She Did What?! Understanding Your Weaknesses is an Asset

This is a platform to share the radical pivots, risks and self evaluations and reflections of people I admire. We dig into the moments that led the people in their lives to go, “She Did What?!” and ultimately, to their personal or professional metamorphosis.

A marketing automation and engagement manager at a public policy think tank by day and Regional Director of FGIDC by night, Baille Gelwicks Benemelis has found a way to simultaneously pursue her passion in marketing AND her love of fashion. I was first introduced to Baille through the FGIDC network and have been inspired by her creativity and commitment to finding ways to elevate and support fashion here in Washington, D.C. On finding balance in her career, Baille says:

Nothing has to happen overnight. It’s okay for things to take time and for your timeline to change. When I graduated from college, my sole focus was on landing a job — any job — as long as I was working and gaining experience. I was young and anxious about starting my career; I didn’t want to waste time. So I rushed into opportunities without taking a good look at the long term prospects. Throughout the interview process each company was trying to find out if I was a good fit for them, but I wasn’t taking a good look at the company or asking the right questions to find out if they were a good fit for me. Once I started truly thinking about what I needed to get to the next level, everything started falling into place.

This is the power of goal setting and honest self-evaluation. Once you start truly, honestly assessing yourself — where you are and where you want to be — you can identify the steps you need to take to get you there. Once Baille started thinking about her own needs, she found her power to change her circumstances and begin working towards her new goal.

I believe it is important to evaluate the purpose of what I am spending my time and energy on. Are the activities and projects taking up my time contributing to my happiness, to my career growth or personal growth? If the answer is no, I need to assess whether it is something I should be doing.

I am, and always have been very introspective. Looking back at my career development, I realize now that there are phases in the growth process. If you work hard, stay motivated and consistently look for opportunities there are no boundaries. We can always find a new direction, take another path or improve the one we are on. Early in my career I hated the question “what is your 5 year plan” because I thought it supported thinking that could pigeon hole you early on and didn’t leave room for self-discovery or taking advantage of unpredictable and exciting opportunities that might come your way. It’s inspiring to look at women such as Vera Wang who after moving on from dreams of becoming an Olympic figure skater pursued a career in publishing and then at the age of 40 designed her first wedding dress to become the beloved designer we know today.

Before stepping into my new role this year as the marketing automation and engagement manager, I knew that my priorities in this role would be different. I knew I wanted to work for a mission-driven company, a company that made upholding a positive culture a priority, and a company where I would play an active part in developing strategies to push the company forward. Evaluating what I wanted to get out of the next phase in my career and being intentional about what I was looking for again has led to what I feel is another opportunity for exponential growth. So now here I am, utilizing my skills to identify gaps and develop strategies that help reach the company's goals, all while being surrounded by a group of truly inspiring professionals who are working to make a difference.

That said, I also have always loved fashion, and have continued to find ways to stay involved in the fashion industry — producing fashion shows for non-profit galas, writing runway reviews for a local magazine or recently as the Regional Director of Fashion Group International DC — even while I take my marketing career to the next level. I am constantly searching for new opportunities to broaden my reach and experience. 

Baille’s ability to not only identify her needs — personally and professionally — is what She Did What?! Is all about. While she was and continues to meet her career goals and needs through her marketing role, she understood that her love of fashion was an essential part of her. 

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to worry less about making mistakes and not having all of the right answers. I understand it’s more important to use these moments as fuel for a path to incremental change. I am always looking within to understand how I’m feeling, why I’m feeling that way, and what I can do to improve my current state of being, personally and professionally. 

I work to be open to honest feedback and to constantly reframe my thinking about myself. I don’t view weaknesses and failures as negatives. Instead, I think of understanding what they are as an asset. Only when you understand what your weaknesses are can you work to improve them, and if you never accept them, I don’t think you will ever be confident enough to move past them and focus on what is in your favor.

Baille analyzed herself, and learned from it. She worked to find a way to be involved in both marketing and fashion, without sacrificing either. You can only reach an outcome like this if you’re radically honest with yourself about your needs, goals and hopes, and then use what you learn from that evaluation to forge your path. 

What are you passionate about that’s outside of your job description? For me, it’s investing in women and girls around the world, particularly political leaders, human rights leaders and artists. 

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Have any feedback or ideas for what you'd like to see included? Reach out to me on LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to follow both Baille and myself on LinkedIn and Instagram! 

Ashley’s LinkedIn and Instagram | Baille’s LinkedIn and Instagram