The Leadership Drives Podcast: Recent Episodes
Mylena Sutton
The Leadership Drives (TLD) podcast hits the road to meet leaders from all walks of life & industry to hear the story of their leadership journey. We explore the complexities of leadership with leaders who have found alignment between their personal values & professional goals. TLD invites leaders to share their perspectives insights into how they build great teams & deal with challenges and conflict. Our goal is to learn how leaders develop the confidence and work/life alignment that solidifies their effectiveness & leadership style.
To follow or become a guest, visit our website.
Grace Santiago, a Model Teacher in Biology at The Crossroads School in Baltimore City. Having studied Biology at College before becoming a teacher so she not only writes the curriculum for her subject, but she partners with other departments to deliver their project-based curriculum. As a Model Teacher, she inspires and influence the trajectory of professional development in her school. Let’s delve headfirst into the life of a teacher in Baltimore facing the challenges of technological development and the pressures of societal changes on her pupil’s education. There is no one-size-fits-all but an everyday challenge to engage pupils in academic and vocational tasks.
Grace Santiago, a Model Teacher in Biology at The Crossroads School in Baltimore City. Having studied Biology at College before becoming a teacher so she not only writes the curriculum for her subject, but she partners with other departments to deliver their project-based curriculum. As a Model Teacher, she inspires and influence the trajectory of professional development in her school. Let’s delve headfirst into the life of a teacher in Baltimore facing the challenges of technological development and the pressures of societal changes on her pupil’s education. There is no one-size-fits-all but an everyday challenge to engage pupils in academic and vocational tasks.
Charisse Bowen may have started as a temporary receptionist in the Baltimore education sector, but she has anything but a PT-type personality. She joins the show in her 11th year in her role as a business developer, coordinator, and administrative team lead for The Crossroads Academy in Baltimore. She has developed as an individual alongside this role, working to provide better visibility for the pupils of Crossroads Academy. Not only this, but her role puts her front and center in encouraging better engagement with parents, the local public, and the business community with the aim of leveraging these partnerships to create more successful pupils. With her own incredibly unique brand of empathy and commitment to social impact, she supports pupils through a variety of different organizations so that pupils are empowered to follow their own academic and vocational goals.
Charisse Bowen may have started as a temporary receptionist in the Baltimore education sector, but she has anything but a PT-type personality. She joins the show in her 11th year in her role as a business developer, coordinator, and administrative team lead for The Crossroads Academy in Baltimore. She has developed as an individual alongside this role, working to provide better visibility for the pupils of Crossroads Academy. Not only this, but her role puts her front and center in encouraging better engagement with parents, the local public, and the business community with the aim of leveraging these partnerships to create more successful pupils. With her own incredibly unique brand of empathy and commitment to social impact, she supports pupils through a variety of different organizations so that pupils are empowered to follow their own academic and vocational goals.
Matthew Ebert has more than 20 years of experience in the US education sector. He joins the show to discuss his experience of leadership and the focus that he believes is key to successful educational environments. Focus on staff and teacher wellbeing. Fresh off his Ted Talk in New York on the subject, he speaks to Mylena about the broader issues of Charter schools in the educational market, bilateral and collaborative school leadership and his transition to business consultant in the Baltimore education sector. This episode is part of our closer look at leadership in the education sector.
Matthew Ebert has more than 20 years of experience in the US education sector. He joins the show to discuss his experience of leadership and the focus that he believes is key to successful educational environments. Focus on staff and teacher wellbeing. Fresh off his Ted Talk in New York on the subject, he speaks to Mylena about the broader issues of Charter schools in the educational market, bilateral and collaborative school leadership and his transition to business consultant in the Baltimore education sector. This episode is part of our closer look at leadership in the education sector.
Does being a good teacher help you prepare for the role of Principal? Whilst understanding how to engage pupils might help you understand where you’re working, Traci Mathena, gives us her first-hand experience of making the jump from her Alma Mata to Principal at a Baltimore elementary school. As an educator in her second career, she has worked to cultivate a passion for learning in her students from her first career– Journalism. Starting life as a reporter, that focus in her first career is an approach to leadership that has not changed. She talks to Mylena about how she builds teams, collaborates with her staff, and emphasizes the importance of strong communication and empowerment.
