Q&A with Tekisha Dwan Everette, Ph.D., MPA, MPH, CPH
Q: Tell us about you, where you work.
I am the Executive Vice President at Trust for America's Health, a national, nonpartisan public health research, policy and advocacy organization that envisions a nation that values the health and well-being of all and where prevention of illness and injury are a national priority.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member and have you been an IWF member in another chapter?
I became a member in 2020 through the Connecticut forum. I am currently a dual member of DC and Connecticut, with DC as my primary.
Q: How did you first get started in your field, and what--if anything--surprised you about the path you ultimately took?
I first got started in my field as a policy analyst. I utilized my policy skills to author novel legislation in Maryland that led me to the path of advocacy and lobbying. I then leveraged my knowledge, skills and abilities to evolve into nonprofit leadership and led a first-of-its-kind, statewide organization focused on advancing equity through policy change. What surprised me in all of this is how important it was to take the risk of leaving organizations where I enjoyed the work, and could do more, in order to gain more experience and responsibility. In short, growth was predicated on movement over loyalty to an organization.
Q: Looking back, what moment or decision most shaped the direction of your career?
Oddly, the decision to remain in college to get my master's degree directly after undergrad. I had a life changing moment that caused me to realize I was not ready to launch, and I needed stability before embarking on an adult career. This single decision changed my entire trajectory. Making this choice and this change introduced me to a career path that I had not contemplated to achieve my life goals. I pivoted from a lifelong dream/goal of being a lawyer (and ultimately a Supreme Court justice) to a career rooted in achieving equity and justice via nonprofit leadership.
Q: What leadership lesson has been the most valuable?
My most valuable leadership lesson is that leadership is not about your achievements but about what others achieve because of you and/or with you. For most of my life, leaders were heralded for the work they achieved and treated as the "singular" force behind success. What I quickly learned, both from great leaders and on my own, is that leadership is all about the way leaders enable success around them FOR others. It is about the inspiration and motivation we spark for others.
Q: How has your definition of success evolved over the course of your career?
Success has come to be less about the achievements and accolades I accrue and more about the lives I impact. This comes in the form of the people I help toward achieving their goals or as subtle as hearing someone adopt or adapt an idea I planted. I am happy with the silent success that is unrecognized by the masses.
Q: What advice would you give to women earlier in their careers that you wish you had received sooner?
I recently posted about writing a letter to my younger self on my LinkedIn page. Here is a riff of what I said: Ground your work in justice (or what matters to you most) over chasing titles, achievement or money. If you lead with what is meaningful to you, prosperity and abundance will come in all forms (financial, spiritual, personal, social, etc).
Q: Is there a mentor, sponsor, or moment of support that made a meaningful difference for you?
Aside from my parents, I can think of two pivotal people who shaped the course of my career through mentorship -- Jonathan Parker and Ilisa Halpern-Paul. Jonathan gave me great guidance to lean into risk. Ilisa gave me great guidance on calm and courageous leadership.
Q: What's a hobby or interest that might surprise people who only know you professionally?
I think it is a giveaway to say I like to travel as that is something most people learn about me withing 10 minutes of meeting me (I have been to all continents). So, I will go with I am a poet. I have written and performed poetry for over 30 years.
Q: Is there a skill you're still working on or something you are learning right now?
I am studying to become a registered parliamentarian, becoming a certified AI Professional and practicing Spanish.
Q: What is a word that guides you these days?
I am going to cheat here and provide two words: Joy and Intention.
Q: Tell us about you, where you work.
I am the Executive Vice President at Trust for America's Health, a national, nonpartisan public health research, policy and advocacy organization that envisions a nation that values the health and well-being of all and where prevention of illness and injury are a national priority.
Q: How long have you been an IWF member and have you been an IWF member in another chapter?
I became a member in 2020 through the Connecticut forum. I am currently a dual member of DC and Connecticut, with DC as my primary.
Q: How did you first get started in your field, and what--if anything--surprised you about the path you ultimately took?
I first got started in my field as a policy analyst. I utilized my policy skills to author novel legislation in Maryland that led me to the path of advocacy and lobbying. I then leveraged my knowledge, skills and abilities to evolve into nonprofit leadership and led a first-of-its-kind, statewide organization focused on advancing equity through policy change. What surprised me in all of this is how important it was to take the risk of leaving organizations where I enjoyed the work, and could do more, in order to gain more experience and responsibility. In short, growth was predicated on movement over loyalty to an organization.
Q: Looking back, what moment or decision most shaped the direction of your career?
Oddly, the decision to remain in college to get my master's degree directly after undergrad. I had a life changing moment that caused me to realize I was not ready to launch, and I needed stability before embarking on an adult career. This single decision changed my entire trajectory. Making this choice and this change introduced me to a career path that I had not contemplated to achieve my life goals. I pivoted from a lifelong dream/goal of being a lawyer (and ultimately a Supreme Court justice) to a career rooted in achieving equity and justice via nonprofit leadership.
Q: What leadership lesson has been the most valuable?
My most valuable leadership lesson is that leadership is not about your achievements but about what others achieve because of you and/or with you. For most of my life, leaders were heralded for the work they achieved and treated as the "singular" force behind success. What I quickly learned, both from great leaders and on my own, is that leadership is all about the way leaders enable success around them FOR others. It is about the inspiration and motivation we spark for others.
Q: How has your definition of success evolved over the course of your career?
Success has come to be less about the achievements and accolades I accrue and more about the lives I impact. This comes in the form of the people I help toward achieving their goals or as subtle as hearing someone adopt or adapt an idea I planted. I am happy with the silent success that is unrecognized by the masses.
Q: What advice would you give to women earlier in their careers that you wish you had received sooner?
I recently posted about writing a letter to my younger self on my LinkedIn page. Here is a riff of what I said: Ground your work in justice (or what matters to you most) over chasing titles, achievement or money. If you lead with what is meaningful to you, prosperity and abundance will come in all forms (financial, spiritual, personal, social, etc).
Q: Is there a mentor, sponsor, or moment of support that made a meaningful difference for you?
Aside from my parents, I can think of two pivotal people who shaped the course of my career through mentorship -- Jonathan Parker and Ilisa Halpern-Paul. Jonathan gave me great guidance to lean into risk. Ilisa gave me great guidance on calm and courageous leadership.
Q: What's a hobby or interest that might surprise people who only know you professionally?
I think it is a giveaway to say I like to travel as that is something most people learn about me withing 10 minutes of meeting me (I have been to all continents). So, I will go with I am a poet. I have written and performed poetry for over 30 years.
Q: Is there a skill you're still working on or something you are learning right now?
I am studying to become a registered parliamentarian, becoming a certified AI Professional and practicing Spanish.
Q: What is a word that guides you these days?
I am going to cheat here and provide two words: Joy and Intention.