#Role Models

Seeing Possibility: How Visibility Shapes Who We Become

Translating Ride’s insight into practice begins early and continues often: invite diverse professionals into classrooms; fund near-peer mentoring so students meet someone one or two steps ahead; redesign spaces and syllabi to signal belonging (Cheryan et al., 2013); and audit imagery, websites, and case studies so default examples reflect real demographics. Organizations can report role-model ratios, rotate public-facing spokespeople, and tie leadership evaluations to sponsorship outcomes. Policymakers can expand paid internships and transparent hiring to convert inspiration into entry points. Finally, tell the stories behind the faces—process, setbacks, community—so that what students “see” is not only who to be, but how to become it. With visibility aligned to opportunity, the imaginable becomes doable. [...]

The Fastest Way to Change: Surround Yourself with Like-Minded People - Unknown

When you're in the company of people who embody your goals, you're more likely to remain accountable for your actions and make consistent progress toward your objectives. [...]