Girl em[Power]ment – A Series of Short Essays.
Over the next few months Flancake.co will be bringing you the Girl em[Power]ment series, which consists of interviews with several working women of all ages in different stages of their career. These are women I not only find inspiring and interesting, but who I think women of all ages should know about and learn from. These women hold careers in several different industries, from creative design to politics.They’ll give us an inside look into what their job is like, how they got there, share their advice for twenty-somethings, and touch on what Girl em[Power]ment means to them.
Our first influencer of the Girl em[Power]ment series is Carson Roncketto, a friend and mentor. I’ve known Carson for about four years, when our paths crossed because of her [awesome] jewelry business. She’s not only creative and passionate about her work, but is an overall genuine and kind soul. I’m so glad she was able to kick off the series and give some serious insight.
Introducing Carson Roncketto, of CirclesUSA.org + @croncketto + @chaincrochet
Q: What is your current job title, and can you please briefly explain your career path?
A: I am the Chief Learning Officer for Circles USA, a National Non-Profit that inspires and equips families and communities to resolve poverty and thrive across North America. As CLO, I direct our organization’s training and coaching efforts, design and align new materials to support our model and mission, and work to advance organizational development and effectiveness in our network through learning.
Q: Where did you go to school and what did you major in?
A: I have an undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in Broadcast Journalism and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Q: How do you deal with negativity towards women in the work place [if at all]?
A: I am very fortunate to work for an organization that is dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of women both in the workplace and in communities across the country. No glass ceilings to speak of here. I will say that being confident and self-aware, have made it easier for me to avoid negativity based on sex.
Q: Have you ever felt unsure of yourself or felt that you weren’t “enough”, and how did you overcome that?
A: I have had moments of self-doubt where I questioned if I was DOING enough, was I SUCCESSFUL enough, GROWING enough…I think all of these feelings are normal as you journey through your professional career. Social Media allows us to paint a rose-colored picture of our personal and professional lives that filter the day-to-day realities of living and working. I think it is important to remind ourselves that we don’t need to measure our self-worth or success by comparing it to someones else’s, especially as it’s presented on social media accounts.
Q: What are other things you do [hobbies, projects, interest] that you feel passionate about?
A: I am a proud member of the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Council representing the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas. Our council is made up of incredible women doing incredible things throughout NWA, of which I am lucky to be a part of. Our mission is to promote philanthropy among women and to help women and girls achieve their full potential. WFA is a great positive resource for women of all ages, focusing on expanding and strengthening our role in society.
I also started a small jewelry line called Chain Crochet in 2012. My designs are compromised overlooked items from the past, vintage heirlooms, and bits and baubles…antique stylization mixed with modern charm.
Q: What do you do in your free time to relax?
A: Hot Yoga and watching murder mystery docu-series galore! [because what gal doesn’t love that right?]
Q: What career and/or life advice would you give to your twenty-year-old self?
A: Don’t be in a big damn hurry to get where you are going and don’t be so hard on yourself. I have to still remind my 30-year-old self of this! In my twenties, I was in such a rush to make more money and move up the ladder, thinking that this would bring me some kind of professional nirvana. What I have realized is that even as I advanced, so have my goals and what is important to me. I would bet these things will continue to evolve. Because of this, I try to remember to stay present (and that struggle is REAL for me)…but, I would encourage you to do the same by avoiding all of the hypotheticals of your future and being exactly where you are right now.
Q: What does Girl em[Power]ment mean to you?
A: Girl em[Power]ment means realizing (and helping others realize) our power and potential. It starts with our own perceptions of who we are. We can make the choice to be both who and what we desire.
As Beyonce says, “Who run the world?” GIRLS. And Beyonce is never wrong.
Stay tuned for the next Girl em[Power]ment influencer!
Xo, Flancake
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