08 November, 2021
#14 Portret van een vrouw in de financiële sector: Marie Parent
“I think, as women, it is time to stop limiting ourselves. We can do whatever we want!”
For a long time, I had a lot of trouble finding what I wanted to do. I hesitated a lot on what path I should go on after my studies. I ended up studying at an institution which was an absolute nightmare. After two consecutive failures, my self-esteem was at its lowest. I was lucky enough to meet a guidance counsellor who helped me direct myself to the marketing field. This was always part of me, as my dream was, and still is, to open my own business. I went on to study a more practical course, which was a revelation! From that moment onwards, I couldn’t be stopped. I gained so much confidence, and managed to attain a master’s degree in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services.
So, from that experience I realised that it’s okay to not fit into the pattern of society, whether it be the school you choose or the career path you go into. You are allowed to take time to question yourself, analyse the situation, and make the right decision. I believe that you should trust in your gut! Believe in yourself and understand that we are all different people with different abilities. That is the richness that makes us human. Taking your time doesn’t mean that you are less good than any other person. It gives you time to focus on your strengths and be aware of your weaknesses. You should surround yourself with people who have your weaknesses as your strengths and vice-versa. You will come out a better version of yourself and you will be unstoppable.
There were periods in my career when people would ask for my opinion on a particular topic, and my first reaction would be to shut down. However, being surrounded by inspiring people and mentors, I had learned to let go and trust my intuition. I have become more energised and confident in my ideas and my decisions.
This is a message that I would like to continue to live by for the rest of my life. If I could go into the future and ask my older-self one question, it would be, “Did you take time to reflect on your path, your drivers, and are you who you want to be in that moment?” I think that it’s important to project ourselves and do a check-up occasionally. It’s important to see if I still match my values, no matter how much I love my job. We’re always in a rushing mode and we need to take time to step back and check if what we’re doing is aligned with our values. My Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (or MBTI Personality Type for short) is INFJ. That makes me an introverted and intuitive person who bases my decision on feelings and judgement. This transcends into my values of honesty, feedback and continuously learning new things. I believe that if I continue to uphold these values and other women uphold their own, we can be fearless and be ambitious. I am going to sound like a book, but don’t let anyone drag you down!
