In this episode, we hear lessons from the C-Suite with Toshie Davis, Chief Financial and Administration Officer at OneTen. Toshie shares her story of pursuing purpose and passion via a career pivot from the corporate sector to nonprofit administration. She gives a behind-the-scenes look at her day-to-day responsibilities as a C-suite leader and how she contributes to the powerful work at OneTen, an organization that is taking a skills-first approach to create one million jobs for Black talent.   Toshie describes how her focus on “pragmatic growth” has fueled her career ascent over the years, and drops major wisdom gems about the mindset transformation that’s required to advance in a more strategic leadership position.   In addition to sharing highlights and insights from her leadership journey, Toshie shares about the importance of her sister-community, how being a mother has shaped her leadership journey, and how community care has been critical to her professional success.  Tune in and absorb all of this goodness as Toshie provides a holistic look at her journey to the C-Suite. She inspires us to use our voice, define our vision, and be bold and courageous enough to go after it. Guest Bio: Toshie Davis is OneTen’s Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, responsible for the organization’s financial oversight, talent, and risk management, as well as its day-to-day operations. As an executive leader with more than 30 years of experience, Toshie is a strategic and financial planning expert with a strong track record in operations management for both commercial and nonprofit organizations. She transitioned from traditional corporate finance to nonprofit management because of her passion for social justice and educational and economic equity.  Before joining OneTen, Toshie held senior leadership roles at Education First Consulting, Turnaround for Children, and City Harvest. Prior to transitioning to nonprofit and education management, she worked for almost ten years at Johnson & Johnson where she managed a global P&L of $300MM and led a team of 40 people. Prior to that, Toshie helped launch an internet company, was a strategic consultant, and began her career in the financial services industry.  Toshie has a B.A. in Economics from The University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. in Strategy and Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Toshie lives in Redondo Beach, CA with her son, Christian. Whenever they get the chance, they can be found trekking through a national park. Learn more about OneTen Website: OneTen.org OneTen on LinkedIn OneTen on Twitter OneTen on Instagram OneTen on TikTok  OneTen on Facebook Credits: Learn more about Black Woman Leading at blackwomanleading.com. Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

In this episode, we welcome Aiko Bethea, CEO & Founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, to discuss overcoming toxic productivity.  Our BWL community attracts many high achievers. They are often the “firsts” in their families and communities…the first to graduate college, the first to be on their level of leadership, the first one that people call when they need help…and the list goes on. In the workplace, research shows that Black women are often held to higher standards, and are more likely to have their contributions overlooked. These roles and standards combined with the consistent unrealistic and violent expectations of systemic oppression, may cause us to adopt these harmful standards of achievement and perfectionism as truth. For many, this causes feelings of unworthiness as we begin to equate our identity (who we are) to our achievements (what we do), creating a  toxic cycle that  negatively impacts our self-concept and overall wellness. In Aiko’s words:  "The same thing that can be killing us, which is toxic productivity and perfectionism, is also the same thing that opens doors for us. Therefore, it's so important for us to have those checkpoints of 'what am I doing and who am I doing it for?' Because the world may be completely rewarding you over and over for behavior that's actually killing you." This episode gives you a moment to reflect on your own relationship with productivity and perfectionism. Aiko breaks down the signs of toxic productivity, and provides insight on steps we can take to resist and heal from it.  Additionally, we discuss the power of centering ourselves, and share practical ways to do so in our personal and professional lives.    About Aiko The founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, Aiko Bethea is an award-winning and highly sought after equity consultant, executive coach, and speaker. Known for her leadership writing, Aiko’s work is featured in a range of publications including Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Aiko is also a contributor to an anthology edited by Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown, New York Times Best Seller, You Are Your Best Thing.  In addition to her work as principal and founder of RARE Coaching & Consulting, Aiko is Sr. Director of the Daring Way™ and the Dare to Lead™ global facilitator communities of Brené Brown Education and Research Group. She is also a Senior Director at Frontline Solutions, a black-owned consulting firm. Aiko is guided by her unique background as a Black and Asian American woman along with her intrinsic values of justice and loyalty and her role as a mother raising two Black sons. This perspective helps inform Aiko’s passion and drive to create conversations and change around race and equity in the communities and organizations that she serves.   Connect with Aiko Website: https://www.rarecoaching.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RARECoach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rare_coach Twitter: https://twitter.com/rare_coach  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aikobethea/ Resources: Enrollment is open for the Black Woman Leading programs starting in August.  Learn more at www.blackwomanleading.com Toxic productivity and perfectionism assessment from RARE Coaching - https://www.rarecoaching.net/jdwd Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

