For this week’s Woman Wednesday, AY About You sits down with Jasmine Wilson, a Leadership Development Coach and Business Education Instructor.

 

The two-time graduate of Arkansas Tech University, in Russellville, earned a BA in Psychology and MS in College Student Personnel. Wilson and her family returned to Arkansas from Texas and currently reside in her hometown of Morrilton. She is married to Marc Wilson of Jacksonville, and they are the proud parents to a 9-year-old, Madison. Wilson is also an avid music lover, trained vocalist and amateur musician.

 

We asked Wilson what it means to her to be a woman.

“It means being grateful to stand on the shoulders of successful women who’ve chartered a path to progress, and feeling privileged to provide the same opportunity for others,” she explains. “It means continuing to fight for equity in pay and opportunity, realizing that though we’ve come a long way, there are still so many more miles to go.”

 

Wilson explains the challenges that she has faced in her career.

“My career has been diverse and each phase has come with its own set of incredible experiences and challenges,” Wilson shares. “I have been the youngest, the only woman and the only African-American at many tables — sometimes all three in one. I’ve had to learn to speak up to be heard, to believe that I was deserving of opportunity and to persevere in the midst of challenging situations.”

 

Wilson offers a word of advice to the young women and girls who might read this article.

“I want them to know how valuable they are and how much their communities, and the world, needs their gifts, their energy, and their influence,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo, especially when you know that positive change resides on the other side of it.”

 

READ MORE: Woman Wednesday: Donna Townsell