Rising ICON #46: Athena M. Adkins
What name do you prefer to be called?
Athena
What are your pronouns?
She/Her
Where did you grow up?
All over the Southern US
What city are you currently based in?
Saint Paul
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
Good question- When meeting someone new, I am sure to make eye contact and offer a warm hello, followed by a question. I’m usually more interested in other people’s stories, so I often ask questions that will spark conversation so I can reveal myself as a person that way.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I don’t feel my age.
Who do you help?
My company, BetterWorld Partners (BWP), works with people who want to build their capacity to lead, to say what’s real (harder than it sounds), and to change systems to be more equitable.
What are you building now?
We are building more personal support for people and organizations. While policies are made at an institutional level, individual people dream them up and actually work to advance the vision–so it makes sense to work one-on-one with leaders and changemakers.
What were you building ten years ago today?
Humans!
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
I predict that BWP will be a growing company with a cadre of brilliant, forward-thinking consultants who support clients across the globe, giving them the tools they need to challenge the status quo and create places where people feel like they belong.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
We can’t train our way to equity. If we could, we would have done it by now.
Equity happens when systems are changed to create space and potential success for those of us who haven’t previously had access. The trick is that people change those systems. To JUST train for equity is to show people how a giant complex sensitive piece of machinery works… and then never give them a chance to try it.
In my experience, systems change happens when individuals build their capacity to understand complex human systems (learn), put their learning into practice (do), and then think about how those changes got them to their goal–or not (reflect).
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Our work matters because we have seen our clients exercise their power–personally and systemically. Often, we are taught to ignore our instincts in favor of ideas and theories taught to us in academic settings. When BWP helps our clients reconnect to their purpose, to their bodies, and to give themselves credit for what they know, it is powerful to see that opening up of intrinsic knowledge and curiosity. We are human, and we will make mistakes. It isn’t the mistake that defines us. It is the response, the learning, the growing, and the changing. By having the humility to generously and fearlessly offer that to others around us, we offer more opportunities for growth and change, both for ourselves and others.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
I have benefitted from so many mentors and teachers; some have been “official,” and some have been the people I love, observe, and work with. All have given me advice I needed to hear at precisely that moment, things to consider and reconsider over time. I have learned that one decision doesn’t generally define the rest of our lives. I’ve come to understand the importance of taking the time to hold ideas, comments, and feelings in the light because when you shed light and ask questions, dialogue happens, and everyone gains clarity. Finally, my son told me the other day that it isn't over if it isn’t settled. Given the ambiguous nature of the work I do, it is helpful to remember that very little is ever completely settled, and having the grace and agility to navigate that is what’s most essential.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
Testimonials we’ve received from our clients, whether they’ve done one-on-one coaching, participated in a group training or benefitted from a grant, we’ve helped them get to do the work they wish to do.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Teen Vogue. I love how it takes on big and controversial topics and folds themes of identity, environmental, racial, and social justice into a publication most people think of as pure fluff.
Plus, fashion!
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Brene Brown or Trevor Noah
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
My Mom Was a Clown. True Story.
What award would mean the most to win?
Best dancer at First Avenue.
What makes zero sense to you?
Limiting yourself to live up to other people’s expectations.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
DEI
What game are you changing?
I’m working to create more effective game-changers. Work committed to equity is under attack from all sides. Instead of falling back and getting small, we need to come together with people who understand this work and build our skills to respond and thrive. This is my focus. I help leaders and organizations level- up more effectively, maximizing their potential to create meaningful impact, flip the script, and change the game.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Facilitating Cultural Change (FCC), an advanced 5-day in-person institute for practitioners of cultural, systemic, and transformational change toward social justice. I’m excited to co-lead this really dynamic group learning opportunity. It’s designed for people ready to bring their systemic work around equity and justice to scale, people who may have done IDI training before, have learned and made changes, but want to keep going. This isn’t stuff that you can just cross off on a to-do list, it requires dedication and commitment over time. It’s exciting to guide people as they continue on this journey and watch them go back and create transformational change at the organizations they work for. We’re hoping that more organizations will invest in their leadership teams by allowing them budget and time to do this work. This year, FCC takes place in St. Paul, MN, and runs June 10-14.
Where can we follow you online?
I would be delighted if people would follow @BetterWorldPartners on Linked In and Instagram,
@betterworldmn . As a founder, I am trying to separate my personal social media from the business. I think this is pretty common at a certain point - so I’d love to grow the BetterWorld Partners accounts.
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Intercultural competency- your ability to effectively communicate across similarities and differences toward a shared goal.
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Athena, for sharing your story!
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“We are human, and we will make mistakes. It isn’t the mistake that defines us. It is the response, the learning, the growing, and the changing.”
Notice: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting rising leaders. The future is bold.
