Meet the BuildHERs: Alvarys Santana Chisholm
Alvarys Santana Chisholm doesn’t wait for permission, and she doesn’t think you should, either.
As president and principal consultant of AS STRATEGY, Alvarys brings experience with Fortune 40 companies to her work helping people and organizations strengthen their strategies, transform their mindsets and connect professional growth with meaningful social impact. At BuildHER, she’ll bring that philosophy to her Work Site Breakout Session, No Permission Needed.
That fearless energy may make her seem like a natural early bird. The truth? “I need 15 alarms in order to wake up. And even 15 sometimes might not do it.” Depending on the month, those alarms might feature Mood Brazil, Jay-Z, Biggie or, in honor of BuildHER, Sia’s “Chandelier” or “Unstoppable.”
Alvarys learned early in her corporate career what can happen when you stop waiting for someone else to give you the green light. After seeing people her age thriving as senior managers and directors, she made a decision: “I know the work. I know what to do. No one is going to give this to me.” Within weeks, she moved from an analyst role to a senior manager position.
Today, her message to other women is clear: “There is no such thing as waiting for your turn. If you’re here right now breathing and living, your time is now.” She also rejects the idea that life and career must follow a predetermined order. “There is no such thing as a straight line. It is all about what you want, what you desire versus what the world has told you you should and could do.”
Why does No Permission Needed matter so much? As Alvarys puts it, “The world is not asking for permission from us for it to continue spinning.” Each of us must decide who we want to be and how we want to show up.
And if you’re feeling stuck or overlooked? Her first instruction is refreshingly direct: “Take a chill pill. It’s never that deep.” Then assess what you can control, own what needs to change and let go of what isn’t yours. Because “you don’t have to stay in a place that ultimately won’t value you.”
No straight path. No waiting your turn. And definitely no permission needed.
Join Alvarys at BuildHER on Nov. 13 for No Permission Needed and learn how to own your path, stop waiting for your turn and take action on what you want.