15. Rejection with Carmen Elliott | How do you turn rejection into resilience?

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.

3 key leadership lessons from Carmen Elliott

1️⃣ Rejection isn’t the end. It’s a lesson. Every “no” is an opportunity to refine your approach and come back stronger.

2️⃣ Detach from the need for approval. True leadership comes from within, not from external validation.

3️⃣ Find strength in what motivates you. Lean on the lessons and find ways to improve your approach for future opportunities.