adolescence through adulthood. Our primary services include career-readiness seminars that focus on topics like goal setting, workplace communication, resume development and interview preparation (including professional wardrobe styling). We have two advocacy initiatives: “The Flow Show”, a menstrual health education series for tween girls and “The Roundtable Exchange”, an intimate conversation between industry leaders and experts, and entry level employees.
GCCN serves as a career-focused hub that aids to bridging the accessibility gaps that women face in the workplace. While we are a community resource for women looking for community and professional development resources, we also serve as a resource for employers that are seeking assistance with cultivating a workplace culture that sets their entry to mid-level employees up for career success.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
This day and age there is so much focus on entrepreneurship vs corporate, and job vs career. It’s so easy to be caught up in the highlight reel that is promoted on social media and the confusion that these debates create. The truth is everyone has been created for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). It is important that you immerse yourself in environments that not only confirm that but also nourish your growth in pursuit of whatever goal you’ve set out to accomplish. One piece of advice that changed my life was to “Stop trying to be the smartest one in the room”. It can be scary to be in the learning seat, but the most successful people position themselves to be forever students. Stay in position to serve others and be humble enough to be served.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tbaugustus.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @iamtoribrianna / @genco.career
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genco.career
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-augustus-72113a87/
Image Credits
Tercell Clayborn with TACLife Productions, LLC (Blue blazer photo)- IG: @taclifeproductionsllc
