The Importance of Defining Your Own Success
“Whether you’re an artist or anything else, YOU define your success. It’s not about what anyone else has to say about your life. You decide what success means to you and how you use your talents.”
Artist, strategy leader, and self-proclaimed data geek Elizabeth Racheva shared that advice during our photoshoot last October.
“As I enter a new phase in life, I realize how lucky I am to have more than one talent that brings me enjoyment and fulfillment. I had a lot of encouragement from mentors in college to follow my passion and calling as an artist, so I became a professional opera singer after grad school. Along the way I found a passion for leadership in the arts, higher education, and nonprofit world. I started a transition where a day job also became a calling—leading to a decade of parallel careers.”
“I bring my identity as an artist to everything that I do – being creative, listening, telling compelling stories, and preparing for big moments. I have been so privileged to have leaders that let me bring my whole self to the table and explore complementary skills from all facets of my experience. And during my career, I’ve noticed that sometimes artists haven’t understood you can also have business skills, and vice versa.”
“We’re conditioned to put ourselves in boxes. As we emerge from the pandemic, we’re embracing the full complement of skills and talents that only you can bring to the situation. Bringing your whole self to the table and leveraging all your skills makes you more valuable.”
“As a professional singer, I’ve had headshots done before to reflect that aspect of my life, but I realized I have never had photos that reflect my identity as a leader in the nonprofit world. I was intrigued by Alissa’s work. I wanted to invest in images that were fully reflective of me as a 47-year-old working mom, with laugh lines and wrinkles from smiling, taking so much joy from life, and having confidence and power from my lived experience.”
“I feel like Alissa so beautifully captured those qualities and the real spirit of joy, positivity, and warmth that I strive to bring into every space that I enter. That came to the forefront because Alissa made me feel that way at a SEVEN am shoot. She embraced who I was and rolled with it, capturing me completely. “
Thank you, Elizabeth, for the incredible honor of capturing your full self.
If you’d like to connect with Elizabeth, click here.