Marriott’s Porsche Pettiford on the Value of Self-Advocacy

Building Mentors

People need a community who will lift them up when they need it, but also tell them the truth, even when it’s hard to hear.

“Sometimes the real truth is hard to hear,” Pettiford said. “But when you’re building mentors and allies and sponsors for yourself, you want people who will tell you all the great things you do want to hear, but you also want people to tell you the things that may be hard or more difficult to respond to or hear.”

Self-Advocacy

Having people to tell you the good and the bad can help you grow in your career. These experiences can help you find out who you are and let others know who you are.

“The more you can advocate for yourself as to who you are and what you want and what your aspirations are, your mentors and allies and sponsors will be better positioned to help you,” she added.

Pettiford added that self-advocacy is crucial because it helps your sponsors advocate for you when you’re not in the room. They can amplify your voice.

Setting Goals

To get where you want to go in your career, it’s also important to set goals. Pettiford said she had aspired for her current position for two years. She had to want the job and set a goal to get to it.

“I set the ambition forward,” she said. “And every single day, it’s important to practice who you want to become … and that’s showing up in rooms where you might be uncomfortable. It’s advocating for yourself. It’s talking about your point of view, your perspective and things that are on your mind.”