Genny Brown is aiming to be the first Aruban, person from the Caribbean and black woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole to raise awareness about Lyme Disease and to inspire young people of colour to dream big, aim high and work hard to achieve their goals.
Learn more about Genny here:
What has been our greatest & favorite achievement so far and why?
Battling and overcoming medical gaslighting and misdiagnosis for 3 years before being properly diagnosed with Lyme Disease has got to be my greatest achievement so far. The experience taught me the importance of advocating for myself and equipped me with tenacity. Although it was a thoroughly harrowing experience, I am a better woman for having been through it.
What does success mean to you?
To me, success isn’t so much about achieving your goals or dreams but rather about learning to appreciate every aspect of the journey that you set out on. It will take you to places you never imagined, ding things you never thought possible.
What is your mantra or favorite saying? (If it's a known quote, please let us know who said it first!)
Aim high, dream big, work hard and don’t be defined by anyone else’s limiting beliefs!
What's your favorite book - fiction or non-fiction! - in the past year?
Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees. I absolutely loved that the main narrator of the book is a wise fig tree! I savoured every page!
If you could teach the world one five-minute lesson, what would it be?
You are not defined or limited by your failures, mistakes, or short comings!
Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently when you were first starting out?
I would have been bolder when asking for help or advice. I was often ashamed to admit how inexperienced I was or how little I knew and didn’t want to bother anyone. But I quickly learned that most people are happy to help or give advice and that vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a strength.
What does women's empowerment look like to you in action?
Not letting competition limit you from celebrating other women’s successes and achievements. When one of us succeeds, she opens the door for all of us!
What is your favorite place for our audience to reach you?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antarcticaruban/
What is your favorite quote? (It can be yours or from someone that you look up to.)
Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations – Melchor Lim.
