Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Angela Webster. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Angela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
I am grateful for my parents. They were twenty years apart in age; to that end, their lived experiences gave them different perspectives on living well. My father modeled a strong work ethic, adherence to his life principles, courage, and leadership. My mother demonstrated her social prowess through etiquette, a deep value for humankind, and service to others. Their lives substantiated a spirit of gratitude, excellence, and perseverance. Sometimes, they taught us their beliefs; in other instances, we caught them. They lived out loud, so their distinguishing characteristics could not be easily overlooked. My life is demonstrably better because of them. Due to their influences, I can draw a straight line from my humble beginnings to my current success in life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Growing up in Memphis, I enjoyed the rich culture and influences my parents provided. As one of seven children, I am number five of seven. My love for reading was encouraged by my 1st-grade teacher. Now, I listen to about 100 audiobooks each year. My love for reading stimulated a love for learning, eventually leading me to pursue a Ph.D. in educational psychology. My love for people came from my parents, who enjoyed food, fun, fellowship, and roaring laughter with diverse people. This influenced my educational leadership in K-12 and higher education at predominantly white institutions, a historically black college/university, an art college, and a college for women in the Middle East. In early elementary school, my parents also took me to the final speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That clinched my fervent belief that everyone wants to be visible, valued, and validated. Today, I live to accelerate human flourishing in ways that alleviate human suffering. My family, friends, colleagues, and work contribute to my joy.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
At 18 years old, I was in college. Due to pregnancy, I had to pivot. I left college, married, and became a mother. I was gone from college for three years but returned to attain my bachelor’s degree. I redesigned my life to go from carefree to responsible. We welcomed a daughter eight years after our son. Eventually, I became a single mother. One month after the divorce, I enrolled in my first graduate course to earn a master’s degree. Ultimately, I earned a doctorate while being a mother with demanding work and volunteering in the community. I have learned that mistakes are only failures when we do not learn from them. For sure, I took forward many gems of wisdom from those days. More importantly, I learned I can do hard things while maintaining grace, grit, and gratitude.
Image Credits
Najee Fletcher (Photo #1)