Name: Raquishela Stewart
Leadership Charlotte (LC) Class: 43
Title/Company: Deputy Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services, City of Charlotte
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Education:
Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from University of La Verne
Current personal or leadership goals: My personal goal is to be a leader that inspires others. I want to inspire other leaders to do more and inspire little girls who look like to me to be all that they can be. Leadership Charlotte has given me the courage and the opportunities to do just that.
What advice would you give to current Leadership Charlotte participants: Trust the process, even when you don’t, trust it!
What’s a lesson that you learned through LC that has stuck with you and why? The lesson that I have learned is to be true to who I am. I was one who truly had imposter syndrome and I found that being myself was better for me and those around me. My life has made a complete change once I embraced myself and all that I have to offer.
What would you like to see Leadership Charlotte alumni get involved in and why? I would love to see LC alumni get more involved with youth. We do a great job working with and presenting to other leaders or potential leaders. However, our youth today are struggling and need us more than ever.
Favorite way to spend a weekend in Charlotte: I have grown to love the arts since being here in Charlotte. I have found that if you are an art lover of any form, there is something for everyone. My favorite way to spend the weekend is hanging out with friends enjoying the various music venues across the city.
Favorite nonprofit or community organization in Charlotte and why? Financial literacy is close to my heart as I have seen the impact of not having it. Commonwealth Charlotte is my favorite non-profit as they are providing the community with much needed resources and information that can be shared from generation to generation and create upward mobility opportunities.