Jennifer Holley

"I Belong in This Room" From the time I was little, I was told I was too much. "Too talkative." "She mothers the other kids." As I entered the workforce at an exceptionally young age, I was often one of the only women in the room. As I grew older, the labels changed, but the message stayed the same. "You're too emotional." "You're intimidating." "You're an acquired taste." Time and again, people found creative ways to tell me how I could fit in better. Be quieter. Be softer. Take up less space. Thankfully, there were also people who saw something different. They saw my passion, my conviction, and my relentless determination. They helped me channel those qualities into something meaningful and I discovered something powerful: the same traits people criticized were the traits that got results. That determination helped connect children to critical nutrition programs. It helped chefs and entrepreneurs build businesses and make their mark. It helped me navigate industries where I still hear, "Don't worry, the men have this part covered." And yet, when the project stalls, when the path forward isn't obvious, when failure isn't an option—I'm the person they call. Because tenacity gets things moving. Because grit gets things finished. Because perseverance gets results. For years, I believed I had to prove I belonged in the room. Now I know something different. I belong in this room because I earned my seat at the table. I don't need permission to be here. I don't need to make myself smaller to make others comfortable. So my message, "I belong in this room," isn't about confidence. It's about certainty. And wherever I sit, I intend to leave the room better than I found it. I belong in this room.