March is Women’s History Month, and the theme this year is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”
To celebrate the stories of women in the learning and development field and multiple education spaces, we reached out to internal and external partners and thought leaders to talk to them about their professional lives and the stories that have inspired them.
At ansrsource, we believe in the power of storytelling to educate, connect, and enrich people’s lives. We are grateful to the women who chose to share their stories with us. We hope you enjoy learning about the women we spoke with as much as we loved speaking with them.
Happy Women’s History Month!
Jessica Purdy, Founder of FIC Human Resource Partners, LLC
What is your favorite part about teaching and training?
I guess, for me, my favorite part is when someone who’s been through one of my training workshops shares how it has shifted their viewpoint on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues, or the positive impact that it’s had on their workplace. This is the whole reason I began to do this work, and to see the positive impacts of it reinvigorates my commitment to teaching and training in the DEI space.
Who are some women you have looked up to over the years?
There are so many women that I have looked up to—Grandma Purdy for her quiet strength and boundless compassion; Simone Biles for the way she has shown the world how to set boundaries, speak up for oneself, and the way she has modeled self-care; and Michaela Antonia Jaé Rodriguez, who is the first transwoman to win a Golden Globe and is a powerful spokesperson for our community—would be just a few.
Do you have a favorite story that was originally meant for kids?
I’m not sure I can choose a favorite. There are plenty of stories and fairytales where I find resonance and parallels to my own life in some way, ones that I look back on with fond nostalgia, and ones that I’m sure I loved once but might see through a completely different lens now. I read voraciously when I was young and quickly moved on from the children’s section to the larger selection of books the library had to offer. I remember loving Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and The Dragon Riders of Pern series.
What’s one piece of popular culture that you think everyone should see?
Just one? …This is so hard for me. There is just so much. I mean, this week it might be Tom Swift. I’ve been binging it the last two days when I’ve had time. It’s a story about a Black family that built a financial empire through invention and innovation, but it’s also a queer story, and a sci-fi story. The characters are all flawed but the protagonists are all striving to do good in the world and grow as people. Ultimately, it’s a story of empowerment, acceptance, and hope. Next week I’m sure it will be something else.
About Jessi Purdy:
Jessica Purdy’s desire for a more inclusive and accepting society led her to become an activist, public speaker, and Founder of FIC Human Resource Partners, LLC. Her identity as a panromantic, asexual, transwoman is central to her life and work. She is, as they say, Out and Proud. But rather than ‘coming out,’ she brings people into her confidence, her truth, and her life. Currently she’s a City of Lancaster Human Relations Commissioner and a YWCA Lancaster Board member.
About ansrsource:
ansrsource designs, develops, and delivers customized learning experiences with speed, scale, and sophistication. We provide learning consulting, design, and delivery services using our full-time team of hundreds of passionate global experts. We serve millions of learners using all major learning methodologies and technologies. Almost 20 years of experience working with the most compelling ideas in digital education has resulted in an unrivaled team, methodology, and process.
