Brennan Lowery, a Baylor graduate, moved to New York shortly after, determined to find a job in the fashion industry. She got her first job in the sales department for Kate Spade. After dedication and working hard, she moved up to store manager. Succeeding in that role as well, the company promoted her to an executive position which allowed her to travel throughout the world. While traveling, she discovered a passion for growing the fashion industry internationally and creating a future for women in the work force. She currently has a management role in Karisimbi Business Partners, a Rwandan-based consultancy company. Brennan describes their company’s goal as, “Our model is to wrap our arms around a community for three years and give support on different levels. When we pull out, we want the factory to be self-sustainable.” She has worked to impact the lives of women through providing them jobs and allowing them to provide for their families.

Brennan stepped out in faith that the fashion industry was where she was called to work even when she did not have a job lined up. I admired the passion and faith that she acted out of because it showed leadership and determination for fulfilling her vocation. I was encouraged by the clarity she had for her vocation but also her willingness to grow in her job to fit the passions she developed. Her leadership showed through her adaptability in both her position and location. Brennan has worked hard and is continuing to do so in order improve the lives of those she works with. I admired how she responded to opportunities in her life and her dedication to succeeding in the vocation she’s called to.

One downside was I struggled when listening to her because of her poor speaking skills. Whether it be nerves, a lack of confidence, or just a weakness in public speaking, I found it extremely difficult to stay focused on what she was saying. During her lecture, I found myself constantly thinking, “Wow, what she just said is actually super interesting, but I almost missed it completely.” This made me realize the necessity for leaders to relate their ideas and plans clearly to those they’re working with. Also, it is important for them to be motivators that can persuade others to join them in working to accomplish their goal. I believe that if Brennan had presented her goals, stories, and experiences in a more engaging manner then she would have had a larger impact on the audience.

After listening to Brennan’s lecture, I appreciated the courage and action she took to pursue her vocation even without a finalized career plan. She also stayed adaptable while discerning her passions and vocation. Some of her strengths in leadership were evident in her presentation; however, her weakness in public speaking was also extremely noticeable. Leaders must be able to clearly share their thoughts with others in order to accomplish their goals.