I have the courage and confidence to actively address issues that I passionately care about.
Why do you believe honoring achievement is important?
When we celebrate each other in community, it allows for two things to happen: that we might see ourselves as others see us and that we might see a little of ourselves in others.
Access to leadership has often been restricted to those who are able to self-identify as leaders. By opening up opportunities for more people to self-identify as such, we can diversify and strengthen our leadership pool and positively impact the community in myriad ways.
This is particularly powerful when we expand our definition of “achievement” to include consideration of the community as a critical stakeholder. When we honor and celebrate those leaders who are thinking beyond individual achievement and toward positive, progressive community impact, then we all benefit.
What insights have you gained in your career that would inspire others?
I think a social construct exists within which women sometimes feel a pressure to prioritize and uplift others’ needs, feelings and skills over their own. That can make it challenging to lead with confidence and authority.
Something that really helped build my confidence was some advice from my father that I received when I began my career in a male-dominated industry in London, “If you don’t understand something, or if something doesn’t seem right to you, ask for clarification. Then ask again if necessary. If it still doesn’t make sense, then one of two things is likely: The other person doesn’t fully understand what they are trying to communicate, or they are being deliberately evasive.” In either case, you are better, and capable of, finding an alternative solution.”
I hope that, by practicing this myself and sharing the perspective with others, I can help others recognize their own self-efficacy and their power to effect positive impact and influence in their community.
What can we do — now — to make a difference for young people/women in Arizona?
We must protect and promote public education as the cornerstone of a thriving and dynamic democracy within which we can disagree with radical candor while respecting others’ perspectives, even seeing differences as an opportunity to edit and refine our own ideas.
To do this, we must ensure that a high-quality education is accessible to all students, with a particular focus on the importance of third-grade reading as a foundation for equity and social justice. Only when resources are equally distributed will all children have the opportunity for self-actualization that my privilege afforded me.
Young people must be empowered and encouraged to use their voice to advocate for themselves and their communities. It is then incumbent on us, as leaders of privilege, to give space, listen and adapt.
Last, but not least, we can model kindness, courage and curiosity through our own actions and reactions.
In A Few Words
- What was the last course, certification or training you took to improve yourself professionally? Arizona Education Foundation: One World Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training for nonprofits
- What would you say is a single characteristic OTHERS might attribute to you that defines your success? Tenacity
- What is the one thing you feel you could work on professionally to be a greater success? Clarity
- What is the one professional skill you have that has gotten you where you are today? Persuasiveness
- What is the single greatest issue facing Arizona today? Public schools have become a reflection of, and a battleground for, public division as opposed to being supported and resourced as an effective social foundation and public good.
About Me
Originally from England, Sophie Allen-Etchart began her career in business before moving to Peru to manage an international team working on a comprehension curriculum designed to complement the national schooling system.In Phoenix, Allen-Etchart spent two years managing Junior Achievement programs — and noticed that many of the students being served lacked foundational reading skills. Allen-Etchart founded Read Better Be Better just after the “Move on When Reading” law was passed. To date, the program has connected more than 13,000 children to inspire a love of literacy and learning. In 2017, Allen-Etchart was recognized as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
Sophie Allen-Etchart is CEO and founder at Read Better Be Better.