BaltimoreCityCharterSchools #PrincipalCoaching #UrbanEducation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/traci-m-1234255/
Does being a good teacher help you prepare for the role of Principal? Whilst understanding how to engage pupils might help you understand where you’re working, Traci Mathena, gives us her first-hand experience of making the jump from her Alma Mata to Principal at a Baltimore elementary school. As an educator in her second career, she has worked to cultivate a passion for learning in her students from her first career– Journalism. Starting life as a reporter, that focus in her first career is an approach to leadership that has not changed. She talks to Mylena about how she builds teams, collaborates with her staff, and emphasizes the importance of strong communication and empowerment.
BaltimoreCityCharterSchools #PrincipalCoaching #UrbanEducation
https://www.linkedin.com/in/traci-m-1234255/
Akil Parker, Founder of All This Math, is a math professor and a math education consultant to home school organizations. He has turned math into a tool to do more than teach young people the fundamentals they need to excel in STEM careers. He uses it as a vehicle to show love for black children, black history, and black children.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/akil-l-parker-m-ed-56106419/
Blacksinstem #top HBCUs for math #blackmathteachers #AfricanAmericanHomeSchooling
Akil Parker, Founder of All This Math, is a math professor and a math education consultant to home school organizations. He has turned math into a tool to do more than teach young people the fundamentals they need to excel in STEM careers. He uses it as a vehicle to show love for black children, black history, and black children.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/akil-l-parker-m-ed-56106419/
Blacksinstem #top HBCUs for math #blackmathteachers #AfricanAmericanHomeSchooling
49 Lovely Durham, Associate Dean of Special Projects and Student Success at Morehouse College, passionately champions the HBCU experience and tirelessly advocates for black men. Through her dedicated work at Morehouse College, she channels her commitment to ensuring the success of both. Her overarching goal is to leave a lasting positive impact on the institution and the young men who enroll.
BlackCollegeExperience #BlackSingleSexColleges #SpelHouse #StudentSuccess
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lovelydurham/
Morehouse College
49 Lovely Durham, Associate Dean of Special Projects and Student Success at Morehouse College, passionately champions the HBCU experience and tirelessly advocates for black men. Through her dedicated work at Morehouse College, she channels her commitment to ensuring the success of both. Her overarching goal is to leave a lasting positive impact on the institution and the young men who enroll.
BlackCollegeExperience #BlackSingleSexColleges #SpelHouse #StudentSuccess
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lovelydurham/
Morehouse College
48 Dr. Roy Copeland, Esq., is an attorney, a law professor at Valdosta State University, Co-Founder of the Copeland African American Museum, and author. His accomplishments are numerous, and he is particularly proud of the ones that have given him an opportunity to positively impact the lives of students, people of color, and families
Blackfamilywealth #estateplanning #Blackfamilyreunions
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-copeland-a2349271/
Valdosta State University and Copeland African American Museum
48 Dr. Roy Copeland, Esq., is an attorney, a law professor at Valdosta State University, Co-Founder of the Copeland African American Museum, and author. His accomplishments are numerous, and he is particularly proud of the ones that have given him an opportunity to positively impact the lives of students, people of color, and families
Blackfamilywealth #estateplanning #Blackfamilyreunions
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-copeland-a2349271/
Valdosta State University and Copeland African American Museum
46 When Gwen Wood's mother said, "money is a microscope to the soul", it resonated deeply with her in that moment and it continues to drive her today. While Gwen is passionate about her career and business in finance, she is even more committed to educating families. You can hear the fire in her spirit she shares how personal faith and belief that knowledge is power translate into a calling to equip people better decisions so that they can leave an inheritance for their children's children.#Blackfamilywealth #estateplanning
https://www.facebook.com/gwen.woods.585
Gwen Woods Financial Services
46 When Gwen Wood's mother said, "money is a microscope to the soul", it resonated deeply with her in that moment and it continues to drive her today. While Gwen is passionate about her career and business in finance, she is even more committed to educating families. You can hear the fire in her spirit she shares how personal faith and belief that knowledge is power translate into a calling to equip people better decisions so that they can leave an inheritance for their children's children.#Blackfamilywealth #estateplanning
https://www.facebook.com/gwen.woods.585
