A renowned individual whose life journey is as diverse as it is inspiring, Paris Forest is a mother, daughter, and sister and wears many hats – from entrepreneur and creative technologist to corporate executive. She embodies resilience and strength, earning titles like mentor, coach, and friend, while also being hailed as a living miracle and survivor.
As the Principal and CEO of Loves Legacy, Paris’s entrepreneurial spirit shines brightly. Her vision to start her own company was a revelation that crept up on her, surprising even the planner within her. While she had a clear projection of her future post-corporate career, she never imagined it would materialize so swiftly. What she once thought was a 10-year plan came to fruition in a matter of weeks, showcasing the unpredictability of life’s journey.
Paris’s familial lineage, characterized by being an only child of an only child with an only child, speaks volumes about her roots and resilience. While she once thought this lineage summed up her story neatly, she now sees it as merely a snapshot of her heritage, with much more depth and complexity beneath the surface.
Driven by her passion for connecting with others and speaking professionally, Paris finds fulfillment in touching the hearts and minds of her audience. Despite the twists and turns of her journey, she remains steadfast in her commitment to making a difference, whether through entrepreneurship, mentoring, philanthropy, or advocacy.
Prioritizing Transparency in Leadership
Paris’s 25-year career journey at one of the world’s top companies was marked by versatility, growth, and impactful leadership. As a creative technologist, she found a term that resonated deeply with her approach to problem-solving and team engagement, empowering her to bring her authentic self to her work.
During her tenure, Paris held various roles that allowed her to stretch her skills and deliver technology solutions authentically. Her leadership style was defined by transparency and vulnerability, principles she learned early in her career as a line manager during a significant organizational restructuring.
Despite the challenging circumstances of her first day as a manager coinciding with a major announcement about workforce changes, Paris prioritized honesty and openness with her team. She recognized the importance of transparency in building trust and guiding her approach to change management.
Throughout her executive leadership roles, Paris led major IT transformations, delivered innovative technology solutions, and actively participated in initiatives promoting racial equity and diversity in STEM fields. She also dedicated herself to mentoring and coaching emerging leaders, fostering growth and development within the organization.
Paris’s leadership philosophy emphasizes the importance of building trust through transparent communication and demonstrating a shared journey with her team. By prioritizing authenticity and vulnerability, she cultivated a culture of openness and collaboration, enabling her teams to navigate challenges and achieve success together.
Core Values and Beliefs
Paris shares that she has been striving to achieve success since she was a zygote (a little biology humor for her fellow pre-med biology majors). Her first great success was arriving on earth! Her mother was told in her teens that she would never have children, so Paris’s impending arrival was quite the surprise, deciding to debut six weeks before her anticipated due date. She has been moving at a fast pace ever since. It’s certainly innate, but if she had to describe it for others, she has this insatiable need to be active and contributing value in many ways. This can be both a blessing and a curse, but it is the nature of what allows her to achieve in ways that could meet a definition of success.
Paris values authenticity, service, excellence, and inclusion. She deeply appreciates engaging with a menagerie of hearts and minds in a real and personal way, giving more than she gets and seeing others step into their divine destinies. This brand of organic moments of connection is truly priceless.
The Daily Joy
While sharing the happiest part of her daily routine, Paris recently gifted her son two puppies. The happiest part of her daily routine is opening their crates and plopping on the floor to be greeted with morning cuddles, chin kisses, and the occasional game of tug. Pure joy, energy, and love! Her morning coffee is a very close second.
Insights for Early Career Professionals
Paris offers valuable insight to early career professionals, emphasizing the importance of cherishing the present moment and embracing the journey of growth and discovery. Often, young professionals are eager to rush into achieving milestones and attaining specific titles or levels of success. However, Paris reminds us that the early years of one’s career are akin to laying the groundwork for future success, much like the formative years of education.
Paris mentions the significance of viewing the present as a gift and recognizing the beauty in the process of learning and development. Instead of solely focusing on the future, it’s essential to appreciate the learning experiences and opportunities for growth that come with being a beginner. This period of exploration and discovery is fleeting, and transitioning from a novice to an expert happens remarkably fast.
Paris inspires early career professionals to embrace the discomfort of not knowing everything and to leverage curiosity as a competitive advantage. By maintaining a sense of curiosity and openness to new ideas, individuals can cultivate innovation and drive meaningful progress in their careers.
Valuing People Over Projects
Paris shares on her extensive tenure at Boeing, spanning over 25 years, and emphasizes the profound impact of the people she has had the privilege to work alongside. While it may sound cliché, Paris’s sentiment is genuine: the relationships she has forged over the years have made her experience truly special, both personally and professionally.
During her two decades-plus at Boeing, Paris dedicated herself to cultivating a community of colleagues whom she could rely on for support and camaraderie. She recognizes the significance of the bonds formed in the workplace, acknowledging that, for many, the time spent at work surpasses that spent at home. These connections, built through shared experiences and challenges, are enduring and unbreakable.
Despite the incredible opportunities and projects, she has been involved in, Paris attests that it is the people who have left the most lasting impression on her. While working on groundbreaking products that shape the world on a daily basis is remarkable, the true value lies in the collaboration and synergy of working alongside remarkable individuals.
Maximizing Efficiency and Prioritizing Learning
Paris believes in having a growth mindset as continual learning and improvement are essential for personal and professional development. She views growth as a binary concept, where stagnation equates to regression. Embracing the principles of agility and lean methodologies, Paris integrates the pursuit of growth into her daily routine and overall well-being.
Recognizing the constraints of time, Paris employs strategies to maximize efficiency and prioritize learning amidst her responsibilities as a full-time mother and professional. She leverages technology, such as generative AI companions, to access book summaries and insights from leaders she admires on platforms like LinkedIn. By curating information and recommendations tailored to her interests, Paris optimizes her learning experience while conserving time.
Paris highlights the importance of extending grace to oneself in the pursuit of growth. Amidst the pressures of modern life, she advocates for self-compassion and acceptance of change, acknowledging that growth cycles may include periods of pause and reflection. By embracing these moments of transition, Paris continues to evolve and thrive in her personal and professional journey.
