In this inspiring episode of Humans of Authenticity, Vy Le sits down with Carmen Elliott, Executive Director of the Physical Therapy Fund and VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the American Physical Therapy Association, to explore how setbacks and career rejection have shaped her leadership journey.
Carmen shares a deeply personal story about her first CEO interview, an opportunity she was highly qualified for but didn’t receive. The rejection stung even more when she later discovered that the organization valued her expertise but not herself. Instead of letting that moment define her, Carmen reframed rejection as a lesson in resilience, self-worth, and strategy.
As a woman of color in leadership, Carmen also highlights the unique barriers faced by leaders from underrepresented backgrounds and how she has navigated them with confidence and intention. She introduces her G.R.O.W. framework, a structured approach to processing rejection, learning from it, and turning setbacks into stepping stones for future opportunities.
Never let yourself become too dependent on the approval of others. Sometimes, we’re hungry for the approval of others to the detriment of our learning, to the detriment of our growth, to the detriment of our success. It is really about your journey. My journey is not the same as yours. So, just try not to get caught up in the approval of others.
3 key leadership lessons from Carmen Elliott
- Rejection isn’t the end. It’s a lesson. Every “no” is an opportunity to refine your approach and come back stronger.
- Detach from the need for approval. True leadership comes from within, not from external validation. Find strength in what motivates you.
- Lean on the lessons and find ways to improve your approach for future opportunities.
When was the last time you experienced rejection for something you wanted? How did you overcome that rejection? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
