Dr. Aviva Legatt is the Elite Admissions expert, founder of Ivy Insight, and host of College Admission’s Real Talk podcast. Setting the gold standard in college admissions, Dr. Aviva received acknowledgement from the New York Times as a trustworthy expert on college admissions. Coursera and the University of Pennsylvania also recognized Dr. Aviva as an expert in corporate culture and diversity. Guided by a four-word motto, she helps consult undergraduate elite college applications. The motto: Get In and Get Real! From applying to college to interviewing for a job, Dr. Aviva’s fresh perspective helps students get what they want and keeps her in high demand.
Tune into my conversation with Dr. Aviva to learn how to get real on the Find Your Passion Career Podcast!
Show Up as Your Authentic Self
We often hide our true selves behind an image of who we believe employers want us to be. Unfortunately, while this might land us the job, it most likely won’t be the job that best suits us.
“You’re trying to kind of package things in a way that you know isn’t authentic.”
When we hide our authentic selves from the world, the right opportunities may hide from us. So, whether you want to get into college or land a new job, Dr. Aviva advises to show up as your authentic self.
“If we’re showing up the way that we are, then the right opportunities will appear. Verses, if we’re just trying to put all of our chess pieces in play and check all the boxes. Then we may not end up in the right place.”
Like speaking in your native language, communicating who you are to the world just comes easier when you’re sharing your genuine interests, strengths and values.
“I found that when I was out there interviewing for jobs, I always felt good about my interview if I felt like I could present myself the way that I am…versus, the way that I thought somebody wanted me to be.”
Don’t fake it until you make it. Make it by showing up as your authentic self.
Redefine What Success Means to You
When you envision yourself as a total success, what do you see? If the image that comes to mind looks anything like the commercialized American Dream, Dr. Aviva will tell you that it’s time to redefine what success means to you.
Dr. Aviva is no stranger to success. She’s held several positions that would label her as a success story. Unfortunately, many of these experiences failed to satisfy her career passions.
“Even though I enjoyed and appreciated a lot of my positions that I had at Wharton and at Penn, I found myself feeling like a failure pretty often there because I failed to conform and be able to sort of adapt to that larger bureaucratic environment that wasn’t you know a great culture fit for me in terms of the day-to-day experience.”
Dr. Aviva points out that although you might find a version of success, if you don’t indulge in self-exploration, you won’t find the version of success that best suits you.
“Ask yourself questions and if you can’t find the questions have somebody else ask you the questions.”
Start with this question: What does success look like to you?
If a version of success doesn’t align with the authentic version of yourself, it is really success?
To hear more of Dr. Aviva’s story and her advice on redefining success to align with your authentic self, download my podcast interview with her here on iTunes!
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