Dr. Amira Mogaji, President of American Montessori Society Board of Directors, District Transformation Coach for Battle Creek Public Schools, and an Anti-Bias, Antiracism Educational Consultant
I guess I’m a glutton for punishment… Marissa Q. Paine saved my life.
Dr. Amira Mogaji served as a former Chief Academic Officer at an educational institution during a time of intense turmoil and racial tension.
The leadership team was at a loss on how to operate in this space and so they brought in Marissa Paine as a consultant to provide guidance. Ms. Paine stepped in as both a consultant to the organization and as my executive coach.
To meet another Black woman who was a former executive, to talk with and speak with someone who understood where I was and what I faced on a daily basis as a professional. That was a plus. On a professional level, she could speak to me in her role as my executive coach, but she could also speak to me as a Black woman who is moving in predominantly white spaces.
“Marissa was always honest. Her integrity was paramount. She coached me where I was, to get me where I needed to be.”
Ms. Paine leveraged assessments, in-person observations and other tools to help the leadership team identify the gaps and to then create systems for future success.
She interviewed a number of different people within the organization, which provided a bigger lens. She then equipped me with the ability to understand the various communication styles in the organization and how I could adjust my own communication style to get my message across more effectively. She also helped me to learn how to manage up and equipped me to stand powerfully and confidently in my expertise.
The Shift: Ultimately, Ms. Paine emboldened me to see that I’m a brand and all the potential that existed inside me. This catapulted me into taking the leap out of that organization and into pursuing a role that was more aligned with my vision and it allowed me to complete my doctorate.
“Ms. Paine has the uncanny ability to move you towards a higher level of excellence as a professional, even in the face of adversity,” Dr. Amira concludes.