Often when we think of grief, we think about the loss of a loved one.  However, grief is present in all our life transitions….including our career transitions.   Perhaps you spent years of education and training for a particular career path, only to later discover that that path is not what you want to do.  Or, perhaps you had to abruptly leave a toxic workplace and there is some lingering residue from the emotional and mental experience you had there.  These common situations involve a degree of grief. In this enlightening episode, Dr. Chinasa Elue, a professor and grief coach, helps us expand our understanding of grief in this context. She shares some examples of work-related grief and how people can heal to move forward with a positive outlook in their professional career.   Additionally, Dr. Elue shares her insights about the connection  between finding more balance and managing grief, and vulnerably shares her own grief story that led her to this work. About Chinasa Dr. Chinasa is a professor, speaker, grief coach, and the CEO and Founder of True Titans Consulting Group. She is an expert on grief leadership in higher education and trauma-informed practices in organizational settings. She supports leaders in moving forward to make impactful change in the midst of uncertainty with empathy and care. She provides strategic coaching and consulting that opens the doors to transformation through policy and practice.  She is also an associate professor of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on grief leadership, trauma-informed leadership practices in organizational settings, and the health and well-being of historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband and two children. Connect with Chinasa Website: https://www.drchinasaelue.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DRCHINASAELUE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchinasaelue/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchinasaelue Resources: Enrollment is open for the Black Woman Leading programs starting in August.  Learn more at www.blackwomanleading.com Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

In this intimate discussion, three alumni participants of the Black Woman Leading THRIVE  cohort (Crystal Coats, Brenda Hudson, and Yaphet Bryant)  share their stories of navigating both personal and professional transitions.  They share how they leaned into community and other supportive resources during these times, and the self-care strategies they implemented to care for themselves in the process.  Additionally they share their lightbulb moments of self-awareness that emerged as they navigate this current season of leadership, and key takeaways from their experience in the Black Woman Leading program. Join us, reflect, and celebrate your own triumphs through transitions in your life in this special episode.    Guest Bios: ::Crystal Coats, Founder & Principal, Legacy Consulting Group Crystal Coats is the Founder of Legacy Consulting Group, LLC. A 20+ year professional, Crystal's work focuses on creating sustainable social impact through strategy, training, and advising. Crystal creates programs that are data-informed, culturally inclusive, and carry strategic value to the organizations and the communities they serve. Her work has spanned the arts, higher education, government, and financial sectors. She has experience leading staff teams and engaging with philanthropy, along with supporting executive leaders in designing and implementing strategy. Crystal is an avid speaker, facilitator, and coach. She creates shared experiences that focus on using interactive engagement to develop skills like active listening, data-informed approaches, and decision making.  Crystal also serves on the Board of Social Responsibility Chicago. Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn or via her website www.legacyconsultgrp.com   ::Brenda Hudson, Financial Services Professional Brenda is a financial services professional with 20+ years in operational risk mitigation, compliance, and  treasury management. Connect with Brenda on LinkedIn   ::Dr. Yaphet Bryant, National Director of Mental Health & Wellness for nonprofit organization Dr. Yaphet Bryant is a licensed psychologist, specializing in adolescence and youth adulthood. She has 25 years of professional experience in clinical service, research, and management. Dr. Bryant recently transitioned to the non-profit sector in the area of program design and learning as it relates to mental health and wellness. She's passionate about taking mental health and wellness out of traditional spaces, especially for people of color. Connect with Yaphet on LinkedIn.   Resources: Enrollment is open for the Black Woman Leading programs starting in August.  Learn more at www.blackwomanleading.com Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

