Meet Charlie Oliver, Founder & CEO of Tech 2025
Meet Charlie Oliver she is the Founder of Tech 2025 a company that provides digital strategy, senior management advisory, team building and training, strategic partnerships, event management, and product development for enterprise companies.
What messages have you had to confront (internally or externally) to pursue your personal & professional path?
Without a doubt, the messaging around the ability of women and people of color to be seen on equal footing as white men, is the negative messaging I’ve had to push through repeatedly. I never accepted that narrative (I knew I was as good or better than men making ten times my salary with titles far beyond mine). The messaging is insidious often reveals itself when you are uniquely position to showcase your talents and contributions. At those moments, you are told, “It’s not your turn.” Or, “You should try to do something else. Stay in your lane.” Never, ever let someone else limit who you are or, even worse, your potential. I’ve had a lot of incredible people in my life who have supported me and who have helped me to embrace that in those darkest, most frustrating moments. Surround yourself with people who counter those negative messages.
What was the most difficult part of the path that you had to overcome?
Ultimately, the most difficult part of my journey had to do with how I responded to the world and my contract with the world (what am I expected to give, versus what I WANT to give to my career and my relationships?). Many times, I was my own worst enemy. I was too stubborn, too arrogant, or too dismissive of things that I should’ve considered more thoughtfully or tried in earnest. A lot of that is youth, but these things can trip us up at any age. I’d be lying if I said I’ve conquered all of my demons. I have not. But I have garnered tools (and a bit of wisdom) to help me keep them in check.
How do you stay motivated?
The alternative sucks. That’s a great motivator. Sometimes I look at what I have to do and think, “Ugh. Really?” And then I think of what will happen if I don’t stay on my path and doing things that I sometimes don’t want to do – the alternative is usually worse ha! It also helps a lot to be around people who both understand your struggles and who have learned how to transcend their own. I surround myself by people who understand and empathize with me, but who also inspire and challenge me to do and be more.
What tips do you have for tuning into yourself & tuning out external criticism?
I don’t know that I can give advice about this that would be really constructive. I’m very much an introvert. I live inside of my thoughts almost too much. I’ve never cared what people think of me (even as a child), because I entertained myself and loved being with myself (as opposed to with others). Tuning people out comes natural for me (if anything, my struggle is learning when to care what people think!). Also, frankly, I tend to be harder on myself than external criticism from other people. Having said that, I think a good way of tuning out external criticism is to remember that who you are and how you choose to evolve in this life is not subject to anyone else’s understanding or acceptance. People criticize other people because they don’t understand them (and they don’t understand themselves!). But it’s not their job or place to understand you and, really if they don’t, that’s fine. Their criticism of you can not hinder you unless you let it. Criticisms are usually just uninformed opinions.
What are you most proud of about your journey and/or where you are now?
I’ve helped some people along the way and I learned how to check my ego so that I allowed people to help me too.
Be sure to follow Charlie on Instagram and check out Tech 2025 on their website to check out their services.