The Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Orlando chapter hosted the “Women in Leadership Panel: Influence and Reinvention,” where participants heard from four incredible women who have each navigated their own careers. The panel featured Dr. Doragnes Rivera Bradshaw, assistant dean at Rollins College; Heather Fagan, chief of staff at city of Orlando; Chauniqua Major, founder of Whatever’s Good PR + Marketing; and Trish Wingerson, vice president of public relations at Orlando Magic. Though their professional journeys were different, one consistent thread connected them all: embracing change was never a setback, only a setup for what was to come.

Pivoting with Purpose

Making a major transition can often feel like stepping off the paved path and into the unknown, but it can also lead you to exactly where you are meant to be. Major captured it perfectly: “Some things, they just happen to you … sometimes life just happens because somebody quits or somebody sees something in you that you don’t see in yourself.” Truthfully, not every career move is calculated. Most defining career shifts come from having the confidence to step into a new role when an unexpected door opens. Transitions that feel the most uncertain are often the ones that build the most valuable experiences.

When change occurs, doubt usually follows closely behind, especially when you are early in your career. But as Major reminded the room, “Some seasons call for new things and the ability to pivot and … meet the moment.” Bradshaw pushed the idea further, pointing out that the timelines we stress over are ones we create ourselves. Releasing the pressure of what things are “supposed to look like” is what creates space to grow. A career path rarely looks like a straight line, and that is not a flaw in the plan – it is the plan.

Showing Up and Speaking Up

The panelists were asked about the intentional actions they have done to build trust in leadership. Fagan emphasized the value of listening. It’s important to sit back and listen to others. This small act is remembered and can develop stronger relationships with others. When it comes to being present in the moment, Wingerson elaborated on talking to people on a personal level. She noted that authenticity in a conversation helps build trust.

When Wingerson was asked how she got to her leadership position, she said, “you don’t think it, you just do it.” Through her determination to move up from her position, she proved that persistence is a crucial part in achieving success.

Overall, the leadership panel demonstrated that there is no singular path a person has to take in order to be successful. Careers are often shaped by the unexpected opportunities that we choose to invest in ourselves. As women in leadership, the panelist discussed the challenges of asserting their place in male dominated spaces but also expressed a hopeful outlook for the changing landscape of leadership as more women are being appointed to those C-suite and leadership roles. The panel was a lesson on embracing change, staying true to your values and challenging the constraints that others might try to put on you.

Leila Medina  is an associate on the Poston Communications team.

Leyla Damia is a public relations intern on the Poston Communications team.

Ana-Paulina Estevez is a public relations intern on the Poston Communications team.