In this powerful episode, we welcome author, Elizabeth Leiba,  to talk about taking up space as Black women in every area of our lives.  From work, to relationships, to LinkedIn; Elizabeth shares her insights on why using our voice and increasing our visibility is critical for Black women leaders.   She also shares some of her personal journey of taking up more space in the professional landscapes she occupies.  Finally, Elizabeth shares nuggets from her brilliant new book, “I’m Not Yelling! A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace.”  Tune in and be inspired!   About Elizabeth Elizabeth Leiba is a writer, college professor, and advocate for Black business women. She has over 130,000 followers on LinkedIn who range in age, race, background, and location, and are primarily located in the US, Canada, and the UK. Her passion for Black history changed her life and catapulted her into a fulfilling line of work as a powerful advocate of social justice and equity. She was featured in the 2020 New York Times article, “Black LinkedIn Is Thriving. Does LinkedIn Have a Problem With That?,” which highlighted her social justice advocacy work. The response to this article spurred her to launch her online, accessible e-learning platform, Black History & Culture Academy, the stunning educational resource which earned her the recognition of a LinkedIn TOP VOICE in Education in 2020. In early 2021, Elizabeth launched her website directory, Black Women Handle Business, which is the premier website for Black women entrepreneurs and professionals to network, collaborate and share resources.  She is also the host of Black Power Moves, a podcast on EBONY Media Covering Black America Podcast Network and is a published writer. Her most recent writing includes an Op-Ed piece on racial profiling for CNN, which had more than 2 million views on their news website. She recently released  her Amazon Best Selling Book, “I’m Not Yelling! A Black Woman’s Guide to Navigating the Workplace.”   Connect with Elizabeth Website: https://lizleiba.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethleiba/ Resources: Enrollment is open for the Black Woman Leading programs starting in August.  Learn more at www.blackwomanleading.com   Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

It’s a first…we have a man as a guest on the Black Woman Leading podcast!  And it’s none other than Laura’s husband, Marshall Knights.  Laura and Marshall will celebrate 20 years of marriage and 26 years of partnership this year. In this special episode, they talk about the leadership and self-awareness lessons they’ve learned from their relationship together and from parenting their children, Marshall Jabari and Kai, and they share insights on what they’ve learned from pursuing their purpose together. About Marshall MARSHALL KNIGHTS is a writer, artist, musician, music director, and Grammy-nominated & Grammy Winning producer. His attention to the art of music and ability to cross various music genres is why he is sought out as a creative collaborator by diverse artists in the industry. Throughout the years, Marshall has also worked with a wide range of musical artists.  He believes the intention of the song is the top priority when serving in the producer role, as his approach to creating music is organic. As a formally trained musician, Marshall plays several instruments, including the bass, trumpet, upright bass, and piano. His first solo album, The Marshall Knights Experience, showcased his talents as a musical maven. It was created to cross boundaries between the musical genres of hip-hop, R&B, gospel, rock, and soul. In 2023, Marshall won his first Grammy Award for production on J.Ivy's "The Poet Who Sit By the Door." His sophomore album, THE ASCENSION, was released in March 2023, and is now available on all digital music platforms.   Connect with Marshall Website: www.marshallknights.com IG: @marshallknights Click here to listen to Marshall’s music on your favorite streaming platform. Resources: Enrollment is open for the Black Woman Leading programs starting in August.  Learn more at www.blackwomanleading.com Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

Season 4, Episode 006 -Healing Hurt Caused by Other Black Women at Work with Dr. Carey Yazeed As Black women, we may be familiar with experiencing unsupportive or toxic experiences in the workplace at the hands of others.  But what about when the toxic behavior directed towards us is from someone that looks like us – another Black woman. In this episode, Laura talks to Dr. Carey about this sensitive “family” discussion. Dr. Carey shares her insights on some of the root causes of why Black women hurt each other in the workplace, and how we can begin to acknowledge and heal these hurtful interactions.   About Dr. Yazeed  Dr. Yazeed is a Behavioral Scientist who specializes in the study of human behavior as it relates to work culture and trauma in the workplace. Certified in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace with a background in mental health and academia, she is the founder of iThink Change, a behavioral research agency. Dr. Yazeed is also a bestselling author of several books including, Unbreak My Soul: How Black Women Can Begin to Heal From Workplace Trauma. Connect with Dr. Yazeed   Website: www.drcareyyazeed.com Twitter & IG: @drcareyyazeed LinkedIn: Dr. Carey Yazeed   Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

