We talk about the need for leaders to be visible…commanding…present…courageous. We think of strong leaders as those who, by moderating their tone or telling a memorable tale, can make a crowd roll with laughter or fall silent in reflection. A strong leader’s brand is associated with words like intelligence, inspiration, vision, and influence. It’s true … Read More
My sister and I recently returned from Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort in Paradise Valley, Arizona, where we went for a quick, last-minute getaway. I expected beauty, fun, and renewal. In what can only be described as divine intervention, I got so much more, thanks to three women whose stories woke me up inside. Their … Read More
People often ask what I believe would help employees of color thrive at work. Many companies have declared a commitment to diversity and inclusion – to creating a level playing field where all employees have the opportunity to excel and be their authentic selves. I usually share ideas for how to raise leadership’s collective consciousness … Read More
Yes, I’m on vacation. I like to write in the moment, while I’m feeling all the feelings of an experience, and the insights are ripe for the picking. Here in Martha’s Vineyard with my immediate and extended family, I’m reminded of why vacations even exist, and I find myself incredibly conscious of how seldom we … Read More
The business world is in a state of constant evolution. Go-to growth strategies are less reliable than they used to be. Systems we’ve trusted for decades are now systematizing the wrong things. Leadership behaviors we consistently touted – drive for results, accountability, negotiation – are still important, yet insufficient, and now share the spotlight with … Read More
In early June, 2015, just under 50 black executives – myself included – were inducted into the Executive Leadership Council, the pre-eminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. I had been anxiously awaiting this milestone, not quite sure what to expect, but generally … Read More
When I was small, I thought my father was invincible. If a thing broke, he fixed it. Got lost, he found it. Needed doing, he did it. But he never did anything quietly, and he got it honestly. He has four sisters and one brother, and our family gatherings usually morphed into a battle for whose stories … Read More
I’m always on the lookout for examples of inspirational leadership. I can’t help myself…few topics pique my curiosity more. Lately, though, I’ve seen several examples of poor leadership in action, and it ain’t pretty. That said, we can learn as much from these unfortunate displays as we can from extraordinary ones. So here goes. 5 … Read More
