THEPEOPLEALCHEMIST EDIT: #TheWomanalchemist #feature #womanofthemonth

A few years ago, I started a monthly feature blog covering Women in Business who have inspired me in the past and the present. These women were and are my personal choice. I have looked up to them as examples, beacons of what is possible to achieve if you are determined. Not perfect women by any means, but I am who I am today because of them. They are examples that the only thing standing between you and your goals are the stories you tell yourself as to why you can't achieve them. True 'Alchemists' turning their 'metal into gold', the hand they were given in to what they wanted. There are many women alchemists out there, either working in senior positions/at the top of a corporate environment, or founders/CEO of their successful biz. I brought these "flesh and blood women" to you in a series of interviews to inspire you to #smashthatceiling. All culminated in my book "STOP IT! It is all in your head". I am incredibly passionate helping other women to break through barriers limiting their personal and professional fulfilment, starting with the most significant obstacle of all: their own beliefs' system.

#SmashYourCeiling to #SmashTheCeiling is my mantra.

For me, though, it is not just talking; it is action and support means solid support not 'I'm with you in spirit sister' and then look away. It also means no harsh criticism, putting other women down – oooh, she is soo thin ... look at those shoes, … is she pregnant? She has a pouch ... and so on. I am feminist in that I believe women can be and do anything they chose to if they want to that is. I believe in women supporting other women to succeed, so I am restarting my monthly feature blog, and my interview series #TheWomanAlchemist, shining the spotlight on the amazing women out making a difference and being the change they seek. This month feature is Elaine Welteroth and her book "More Than Enough" (one of my four November reads), bringing together my passion for supporting other women and the love of reading & writing. Elaine is an American journalist, editor and best-selling author, a true trailblazer :

• Editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue in April 2016
• Youngest Condé Nast editor in its 107-year history
• Second African-American person to hold the title of editor-in-chief at the company.
• Subscriptions for Teen Vogue increased 535% year-over-year during her tenure.
• Named 47th in The Root's list of 100 influential African-Americans.

More Than Enough

Part memoir, part career guide and part self-help journal, the book has faith, energy and trauma at the centre of it. More Than Enough is full of with personal anecdotes, showcasing the mindset that helped her rise in her career. Also, it helped she had/has a vision and a plan. Welteroth was born in a working-class family with an African-American mother and a white father. They lived in a white neighbourhood in California, contributing to establish her "biracial" identity (as the Americans call it). Racial identity is the running commentary and punctuation throughout the book. Candidly, she acknowledges the privilege that comes from a being light-skinned in a world that penalises darker skin. In her book she says: "Only as an adult, in quiet moments of reflection, can I begin to see clearly the subconscious impact of white supremacy at work in the messages I was fed as a child ... ... I lived in a world that reflected this hierarchy (whiteness as superior). I grew up with an unspoken suspicion that the world would see me as second best, too.” And this was and is what I got from the book and Elaine: we are more than enough, no matter the circumstances, no matter societal restrictions. And we need to CLAIM our space for who we really are - no matter what ANYONE says.

More Than Enough is available from Amazon