What Career-Driven Women Can Learn From Malliha Wilson

It’s no secret that women have an uphill struggle to achieve the same professional success and notoriety as their male counterparts. Despite the odds, though, there have been heroines throughout history who have displayed incredible courage in their fight for equality and excellence in their chosen professions. We often think of little girls’ need for female role models, and the good news is that there are plenty of them to choose from. Ranging from Susan B. Anthony, the women’s suffrage pioneer, to Kamala Harris, the first woman to serve as the Vice President of the United States, women have more than proven their value and necessity to our society.

Women in professional fields face all sorts of obstacles on their way to living their dreams, and that’s why it’s as important for professional women to have role models to whom they can look up when they’re little girls. One great woman whose life can inspire anyone, regardless of gender or profession, is Malliha Wilson, litigator and former Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Ontario government. Continue reading to learn what Malliha’s life and career can teach other professional women.

You must be willing to put yourself out there.

It takes a lot of inner strength to hold it together when your job puts you in charge of large amounts of other people’s money, their life, or their legal rights. Even finding your footing in your chosen profession can be a struggle when you wear blouses and skirts, and that’s why you have to be tenacious about establishing yourself as an expert in your field, whether you’re a litigator like Malliha or a fashion designer creating business casual skirts.

There’s nothing shameful about self-promotion when you’re being honest about the product you’re promoting. It’s easy to assume that your credentials will proceed you when searching for a top-level position, but presentation and perception mean a lot as well.

One thing that all professionals should have on their person at all times is a stack of personalized business cards. You never know when you’ll have a chance encounter that turns into a career opportunity, and you’ll want to have a customized business card on hand when it does. Many in the business world say that opportunity happens when luck meets preparation. That means you always want to be prepared to get lucky and meet your first million-dollar client or the president of a large corporation who wants you to become the CEO. Treat your own business cards like your American Express credit card and don’t leave home or your office without them.

Don’t be afraid to relocate to pursue your dreams.

Sometimes, if there aren’t any opportunities for your career to flourish, you have to be willing to go to the opportunities. The thought of picking up and leaving home in search of better career opportunities can be scary, but sometimes, it’s the only way to realize your true potential. Maybe you’re living in the Bay Area, but your dream job is in Los Angeles. You have to be willing to leave your San Francisco home to chase your dreams.

A great way to find your land of opportunity is to put in job applications in different cities across the United States. By using a job searching tool like Indeed, you can find companies hiring across the United States and apply with the click of a button.

Once you land your dream job, you need to be ready to leave as soon as possible. It would probably be a good idea to look for a furnished apartment, since you only have a limited time to get settled in before reporting to work. Financial hubs like San Francisco and New York usually have furnished apartments and lofts in a variety of settings and within walking distance of their financial district.

Hello Landing is a great online resource for finding New York, Chicago, or San Francisco furnished apartments within minutes. One of the great things about Hello Landing is that you don’t have to worry about paying any deposit or handling fees, so the price you find online is the price you’ll pay for your rental. Plus, their furnished apartments come with amenities like a dishwasher and other appliances, so you’ll be all set for any special needs you may have.

Getting your education is a great way to even the odds.

If there’s one thing anyone can learn from Malliha Wilson, it’s that education is the great equalizer. Malliha excelled in her undergraduate degree program at McGill University because she made her coursework her top priority. She kept that same work ethic and dedication to learning her craft when she went on to earn her law degree from the Osgoode Hall Law School at York University.

Many people get their bachelor’s degree and don’t attempt to go any further in their educational pursuits. However, getting your master’s degree opens an entirely different world of opportunity. For instance, a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science might qualify you to become a drug counselor and teach you how to use established best practices. However, getting your Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis prepares you to be at the forefront of discovering new treatments for different mental health issues from autism to ADHD.

If you want to make it to the top of your professional field, there will always be additional requirements that require you to learn and do more than your counterparts. Take a lesson from Malliha’s life—there aren’t any doors locked to you which education and acquiring new skills can’t open.

You have to apply a spirit of excellence to all that you do.

Wilson is originally from Sri Lanka, and she became the first visible minority to serve as the Assistant Deputy Attorney General of the Ontario government. Whether practicing labour law, complex litigation, or real estate law, Wilson has always strived to see things in each case that no one else can. Her drive for excellence and passion for the rights of her clients have made Malliha a success.

First impressions are critical to building professional relationships.

If you worked in the Financial District in San Francisco or Wall Street in New York City, you’d notice that nearly everyone seems as if they’re dressed to impressed. That’s because professionals understand the value of making their first impression a positive and lasting impression.

Conservative yet stylish petite blouses and pencil skirts can affect everything from whether or not potential clients or employers approach you to the kinds of opportunities with which they approach. Always dress for where you want to go in life even if your reality looks more like graphic tees and leggings.