‘My Year 1 teacher said I was Too Much.’ The Rebel Authenticity of re/claiming our strengths.
Have you ever had someone say something about you that stayed with you for a long time?
My Year 1 teacher told my mum that my sense of justice was ‘too much.’
Me at roughly 6 years old. Warrior pose!
Miss Jan told my mum when I was 5 years old:
‘Debbie has a very strongly developed sense of justice. Some would say, a little too strong. Let’s just say, it sometimes helps her, and sometimes holds her back.’
I remember.
It started in the playground not being able to stand bullying and discrimination - against me, or other children. I'd intervene, sometimes physically, or call an adult. Unable to bear the unfairness.
Well, #sorrynotsorry Miss Jan. But that commitment to justice, liberation, and healing has only grown stronger over the years.
6 ways my passion for justice and compassion has been an asset over my career…
1. I spent 7 years building an interfaith NGO, helping teachers facilitate more faith-inclusive spaces for young people, and deal more proactively with faith-based discrimination. My sense of justice helped me learn to centre and believe marginalised voices, and 'stay in' even when I (or communities I belonged to) were implicated in the harms of racism and Islamophobia.
2. I’ve trained 100’s of people on DEI behaviours and strategy-building at top companies around the world. My sense of justice helped me develop a fierce yet loving training style, calling people in rather than calling them out. Building justice is going to take all of us - and it's not fair to expect people to learn when they're shamed.
3. In my previous partnership business TrustLab with the brilliant Yasmeen Akhtar, we partnered with clients for the long term to create more inclusive and accountable cultures of flourishing. My sense of justice helped me advocate for long-term strategy, vision and action, rather than piecemeal 'unconscious bias' trainings. It also enabled me to continue owning and using my privilege equitably in my partnership with Yasmeen.
4. I co-founded a progressive Jewish community Makor Hayim, where we are endeavouring to welcome and include Jews and non-Jewish allies who have been historically excluded (and often still are) from mainstream Jewish spaces. My sense of justice helped me ground myself in seeking to treat people fairly, however complex community politics got.
5. I’ve also worked hard to balance out the ways my passion for justice drives me to overcommit sometimes! I’ve learned from the Jewish practice of Shabbat to create micro-tastes of a just world NOW through rest, joy, and pleasure. I'm learning that if I'm to build a just world - that justice, inclusion and boundaries are my right, too.
Rebel then, rebel now
Nowadays, my sense of justice is a huge driver in bringing Rebel Leadership to leaders like me - who are committed to fairness, equity and healing, but don't yet know how to embed it in their team culture. (Scroll down for more details_.
So when you work with me, don’t be surprised…
💬 Everything I do has anti-oppression principles at its heart, like accounting for privilege and power, intersectionality, and accountability for harm
💬 No ‘colour-blindness’ here. I’m sensitised to the specific needs of clients who experience marginalisation - and support them equitably. I won’t shy away from highlighting unhealthy power dynamics and structures. But I will help you address and dismantle them.
💬 It doesn’t mean I’ll always get it ‘right.’ But I’m always willing to humble myself and learn, if justice is the ‘why.’
32 years after Miss Jan’s comment - I’m weirdly thankful that she said it.
I know who I am now.
I’m learning not to burn myself or others by ‘overcooking’ my sense of justice.
And Rebel Leadership would never have been born without it.
This is Rebel Leadership.
I’m Debbie, the founder of Rebel Leadership.
A radical leadership development practice that helps leaders to create cultures of true inclusion, flourishing, and high-performance.
How can you bring Rebel Leadership to your organisation?
121 Leadership Coaching
Rebel Leadership Trainings (Online or In-Person) for your organisation
Expert Facilitation for Big Conversations
If you’re ready to build a great culture in your organisation, but don’t feel equipped to do it alone - I’ve got you.
DM me on LinkedIn or email me here at debbie@debbiedanon.com.
I’d love to support you and your people on the path to Rebel Flourishing.
Debbie Danon
Founder, Rebel Leadership
Debbie is the founder of Rebel Leadership - a developmental practice serving leaders and teams of change-making organisations. She is a certified Integral Coach, inclusive leadership facilitator, and sought-after expert in personal and professional development.
In a world where burnout is too common among activists and change-makers, Debbie is passionate about supporting leaders to build their capacity for Rebel Authenticity, Balance and Courage - so that they and their teams can feel energised and fully resourced to navigate even the most complex challenges.
Clients recognise Debbie for her ‘deepest emotional intelligence’, ‘extensive leadership knowledge’ and ‘total unshockability.’
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