In 2019, my life took an unexpected turn when I became the guardian of Isabelle, a remarkable teenager who is completely blind and faces additional challenges such as ADHD, Tourette’s, anxiety, and depression. As someone with years of leadership experience, I initially believed I understood how to parent Isabelle successfully; however, her unique perspective and daily struggles quickly shattered my assumptions. I quickly understood, if I wanted to best support her, I needed to change my approach.

Isabelle’s journey has taught me to see the world through her “eyes,” and I carry these lessons into both my personal and professional life. In fact, it has transformed my leadership style and enhanced my appreciation for the value of empathy in building trust and thriving teams; the innovation that comes from encouraging creativity; and the opportunities for growth available to those willing to seek out and nurture a deeper understanding of diverse experiences.

From my personal experience, each day with Isabelle presents new opportunities to learn, making me a better leader and person. I’d love to share a few of the most impactful lessons from Isabelle that I hope will help you as well:   

• Embrace diversity and inclusion - Communicate to your employees values that promote diversity and inclusion. Make it a priority of your leadership and talk about it regularly. Recognize that employees with different experiences and circumstances who navigate life differently may provide valuable perspectives generating creative ideas or problem solving. 
• Ask questions - Ask employees what tools or support they need to do their job or be successful. If they have shared a disability, ask if they need any accommodations.
• Seek understanding - When people behave differently than expected, avoid assumptions. Engage in open and transparent dialogue and actively listen to their perspective. Many times, there are unknown factors driving the root cause of the behavior. Seek to understand, keep an open mind, and offer help or find solutions.
• Be thoughtful - We may forget or be unaware that people have different circumstances than our own. When designing activities, projects, or discussions keep all audiences in mind and ensure everyone can participate. For example, when hosting an office ice cream party, have selections for lactose intolerant or diabetic employees so they can participate.
• Join an Employee Resource Group at work or a disability organization - Anyone can participate and help to drive positive results. Anywhere employees are welcomed to join our “Real Disabilities Employee Resource Group,” which provides a forum for disabled and neurodivergent employees and their allies to engage in open conversations about making the workplace more inclusive.

While each day with Isabelle brings new successes, I would in no way say I am an expert at parenting. What I can say is that, thanks to my time with Isabelle, I am significantly more thoughtful in both my personal and professional life about other people’s experiences. I “see” the world in a new lens and am grateful for each day for the opportunity. 

About Jen Battista
Jen Battista is President of Anywhere Insurance Agency, REALTech Title and Relocation at Anywhere Integrated Services. Working across the mortgage, title and real estate sectors throughout her 29 years with the company, Jen has driven impressive growth and championed digital closing and remote online notarization capabilities within her businesses. 

This material is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, no representation is made as to its accuracy.