This March, during Women’s History Month, EquiLend will be featuring Q&As with some of the EquiLend women who are helping to shape our business!
Isabel Sessions Sessions
Business Rotational Program
Associate
New York
Who are the women who inspire you the most, and why?
Athletes: Given all the pressures on women, past and present, to be physically perfect, classy, maternal, obedient, dainty, outspoken but not bossy, witty but not over-intelligent—athletes absolutely shatter these expectations of how a woman should be. The most important aspect of their physical body is that it gets them to where they want to go. They say, “I don’t care what you think of me, because I am strong, driven, competitive, confident and capable.”
Mothers: Though I am not a mother, I think most can agree we appreciate our mothers more as we grow older. Mine is incredibly strong-willed, independent, kind, creative and quick-witted. She is never afraid to speak up (in fact, I think she seeks out these opportunities). I have a great deal more to learn from her. Thankfully, she usually picks up the phone, even when I am simply calling to ask how to boil an egg or clean a suede shoe.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Often we get caught up in our immediate lives, the problems and tasks we have today, tomorrow or the next day. Between all the exams, the practices, the car rides and the late nights, take time to appreciate that you are just living. There will be big milestones, ups and downs, and you will take them in stride; sometimes they will knock you down, and sometimes not. But in between all of the major events in your life, there exists the beautiful mundane. And that’s OK, because that’s life, but make sure you take time to appreciate it, enhance it, take deep breaths and remove yourself from the microscopic.
As we’re celebrating Women’s History Month, what advice would you give to any women reading this?
- Vote!
- Always look for opportunities to learn new skills.
- Don’t be intimidated in a room full of men.
- Don’t ever stifle your personality to fit in a box.
- …and speak your mind! Even when you shouldn’t!