Early Years

I grew up in Minnesota, US. As a child I enjoyed being very creative, trying to understand how people work, and was always interested in helping others. 

I came from humble beginnings, finding solace and hope in books. Very early, I discovered learning was a key to establishing agency in life, and began ‘adulting’ by age 12.

I was a voracious reader - I recall getting my first library card around the age of 8. I would travel there on my bike, browse for as long as I could - exploring all the wonders, checkout a literal armload of books, pile them in my bike basket, and read all of them as fast as possible at home.

Once I finished that round of books, I’d repeat my library process once again. This routine brought me joy. The library, and reading, was a way for me to learn about the world, to learn about people in ways that I wasn't able to at home or in school, and it was a way for my imagination to grow big and bold. 

It was at about the same time in my life that I came to know a teacher who would have the biggest impacts transforming my sense of self in life. Initially her influence started as the Girl Scout Troop leader between the ages of 9-11 for me. Mrs Therese Britts! - to me she was a force of nature. In what ways?

First she was a woman like none other I've ever had the opportunity to know before in my life. She was bold, unapologetic, a mother to 9 adult children by the time we met, taught science and religion in a Catholic School, held a Bachelor's in science, and she was working on her Master's of Theology. Force.Of.Nature.

From the ages of 11-14 I was blessed to be her student in the subjects of Science, Religion, and Art. (This is where I came to know creativity and art absolutely belong in business!) Mrs Britts held us to top notch academic rigor standards for: critical thinking; the scientific process; and conducting/ writing research term papers. These standards held up all the way through grad school for me. I owe my educational foundations of success primarily to her unwavering expectations.

Lastly, she was a Black woman - the first Black woman - and the only Black teacher I had throughout my entire educational experience. Mrs. Britts was the epitome of everything I wanted to be. [Well, maybe not the mother of as many children…]

Yet, the irony was not lost on me then, nor now; I was being taught not only was she society’s epitome of what she ‘shouldn't be,’ but that I ‘couldn't be’. Mrs. Britts’ representation opened a pathway for me to find the fortitude, resilience, and courage to break out and fight against the bigotry in US cultural norms, and to determine my own destiny. [I pay tribute to her in this podcast with Mark LeBusque]

My imagination, linked directly to my creativity, fueled a love of: exploring new ideas, of arts, and all the subjects in school. I was determined to use education as a way out of where I grew up and into a life of great possibility. I was such a determined student, high school teachers offered multiple opportunities for me to ‘leap frog’ into higher courses and to skip levels altogether.

I took art and science classes every semester throughout HS. In fact I was kind of a science geek -(an artist science geek), one who didn't really understand all the math-but loved the application of concepts in life. I saw in most of life that a blend of “art” and “science” is in all we do. 

My art+science conceptual application abilities were proven in 2 Physics class special annual contests: [I still have the school newsletters!]

1) building the fastest (and most beautiful) rubber band propelled car;

2) and building the first - ever in the contest’s history - balsa wood bridge for the “Bridge Breaking” contest that couldn't be broken. Not only did my bridge hold up to the maximum scale capabilities, which was around 330 lb, it actually was so strong the teachers stopped attempting to break the bridge for fear the ‘bridge breaker’ was going to bust. 

Not only was I responsible to myself for maximizing the benefits of education, I held regular jobs beginning at age 12. I managed to pay for clothes, shoes, other necessities, and most extracurricular activities from then on. By age 16 I was working in a Nursing Home + Retirement Center and trusted in leading a team of peers in our work duties; managing basic bookkeeping; and training new employees in their roles and responsibilities.

This job enabled me to save enough money to have the 2nd most transformative experience of my life. I was able to spend 3 weeks in France on a mini exchange student program at 16 years of age. I stayed with a lovely family that had an artichoke farm with some pigs that had been in the family for generations..

With less than 3 years of school French classes under my belt, I could speak at about a 4 year old’s fluency and the family I stayed with spoke virtually no English. Yet we managed to communicate and co.create an experience that forever changed my life.

One of the key realities I experienced that transformed me was learning how difficult it is to be immersed in a place where you know no one, you don't know the culture, and you can't express yourself in the language that is being used all around.

I would have had no way of knowing that this experience would prepare me for my career path which has exposed me to people from around 75% of the countries in the world. The impact of spending time in France, lit a fire and generosity of spirit within me where I fully embrace any individuals I have encountered who are immigrants, refugees, or workers connecting to the US. I also learned there is nothing that compares to authentic French bread!

At barely 18, I left the place I was raised, traveled to a state and city I had never seen - where I knew no one - to attend university. My Bachelor’s is in Fine Arts, and I wish I’d known to ensure my studies in Communications were credited as a minor degree. I worked each year in various community service jobs while paying/self-financed my way through all 4 years.

I worked extremely hard in school - both in classes and jobs - and became the first to graduate from university in my family. I then entered the ‘professional’ world with a vague sense that I wanted to help make the world of work experience better, as I always was drawn to teaching-type roles.

Interests

With the themes of “art and science,” life-long learning, interests in global human experiences, and working in service of others, it’s no surprise my interests fall in these categories.

Art/Creativity: I frequently integrate illustration and art in the graphic recording and journey maps for clients. My photography is incorporated into my professional presence. Friends and colleagues often receive photos as gifts from me. I also am a keen baker/cook - ok, let’s be real here: I’m an amazing home baker. I look forward to future ROHC channel offerings that are centered on creative expressions.

Science: I follow research and advances in the fields of neurobiology, psychology, and quantum physics as they pertain to deeper understanding of human dynamics.

Community Impact: I have a long history of volunteering and being involved in community service projects. ROHC will be framing community impact plans and policies as a central “co.” value.

Animal Lover: Have been the guardian of many dogs and cats over the years; including fostering. Looking forward to a future dog ‘angel’ companion soon.

Outdoors/Nature: Living in the Pacific Northwest in the US affords me so many opportunities to be out in nature. There is always much to learn from nature, if only we are open to the teachings freely given.

Why Rae of Hope

“Hope Work” has been my truth from the age of 3 - it’s sustained me, through my often formidable formative years, and has fortified my resilience through many additional formidable adult experiences. According to societal norms and expectations, I should not be the person who stands before you today. Beyond cultural conditioning creating conditions of shouldn’t, there were also multiple circumstances where my life was in jeopardy, the slightest shift in a moment would have ended it all. In so many ways I should not be…and “nevertheless, she persisted.”

The driving force of hope simply won’t be extinguished in me. I’m dedicated to holding it sacred - for myself, how I show up in the world, and how I show up in support of people.

Hope is my radical - audacious even - expression of heart and why ‘human-centered’ holds the sacred core for the work I do in the world.

Hope: It’s woven into the fabric of my being - so much so, that’s why I choose it for my last name, Umay [which means hope] and it inspires Rae of Hope Co.llective.