Gwen Woods Financial Services
47 "Every social justice issue in our country, in some way, is connected to housing" says Andreanecia Morris, the Executive Director of HousingNOLA. While she has built her career on housing equity, she focuses her day-to-day efforts on addressing the housing crisis on New Orleans, Louisiana, one of America's poorest and blackest cities. She doesn't mince words about policies that are steeped in anti-black racism and respectability politics or the work that it takes to build an unapologetic agency.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreanecia/
Affordable Housing #NOLAHousingMarket #NOLAHomeownership
HousingNOLA
47 "Every social justice issue in our country, in some way, is connected to housing" says Andreanecia Morris, the Executive Director of HousingNOLA. While she has built her career on housing equity, she focuses her day-to-day efforts on addressing the housing crisis on New Orleans, Louisiana, one of America's poorest and blackest cities. She doesn't mince words about policies that are steeped in anti-black racism and respectability politics or the work that it takes to build an unapologetic agency.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreanecia/
Affordable Housing #NOLAHousingMarket #NOLAHomeownership
HousingNOLA
Whereas many people shy away from sensitive topics about people, race, and culture. Dr. Rolando Herts' actual job is to do just that. As the Director of The Delta Center at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS, he is charged with the responsibility of telling the stories of the lives of people in the Mississippi Delta. On the other hand, his personal and familial journey help him translate his responsibility into a passion and calling that validates and respects people who often go unseen.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolando-herts-ph-d-2425208/
The Delta Center - https://deltacenterdsu.com/
Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area - https://www.msdeltaheritage.com/
waltonfamilyfoundation #culturalheritage #deltastateuniversity #deltacenter #mississippidelta
Whereas many people shy away from sensitive topics about people, race, and culture. Dr. Rolando Herts' actual job is to do just that. As the Director of The Delta Center at Delta State University in Cleveland, MS, he is charged with the responsibility of telling the stories of the lives of people in the Mississippi Delta. On the other hand, his personal and familial journey help him translate his responsibility into a passion and calling that validates and respects people who often go unseen.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rolando-herts-ph-d-2425208/
The Delta Center - https://deltacenterdsu.com/
Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area - https://www.msdeltaheritage.com/
waltonfamilyfoundation #culturalheritage #deltastateuniversity #deltacenter #mississippidelta
To whom much is given, much is required. Pam "Boss Lady" Chatman lives this mantra through her business, "Boss Lady Economic Planning and Development". As a daughter of the Mississippi Delta, Pam is doing for others what was done for her: helping people as they try to help themselves. Pam, like her fellow Mississippians, is no stranger to hard work, but she also knows that hard work must meet opportunity in order to be fruitful; thus, she is working to make sure the two actually meet.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-chatman-4b915819/
https://www.facebook.com/pam.chatman/
waltonfamilyfoundation #mississippidelta #rurallife #bosslady
To whom much is given, much is required. Pam "Boss Lady" Chatman lives this mantra through her business, "Boss Lady Economic Planning and Development". As a daughter of the Mississippi Delta, Pam is doing for others what was done for her: helping people as they try to help themselves. Pam, like her fellow Mississippians, is no stranger to hard work, but she also knows that hard work must meet opportunity in order to be fruitful; thus, she is working to make sure the two actually meet.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pam-chatman-4b915819/
https://www.facebook.com/pam.chatman/
waltonfamilyfoundation #mississippidelta #rurallife #bosslady
If you ask Mr. Johnson, "What do you do?", I hope you have some time. He is a musician, a human resources business partner, an author, and a puppeteer. Yes, this is a lot, and it is what he does to make sure his family members have what they need. Yet, he is not jaded by his commitment to living his life in Greenville, MS. He is balancing his love for the culture of the delta and making a living with his refusal to spend all of his energy chasing a dollar.
lifeinthemississippidelta #ruralemployment #mississippidelta #theprinceofthedeltablues
If you ask Mr. Johnson, "What do you do?", I hope you have some time. He is a musician, a human resources business partner, an author, and a puppeteer. Yes, this is a lot, and it is what he does to make sure his family members have what they need. Yet, he is not jaded by his commitment to living his life in Greenville, MS. He is balancing his love for the culture of the delta and making a living with his refusal to spend all of his energy chasing a dollar.