In this episode, we turn our attention to thriving in our bodies and physical health.  Laura welcomes our special guest, Bridgette Duncan, Founder of Slam Duncan Wellness. Bridgette shares her body movement journey and how her work in Pilates, stretch therapy, and breathwork has been a life-giving force not only for herself but for the Black women she works with in her practice.  She exposes us to other physical self-care options through her work, and   encourages us to move beyond being hyper focused on what our bodies look like to adopt a deeper understanding– moving your body is ultimately about deeper awareness and connection with yourself.   Bridgette affirms us to integrate pleasure into our physical self-care practice, and encourages us to listen to our needs, give grace, and be gentle with ourselves.  Tune into this affirming episode and then get up and MOVE! About Bridgette Bridgette is the Founder of Slam Duncan Wellness. ​​Slam Duncan Wellness is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through stretch therapy, breathwork facilitation, Pilates, and low-impact fitness. Bridgette possesses a wealth of knowledge, a diverse client background, and a skill set that is suitable for many walks of life. . Your health and fitness is much larger than just your daily workouts. It ripples out into every aspect of your life. Your wellness routine informs your mental and physical worlds. As well as, your spiritual and emotional capacities. Her ultimate goal is to provide care and teach practices that transform your mind, body, and soul, one breath at a time. Connect with  Bridgette Website: www.slamduncanwellness.com IG: @slamduncanwellness Upcoming event: Pilates in the Park (New York, May 13, 2023) Resources: Event: Join us for the Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference +Retreat, May 18-21 2023! Learn more at bwlretreat.com Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay

Here at Black Woman Leading, we are all about asking for help and building your support team in your personal and professional life.  You may have a self-care team that includes a doctor, therapist, and other providers.  Or, a professional development team that includes your manager, colleagues, executive coach, or others.  You might even have personal care time like a house cleaner, babysitter, or grocery delivery service. We are here for all of it!  But, what about a team to help you increase, maintain, and invest your financial resources? It 's critical! In this episode, Nikki Tucker, a 20-year financial professional and the Founder of The FIIRM Approach, educates us on the importance of having a financial squad.  She uncovers OPTIONS for Black women to consider to effectively manage their money. She talks about the heart work of our financial stewardship and shares that we have to get intimate with our money when posing the question, “Would your money marry you?” Whew!  She takes us all the way there!  Tune in as Nikki debunks some misconceptions about wealth building, shares advice for planning financially for major life milestones, and educates us on key players that should be on our money team. Her insights empower us to be in a better position to  protect, maintain, grow, and ultimately transfer our assets to build  generational wealth. About Nikki Nikki is known as a problem solver since her experience and most of her time involves helping women strategically exiting their marriage and work on their new financial life post-divorce, as a Divorce Financial Strategist. As a 20-year financial professional, she enjoys teaching new ideas about money and connecting her clients to great resources to help them gain clarity, confidence and control of their finances and looking at stuff they might hate. Her two programs Silent Preparation Series & Bring Home the Bacon provide strategic education, modern resources and tools without having to share your business with strangers. She helps women learn how to keep the cost of their divorce down and make it less complicated. Her strategies teach women how to handle their finances with intention when they’re dating, married, divorcing and post-divorce. When she is not working with clients, she is eating amazing food and drinking an oat milk latte or a French 75. Her friends and those close to her describe her as reliable, honest and resourceful which comes in handy when she's working with women going through major transitions.    Connect with  Nikki Website:www.thefiirmapproach.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/thefiirmapproach/   Resources: Event: Join us for the Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference +Retreat, May 18-21 2023! Learn more at bwlretreat.com Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay  

In this episode, we hear lessons from the C-Suite with Sandy Clark, CEO of StoryCorps. Sandy shares about her experience being an “accidental manager” and how this professional journey spurred  her to come from behind the curtain and step into full visibility as a leader. She shares a personal story about the consequences of staying too long in a role, and the heart work and head work she’s had to do to support her growth as a leader. Overall, Sandy shares insight into building relationships on your professional journey and leading with purpose.  Her story aligns with pursuing purpose as she shares that most of her career was spent amplifying the voices of others, and now she leads an organization that creates space for people all over the country to tell their stories, share wisdom, and leave a legacy for the future. Listen in and absorb this goodness as Sandy shares timely wisdom for those in both the early and more established phases of their careers.  Guest Bio: Sandra Clark is a leading voice in journalism and beyond, challenging norms and practices that create barriers to building trust and meaningful, sustainable connections with communities. In 2022, Clark took the helm at StoryCorps as CEO, advancing the award-winning organization’s mission: to create a more just and compassionate world by sharing and preserving stories of everyday people that illuminate our humanity and inspire us to believe in each other. Prior to joining StoryCorps in 2022, Clark was Vice President for News and Civic Dialogue at WHYY in Philadelphia, where she served on the executive committee and led the station's news operation across all platforms. Her innovative approaches to collaborating with grassroots information providers garnered national recognition. Previously, Clark served as Managing Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, leading the paper to a 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.  Connect with Sandy Website: storycorps.org Twitter: @SandraSWClark Linkedin   Resources: Event: Join us for the Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference +Retreat, May 18-21 2023! Learn more at bwlretreat.com Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Te’a Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay