Name: LaShaun Carter
Leadership Charlotte (LC) Class: 44
Title/Company: Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Mecklenburg County
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Education:
- BA Humanities (History), The Ohio State University
Current personal or leadership goals: My current personal and leadership goals are to be present in all the rooms I’m in. I want to show up on behalf of those I represent and those who are furthest from opportunity and may never have access to the rooms that I’m privileged to be in. I hope to serve as a thoughtful advocate for others and have the courage and willingness to show up for myself and my family. My goal ultimately is informed by a question I was once asked that comes from Dr. Cynthia Tyson that asks, “How much of your privilege are you willing to invest to disrupt and dismantle systems that privilege you?”. It’s a question that has stayed with me and something I am always considering as I work and engage on behalf of others.
What advice would you give to current Leadership Charlotte participants? Enjoy the process! Most importantly, engage and bond with your cohort members. The experience is defined by the connections and relationships you build. I’d also say to pay attention to the “how” of the things you learn to foster connections to your work in a meaningful way. Sometimes it can be less obvious but with thoughtful consideration and interrogation every program day has real applicability to our personal and professional worlds.
What’s a lesson that you learned through LC that has stuck with you and why?
I learned to save some for myself. What that means to me is that sometimes, when we have the opportunity to present on a topic, we tend to dump everything we know into the presentation, leaving nothing for ourselves or no room for further exploration or dialogue. It has been important to understand the audience and give them great content but leave room for dialogue and interaction that drives further connection and understanding of my experience and expertise with the topic.
What would you like to see Leadership Charlotte alumni get involved in and why? I’d love to see Leadership Charlotte alumni get involved in ongoing shared experiences and learning opportunities that support the next generation of leaders. This network can be the conduit for demonstrating the power of relationships and help scaffold emerging leaders’ experience ready to take the next step in their careers.
Favorite way to spend a weekend in Charlotte: I’m still relatively new so I love to get out with my family and find new things to do. I like to go to different neighborhoods, parks, greenways and community events that show just how diverse and welcoming Charlotte is.
Favorite nonprofit or community organization in Charlotte and why? Other than Leadership Charlotte (wink), I’d say Generation Nation. It supports and develops the next generation of civically engaged leaders in high schools across the county. It’s so exciting to see the promise of the future and how thoughtful and engaging our young people are. Seeing their passion and commitment to this community and the world they will soon inherit is incredibly encouraging.