Lyte presents “Womxn at Lyte,” a series of conversations highlighting the voices of our womxn.
Q: AS A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WANTED TO BE? HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAME TO THAT DECISION?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: As a child, I was a go-getter and also extremely creative. I loved to draw, dance, and I even remember acting out plays with my sisters. Though intuitively, I think I would have liked to pursue something creative, I never explicitly knew what I wanted to be. I just knew that whatever I did, I wanted to be successful so I could help support my family and also make them proud. It was instilled in me at a young age that the key to success is excellence in academia so that became my focus because I believed that it was the only way I could guarantee success.
Q: WHAT WOULD YOUR YOUNGER SELF BE MOST SURPRISED ABOUT HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE TODAY?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: Everything. I lived in Accra, Ghana for most of my childhood and was very happy there. However, living in Ghana, your access and exposure can be quite limited and it was a very different existence from the life I live now. I never imagined that I would be exposed to and experiencing so many things by this age - supporting myself completely and making my own decisions, traveling the world with my friends, being able to express myself in so many different ways, etc. Younger Steph would be beyond excited.
Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE HARDEST PART OF WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: The hardest thing for me is overcoming Imposter Syndrome and also learning to be more flexible. This role, environment, and industry was a pivot for me, and that has been challenging, along with learning to trust my voice again. I have always thought of myself as pretty flexible but with every new challenge comes an opportunity to push my limits, redefine my capabilities, get rid of the old, and plunge into the new. I am focused on silencing the doubt and trusting the process.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO AT LYTE?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: I love that Lyte pushes for growth while simultaneously humanizing its community and giving them grace. I think our society really enforces the idea that our sole purpose is to work and be a cog in the wheel without our humanity recognized even in the slightest. There is a much better balance here and it materializes in so many ways. Every day I work with people who feel like they can be themselves and express it in small ways like sharing the music they love via Slack or in big ways like showing up at Lyte & Lunch and sharing personal stories, struggles, and triumphs.
Q: WHAT LESSON TOOK YOU THE LONGEST TO UNLEARN?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: It has taken me the longest to unlearn the belief that my self-worth is tied only to what I am able to accomplish rather than who I am. That has been an extremely difficult thing for me to release and I am still working on it today. It is difficult because we are constantly socialized to believe that that lie is the truth. From the time we open our eyes to the time we close our eyes and sleep, it is all about productivity, accomplishments, and trying to stay 100 steps ahead of everything.
Q: WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED RECENTLY THAT WOULD HAVE SHOCKED YOU A YEAR AGO?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: I’ve become the gym girl! I started taking my mental health very seriously a few years ago and I have always wanted to be able to prioritize my physical health and fitness in the same way. I can’t nurture my spirit while ignoring my body so at the start of this year, I took the steps to hold myself accountable - I signed up for a gym membership and got a personal trainer. Now, 6 months later, exercise has become a habit and a high priority for me. Being able to train my mind and body to persevere through very difficult physical challenges has been extremely rewarding.
And secondly, I recently got my first tattoo while I was in Ghana visiting my family and friends. I tattooed my grandmother’s signature onto my wrist. Though it may seem minute, it was a big deal to me. It is something I had wanted for some time but I never thought I would actually do because the permanent nature of it made me nervous. But I love it! It means a lot to me that I have another part of her with me, I was able to do it in my home country, and also show it to her before coming back to the US.
Q: WHAT ARE YOU MORE AFRAID OF, FAILURE OR SUCCESS?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: Definitely failure. I sometimes take failure personally but I recognize that that belief can be crippling. When you are so scared of failure that you find yourself sometimes not even taking the steps toward a goal because of the pressure of wanting absolute perfection, that is not good. So though I am not completely over my fear of failure, I have accepted that not everything is going to be perfect and that there is good in imperfection. I work to be more accepting of failure and utilize it as information and a tool to be used toward growth.
Q: WHAT'S NON-NEGOTIABLE IN YOUR LIFE?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: My inner peace for sure. I'm just prioritizing my inner peace over everything and making sure I am aware of and enforcing my boundaries. One thing I can definitively say about myself at this stage is that if something is not serving me, I am not afraid to run toward change. In fact, I love change and new experiences. I pour into the things that pour into me and what I love, and I stay away from the things that do not.
Q: WHAT CAN WOMXN CREATE TOGETHER?
I feel like the answer to this question is limitless. To me, it is not only about what we are able to create together, but also about ensuring that the needs and struggles of all womxn are recognized, no one is left behind, and that the strides we are taking are beneficial to womxn of all identities. If one group of womxn is left behind, then we are all left behind. It is very important that we lift as we climb.
Q: WHAT'S THE MOST EXCITING IMPROVEMENT FOR WOMXN IN THE INDUSTRY?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: Social media has provided us with access and the ability to connect with so many different people. For womxn, I think it is helpful in making us aware of what is attainable by showing us what other women are doing and the steps they are taking.
I have seen womxn living hundreds upon hundreds of miles apart advising one another on pursuing job opportunities, and difficult compensation conversations, and I have even seen women in roles I didn't know existed. I find it particularly helpful for women who are isolated or in male-dominated spaces. Even if you may physically be by yourself, there is a womxn on Youtube, TikTok, Twitter, etc. who has been in that position and is willing to help by sharing her experience and how she was able to navigate. It is a powerful thing.
Q: WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: The title I would give this chapter in my life is Resurrecting my Inner Child. I recently realized that this has been my biggest goal for the last few years. I learned through therapy that a lot of us buried our inner child and silenced the truest parts of ourselves. My overall focus now is embracing my being, listening to myself, and getting back to the basics. It opens the door to the highest level of self-love, happiness, and peace so whatever steps I can take on this journey to get there, I will.
Q: ANY LAST WORDS YOU WANT TO LEAVE US WITH?
Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie: I recently heard a quote that really stuck with me. It was something to the tune of “Life passes most people by while they’re making big plans for it”. I think it really encapsulates my worst fears. To me, that is the saddest thing because I do believe we only get to do life one time and I hate the thought of anyone being engulfed by the noise, then looking up and realizing that their life has passed by without them being present for it. As cliche as it sounds, every day really is a blessing and a new start. Do the things that make you happy! It is definitely much easier said than done but, do your best to present for the good and the bad, and do not neglect to still live your life while you make your plans and strive for your goals.
Womxn at Lyte featuring Stephanie McCarter-Dadzie, Revenue Operations Analyst at Lyte