lifeinthemississippidelta #ruralemployment #mississippidelta #theprinceofthedeltablues
If you ask Mr. Johnson, "What do you do?", I hope you have some time. He is a musician, a human resources business partner, an author, and a puppeteer. Yes, this is a lot, and it is what he does to make sure his family members have what they need. Yet, he is not jaded by his commitment to living his life in Greenville, MS. He is balancing his love for the culture of the delta and making a living with his refusal to spend all of his energy chasing a dollar.
lifeinthemississippidelta #ruralemployment #mississippidelta #theprinceofthedeltablues
What are the chances that two young people, one from the East Coast and the other from the West Coast, would uproot their respective families and begin their lives in anew in the Mississippi Delta? Ben went to Clarksdale, MS, the birthplace of the blues, for a job and convinced Rebekah to come so that, together, they could strengthen a community, support the development of children, and make an impact in a part of the country where it would really count. Their work as the leaders of the Griot Arts Center and Meraki Roasting Company focuses on building relationships with the residents of Clarksdale to rewrite and broaden its narrative so that its history of racial division and financial struggle gives way to hope, prosperity, and a healed community.
Topics: #mississippidelta, #waltonfamilyfoundation, #economicdevelopment, #ruralcommunities, #civilrights
What are the chances that two young people, one from the East Coast and the other from the West Coast, would uproot their respective families and begin their lives in anew in the Mississippi Delta? Ben went to Clarksdale, MS, the birthplace of the blues, for a job and convinced Rebekah to come so that, together, they could strengthen a community, support the development of children, and make an impact in a part of the country where it would really count. Their work as the leaders of the Griot Arts Center and Meraki Roasting Company focuses on building relationships with the residents of Clarksdale to rewrite and broaden its narrative so that its history of racial division and financial struggle gives way to hope, prosperity, and a healed community.
Topics: #mississippidelta, #waltonfamilyfoundation, #economicdevelopment, #ruralcommunities, #civilrights
What are the chances that two young people, one from the East Coast and the other from the West Coast, would uproot their respective families and begin their lives in anew in the Mississippi Delta? Ben went to Clarksdale, MS, the birthplace of the blues, for a job and convinced Rebekah to come so that, together, they could strengthen a community, support the development of children, and make an impact in a part of the country where it would really count. Their work as the leaders of the Griot Arts Center and Meraki Roasting Company focuses on building relationships with the residents of Clarksdale to rewrite and broaden its narrative so that its history of racial division and financial struggle gives way to hope, prosperity, and a healed community.
Topics: #mississippidelta, #waltonfamilyfoundation, #economicdevelopment, #ruralcommunities, #civilrights
Lisa aims to be the champion of travelers who want to explore the many and various ways Black people have contributed to the country and world while also participating in luxury experiences without wondering if people like them are welcome.
Topics: #BlackTravel, #AntiBlackness #LuxuryTravel #PersonalGrowth, #Blackentrepreneurs
Sirena's journey to founding Roc the Peace is one of tremendous courage and turning tragedy into something meaningful. On the other hand, she was open about her leadership challenges: what does a leader do when the organization turns into something very different from their initial vision for it?#communityviolence #communityorganizations #urbancommunities
https://www.facebook.com/sirenac1www.Rocthepeace.org - https://www.Rocthepeace.org
Sirena's journey to founding Roc the Peace is one of tremendous courage and turning tragedy into something meaningful. On the other hand, she was open about her leadership challenges: what does a leader do when the organization turns into something very different from their initial vision for it?
communityviolence #communityorganizations #urbancommunities
https://www.facebook.com/sirenac1
www.Rocthepeace.org - https://www.Rocthepeace.org
Shemekka is a the kind of woman and professional who cannot be limited to one label or category. While she is an author, coach, speaker, and business owner with serious magnetism, her focus on and commitment to her business, clients, and community are laser sharp.#blackwomenentrepeneurs #racialjustice #ministry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemekka/
Shemekka Ebony - https://shemekkaebony.com/
Black Girl Magic Market - https://blackgirlmagic.market/
Shemekka is a the kind of woman and professional who cannot be limited to one label or category. While she is an author, coach, speaker, and business owner with serious magnetism, her focus on and commitment to her business, clients, and community are laser sharp.
blackwomenentrepeneurs #racialjustice #ministry
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemekka/
Shemekka Ebony - https://shemekkaebony.com/
Black Girl Magic Market - https://blackgirlmagic.market/
We work and live in a culture where the image of what it means to be a professional is often steeped in classism, formality, distant coldness, and hierarchical power dynamics. These expectations are even more strident if you are a mathematician! As Dr. Washington shares glimpses into her career and her leadership style with the Data Science Initiative, we can easily see that she is anything but formal and cold. Her humility, confidence and authenticity is a breath of fresh air among the many profiles of leadership.
