ISSUE 15 “The Power Shift: Who Runs the World”

AMBER GRIMES

Written by Nubian Princess

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DSRPT.: What qualities do you believe embody a truly strong woman?

Amber: “Ironically I think that women who are able to show their weakness or be vulnerable, y’know, willing to be transparent and honest about that, ask for help when they need it and not kinda take on that tough, “I can do it all” exterior that we put on sometimes. I think that truly makes you strong when you’re kind of okay with being weak.”

DSRPT.: Can you share 3 influential women that have  shaped your views on power and leadership?

Amber: “Bozoma Saint John, Ebonie Ward, and my mom (Tracy Grimes)”

DSRPT.: Describe a moment when you had to assert yourself assertively in a challenging situation?

Amber: “I think during the pandemic…The week where everything took place with George Floyd I was working at a company where there were not  as many people that look like me, especially at the top of that company and I was just noticing the hesitation on what to do and how to address that situation and I took it upon myself to shake the room if you will because there wasn’t really anybody else to shake it that really understood the breath of what had just happened and that there were people that needed to be addressed by the company to make sure that they know that they cared or if they needed a day off or if they needed any sort of attention that that would be given to them.”

 

 

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DSRPT.: Where do you get your strength from?

Amber: “Umm, I think just going through stuff and not dying. I’ve been through a lot, I’ve failed at certain things, I’ve had just as many problems as anybody else and I’ve never died.”

DSRPT.: Do you feel like you have a certain standard you need to uphold in order to be taken seriously?

Amber: “No, I used to think that in my twenties and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I have always placed a responsibility to respect myself on myself so that people never had a reason to not take me seriously.”

DSRPT.: Which book would you recommend to women aiming to enhance their leadership skills?

Amber: “There’s a book called “MOVE”(Patty Azzarello). It’s a really practical book about everything you need to know to navigate the corporate space…and then there’s another one called “The First 90 Days” (Michael D. Watkins). That one is also incredible.”

DSRPT.: What sparked the creation of “Ambers Book Club” and what impact do you hope it will have?

Amber: “I think people don’t read and books are important. Half of everything that I know I read in a book somewhere…When I realized there’s really no greater way or easier way to immediately change your perspective than a book I just was overwhelmed with the power that books have to unleash a new power in yourself and I think people miss these gems, they’re sitting right in front of you, you can change your life for like $10 and I think people aren’t paying attention because we’re on our phones all the time.”

DSRPT.: Describe your experience being EVP/GM of Love Renaissance?

Amber: “My experience in my current role is crazy, it’s fun, it’s frustrating, it’s all the emotions that you could ever think of running a company.”

DSRPT.: How do you empower and support other women in the industry?

Amber: “I’m definitely biased I’ll say, with my staff. I give my girls so much extra support and so much love and I’m so patient with them and I just want women in this business to have the same opportunities that men have. I definitely make sure that I show up for women and not do that mean girl sh*t.”

DSRPT.: What advice would you give to women who aspire to reach executive positions?

Amber: “I would say, sometimes we have to ask for that promotion or work for that promotion or actually climb the latter. Nobody is going to intentionally pull you up it because they want to. That has not been my experience. My experience has been when I ask or when I can show improved that I will get what I’m asking for.”