“All Skin Teeth Eh Grin”- Redefining my Worth

They say that sometimes the best opportunities come disguised as challenges. Learn to trust yourself even when others don’t. You are your greatest ally. 

Five years ago, I made a bold career shift into the AV industry, stepping into a leadership role that pushed me to expand my expertise in new ways. While I had some previous AV experience, this position required me to quickly build on my knowledge and lead a team of men with decades of experience.I was terrified—but also excited, ready to absorb everything I could and become the great leader I always envisioned myself to be.

Things started off well. I was learning at a rapid pace, mastering multitasking, and adapting to the long days and nights the job required. My team was supportive—in fact, we were like a family. As long as I stayed on top of everything, I was good to go! I pushed myself relentlessly, feeling like I had to bridge a 20-year knowledge gap overnight just to prove I belonged. But the more I focused on what I didn’t know, the more imposter syndrome took hold. I started equating my worth as a supervisor with my perceived shortcomings, criticizing myself every time I made a mistake.

As time passed, my confidence grew, and three years in, I was promoted to an even greater leadership role. I felt empowered. I believed in my abilities. I was excited for the future.

Until, suddenly, I wasn’t.

The team I once considered family turned their backs on me, and I was left standing there, blindsided. The phrase "All skin teeth eh grin" played over and over in my head. For the first time in my career, I experienced blatant disrespect—targeted, undeniable, and in direct opposition to my core values and work ethic. People had often asked if I faced ‘fight down’ as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and I had always said no. Sure, DJs had undercut me for gigs, and people tried to take advantage of me, but I never let it shake me.

This, however, was different. This wasn’t just competition or industry politics. This felt personal, and it made me question everything.

I looked inward, wondering if I was the problem. I sought guidance from mentors, career professionals, friends—even therapy. I worked through every possible angle of the situation, trying to make sense of the sudden shift in dynamic that was shaking my reality.

And then, through all the reports, interventions, and tough conversations, I faced a truth that took me a long time to admit to myself.
I was a young, educated woman who had worked her way up in a relatively short space of time, in an environment where that wasn’t ‘supposed’ to happen.

That realization was both freeing and infuriating.

As women in male-dominated spaces, we work a hundred times harder just to be seen, let alone respected. We get overlooked, mansplained to, underestimated, and questioned at every turn, and through it all, we carry imposter syndrome like a burdensome shadow, believing we have to earn our place in rooms we’ve already fought to enter.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

My worth is not up for debate!
My value is not tied to what I know or don’t know.
I am not defined by my job, my title, or anyone’s perception of me.

Instead, I am defined by the impact I make, the doors I open, and the way I show up for others. That is why I continue my work through the Agendr Community—to clear an easier path for the next generation of women and girls.

So, to any woman reading this and who may be questioning herself: You are enough!
Not because of your title. Not because of what you can prove. But because you are here, doing the work, breaking the barriers, and rewriting the rules.

And through it all, don’t forget to live and enjoy life, and to own your space unapologetically!

Delesse Francis, also known as DJ Del is a DJ, AV Technology Manager, audio engineer, educator, and creative powerhouse from Trinidad and Tobago dedicated to amplifying voices and breaking barriers in the male-dominated world of music and audiovisual technology. 

She is the Audio-Visual Operations Officer at the Central Bank Auditorium where she leads a team of AV technicians and ensures top-tier productions for live events, recordings and broadcasts. As a DJ and on-air radio personality on Hott 93.5 FM, she is known as the Virtuosa of Vibe and the Leader of the Good Vibe Tribe, curating high-energy sets that span multiple genres while representing for women in a space where they are often underrepresented.

Beyond the decks, she is an advocate for education and empowerment, using her platform Agendr Audio to inspire and equip women and girls with the skills and confidence to thrive in the audio and AV industries. Whether behind the console, in the classroom, or on stage, her mission is clear: to create, educate, and empower—ensuring that music and technology remain accessible and inclusive and paving the way for the next generation of women and girls in the audiovisual industry.

Social media handles: 

@djdelmusic- https://www.instagram.com/djdelmusic/ 

@agendraudio - https://www.instagram.com/agendraudio/

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/djdelmusic 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@djdel2064