Parris Celestine

Background

About Parris Celestine

I will never forget a time in my childhood where my cousins and I were all playing and one of them did something that resulted in a good old fashioned you know what! Little did I know we would all share that same fate. As I cried and sniffled, I asked why I was punished. My uncle said, “because you watched it happen”. Leadership Lesson #1 – Be the example That same uncle gave me my first job mowing lawns when I was 12 years old. I was paid $5 per lawn and hated every moment (except for lunch time which was usually burgers and shakes from Tastyfreeze). There were times that I wanted to quit but I never did and stuck with it through college. By that time my uncle was paying my cousin (yes that same cousin) and I $20/hour to take his truck and trailer and mow the lawns ourselves. Leadership Lesson #2 – Perseverance I have served in leadership roles across very diverse industries but one thing I have learned is that it starts with self-leadership. Being honest with who I am (values) and who I want to be in the future (self-actualization) is crucial to move up through the levels of leadership. People always ask me why I have juggled two totally unrelated careers as an Emergency Medical Technician and a Corporate Business Manager. I always tell them that my career as a Medical Professional has equipped me with transferable competencies that are valued in any industry and in life itself. Adaptability 2. Communication 3. Teamwork 4. Empathy 5. Discipline 6. Emotional Intelligence 7. Critical Thinking I am a collaborative leader who believes the key to success lies within the community (or team). All of my successes and achievements are owed to a team of peers, family, and friends. I am also a passionate traveler and photographer. To me, travelling is exciting and humbling and opens up my mind and my heart.