A Canvas of Kindness
In celebration of International Women's Day, I am honoured to pay special tribute to a creative and inspiring woman who has made a significant impact on our organisation—Anna Hamilton, Director of Marketing and Creative Design at The Dandelion Philosophy.
Anna’s dedication, perseverance, and passion have paved the way for so many others within The Dandelion Philosophy to find their voices and express themselves with creativity, courage, and conviction.
Through her leadership, Anna has shown that women can be powerful agents of change in every aspect of society.
Her unwavering commitment to the cause of leadership development and transformation in our work, and within the teams she leads, has inspired many to join our movement and strive towards creating a more equitable world.
On this special day, let us celebrate and honour this remarkable woman and leader, along with all the women at The Dandelion Philosophy and around the world, who have fought, and continue to fight, for change and equality through their work.
May their courage and determination continue to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Anna and I am the Director of Marketing and Creative Design at The Dandelion Philosophy.
I grew up in a small mountainous town near Krakow, Poland, and moved to London in 2014. Later, in 2021, I moved to Northampton where I now live with my partner Lee, and my dog London. I have always had a passion for design and have 14 years of experience in the graphic design and marketing field.
I’m a relentless optimist mixed with a pinch of madness. I’d call myself an “extroverted introvert” who finds happiness in nature and its charming sounds, and I like the colour pink.
What does empowerment mean to you personally?
Empowerment to me is influencing someone, or being influenced, in a way that makes you feel confident, heard, and positively vulnerable.
Have you ever felt disempowered? If so, can you describe the experience and how you overcame it?
I have, many times, and there are still occasions where I feel disempowered. Whether it is self-doubt, gaslighting, the media, bias, misguided advice, the education system, work, or relationships, I am disempowered on a daily basis—but I’m not alone in feeling this way.
To overcome this feeling of disempowerment I trust my intuition, nourish my self-esteem, let myself truly feel my feelings, and let things go when they don’t serve me.
What steps have you taken to empower yourself in your personal and/or professional life?
I decided to be kind.
I stopped watching and listening to mass media. I ask questions, read personal and professional development books, meditate, cook, and listen to podcasts. I listen to people—especially those who are experienced and successful. I also like to walk in the forest and go mushroom picking—thankfully I haven’t poisoned myself, yet!
I’ve built a relationship with my inner self, with my inner child, and I learnt to stop procrastinating and lying to myself.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced while empowering yourself?
Many times this can be a lonely journey. It often requires you to step out of your comfort zone and compels you to be patient and learn self-discipline. Sometimes I’ve had to have conversations with myself to acknowledge my own priorities and give up on the things that are not good for me.
Have you ever had to confront societal expectations or biases that stood in the way of your empowerment? If so, how did you deal with them?
Living in foreign countries (from Poland to Ireland, the U.K, Italy, and Australia) has taught me to embrace and adjust to different cultures, and this has always been an exciting part of my personal development journey and a great learning opportunity; but on many occasions, I have experienced situations where I’ve felt dismissed or judged because of where I am from, rather than who I am and what my own experiences are. This has been really hard, as it has affected my sense of belonging, which is so important to feel self-empowered.
It took me a while to process the fact that I have been hurt, but this process taught me that I do not need validation from others to be great at what I am doing.
Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration as you've pursued empowerment?
I believe nobody is perfect, but I definitely love to learn and draw inspiration from those who have a legacy in particular fields. From architects to mentors I have been inspired by many, which has definitely influenced my personal development and career path. I believe that my travels and troubles have strengthened my character.
However, there is one person worth mentioning, who to me, is the epitome of a pure and humble being. She taught me that love, respect, self-restraint, and forgiveness are the foundation of a strong and long-lasting positive relationship with yourself.
My grandma. She’s 96 years old and is still the boss lady always checking in on everybody—apparently I take after her!
In your opinion, what are some of the most important skills or qualities that a woman needs to be empowered?
The first and most important skill is to recognise the difference between desire and intuition, and then make decisions based on that knowledge.
Have you ever found yourself in a position of needing to empower other women? How did you go about it?
I do, and I hope I will keep having opportunities to empower others in the future.
I think a big part of empowerment is active listening and understanding. Whether it is your career, relationships, or any other area of life, I actively listen and do my best to understand. I encourage us all to be honest with ourselves, be good to ourselves, and be bold. Don't fear making decisions and don't fear the unknown. I always respect the decisions of others and account for their own personal beliefs, rather than trying to influence their decisions.
What advice would you give to other women who are seeking to empower themselves?
We quite often are chasing things, blindly compare ourselves to others, and can be heavily influenced by the so-called “norm”. We should listen more to ourselves and to our bodies, and focus on our own journey rather than on fitting in.
Everyone is different and has different talents, capacities, and ambitions. It is okay to try and not like something, and it is okay to try and fail.
We should focus on the journey rather than the destination, and always cherish ourselves.
Yesterday we celebrated and honoured a number of women leaders and creatives who make The Dandelion Philosophy’s work possible, and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Anna today. Her creativity, hard work, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in helping The Dandelion Philosophy reach our goals. Anna, we appreciate everything you and the team do!
When we serve together we grow together.
– NH
