An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
The phrase I heard recently that has resonated the most is “Fortune Favors the Brave” — while I’m sure I’ve heard this quotation many times before, with the new knowledge and growth I’ve had, it really makes sense. We need to take brave, decisive action towards what we want in life. When you don’t know what’s coming next, it is an opportunity for real growth to happen. When we know what’s coming next, we are repeating the same patterns.
As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tiffany Zehara.
Tiffany works with individuals and organizations globally to connect problems with solutions. Taking average concepts, failing projects with potential, and big thinkers to support the reshaping of ideas to implement and support revenue generating capacities, making the most of their impact in the world. Additionally, she assists firms, institutions, and governments to develop different perspectives and avenues for solutions when working with difficult clients or demographics; addressing internal challenges or mediating disputes.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
Thank you very much for having my voice a part of this important conversation! I have always been someone who questioned everything. I think my family believed it was endearing until my questions became increasingly challenging and they no longer had the simple answers to provide. This was one of my main motives behind my love of reading. I wanted to know and understand it all, and with that, came questioning why we “must” do certain things or “must” do things in a certain manner.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
In routinely questioning, in seeing things as differently as I always have, I find new paths for individuals and organizations that may not have been thought about previously because of their being too emotionally close to the problem or too attached to the traditional way of doing things. We have routinely been engrained with one way of doing things. I encourage my clients to think in different ways, to question, to challenge the system in order to get the different results from what they have received by playing by others rules and to change the world on their own terms.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
In being someone who has prided herself in always questioning and challenging, what is funny is that when I first started, I was listening to everyone else because I doubted my own capabilities! That self-doubt only led me to more frustration and self-doubt. I had to learn the importance of trusting myself; trusting my capabilities; trusting that I will always have what I need — be that knowledge in a particular area or the resources to find the answer. I also learned the importance of turning inward and not relying on external circumstances and external praise for validation of my worthiness.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
I have had amazing coaches along the way who have shown me how everything in our lives are connected. Our past traumas and self-worth impact who we attract as clients and business partnerships; how we deal with situations when we are not being paid for our services; issues around money and success as a whole.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
I would say to always question. Never just accept what is being told to you, no matter who is telling you something. Always challenge, no matter if it’s a system or structure that has withstood the test of time. Sometimes these structures or systems have lasted because no one questioned them, for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t mean that it is correct.
The key is to gather as much information as you can in the particular area and sit with it to see how you feel and act accordingly. Trust yourself. We all make the best decisions that are right for us in the time. In hindsight, we may have acted differently but that is because we are looking at a situation through the lens of new knowledge. When you get new knowledge, your thoughts or viewpoints may change, and that’s okay but never stop challenging.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
The phrase I heard recently that has resonated the most is “Fortune Favors the Brave” — while I’m sure I’ve heard this quotation many times before, with the new knowledge and growth I’ve had, it really makes sense. We need to take brave, decisive action towards what we want in life. When you don’t know what’s coming next, it is an opportunity for real growth to happen. When we know what’s coming next, we are repeating the same patterns.
While I think this phrase is technically four words, I think it still applies.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
While I will continue to speak with other amazing disruptors on my podcast and privately consult, I am very excited about a recent opportunity to be a part of writing a book on further disrupting the system.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Everyone faces challenges, in one way or another, no matter where you fall on the gendered spectrum. My grandmother always said, “you never know what happens behind closed doors.” While someone may seem to have it all together, you never know what’s going on below the surface. We are in this life to learn the lessons we are meant to learn. If everything is easy all the time, where is the growth?
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
I’ve always seemed to find the information I needed, when I needed to hear it. When I may go back to a particular book, talk, podcast, etc. it’s interesting to see how that information doesn’t seem as insightful as it once was because of the growth I may have underwent. This goes back to trusting yourself. If you are looking for guidance or answers, ask for it, be open to how the answers will come, and a response will come in surprising ways — from seeing a billboard to just getting hit with a thought while in the shower or washing the dishes.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I believe that’s what I’m doing right now 🙂
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My life motto has always been that everything happens for a reason. Everything, no matter how horrible it may seem at the time, is working for our best and highest good. We may never know why in this life that somethings happen, but there is always a larger purpose. Even if it is just to teach us patience, humility, or forgiveness.
How can our readers follow you online?
https://humanitarian-entrepreneur.com
https://humanitarian-entrepreneur.com/podcasts/ (and on all major streaming platforms)
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Female Disruptors: Tiffany Zehara On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.