AllLeadershipIsPersonal
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/talithawashington/
The AUC Data Science Initiative - https://aucenter.edu/category/data-science/
National Data Science Alliance - https://www.ndsalliance.org/
We work and live in a culture where the image of what it means to be a professional is often steeped in classism, formality, distant coldness, and hierarchical power dynamics. These expectations are even more strident if you are a mathematician! As Dr. Washington shares glimpses into her career and her leadership style with the Data Science Initiative, we can easily see that she is anything but formal and cold. Her humility, confidence and authenticity is a breath of fresh air among the many profiles of leadership.
AllLeadershipIsPersonal
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/talithawashington/
The AUC Data Science Initiative - https://aucenter.edu/category/data-science/
National Data Science Alliance - https://www.ndsalliance.org/
Can you be effective in a role and on a team, even if you don't think building relationships is a big deal? After all, you can do the actual job, right? While some leaders don't care as much about how you get the job done as long as you get it done: Kelly isn't that leader. She insists on building a team that is characterized as by respect, comradery, and strong connections.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-macconnell/
Can you be effective in a role and on a team, even if you don't think building relationships is a big deal? After all, you can do the actual job, right? While some leaders don't care as much about how you get the job done as long as you get it done: Kelly isn't that leader. She insists on building a team that is characterized as by respect, comradery, and strong connections.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-macconnell/
What do you do when your organization provides an incredibly important service, but your organization struggles to compete in the area of wages? One thing is for sure: you can't afford to let your leadership team leave figuring it out to HR! Shari shares with us how Jewish Home Life tackles this issue so that it can better serve its employees and the families that have come to rely on them.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-bayer/
Organization: https://www.jewishhomelife.org/
What do you do when your organization provides an incredibly important service, but your organization struggles to compete in the area of wages? One thing is for sure: you can't afford to let your leadership team leave figuring it out to HR! Shari shares with us how Jewish Home Life tackles this issue so that it can better serve its employees and the families that have come to rely on them.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-bayer/
Organization: https://www.jewishhomelife.org/
What is the last place you think of when you think of leadership? I bet cemeteries didn't even make the list! However, in a place Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, the stakeholders demand great leadership, and their Executive Director, Richard Harker, delivers!. It is an active cemetery, a garden, a city park, and all in one and its eternal residents include people from all walks of life, from enslaved people, Margaret Mitchell, former Mayor Maynard Jackson, golf legend Bobby Jones, Morris Brown College Founder Wesley John Gaines, 6 Georgia governors and 25 other Atlanta mayors.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-harker-1651a948/
Org Website: https://oaklandcemetery.com/
What is the last place you think of when you think of leadership? I bet cemeteries didn't even make the list! However, in a place Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, the stakeholders demand great leadership, and their Executive Director, Richard Harker, delivers! It is an active cemetery, a garden, a city park, and all in one and its eternal residents include people from all walks of life, from enslaved people, Margaret Mitchell, former Mayor Maynard Jackson, golf legend Bobby Jones, Morris Brown College Founder Wesley John Gaines, 6 Georgia governors and 25 other Atlanta mayors.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-harker-1651a948/
Org Website: https://oaklandcemetery.com/
How do you live your fierce commitment to your community without setting yourself on fire to keep it warm? Simone is been trying to answer this question throughout her entire career. Her commitment to excellence is just as strong as her commitment to economically disadvantaged communities of color.
How do you live your fierce commitment to your community without setting yourself on fire to keep it warm? Simone is been trying to answer this question throughout her entire career. Her commitment to excellence is just as strong as her commitment to economically disadvantaged communities of color.
How do you make a difference in a community, but not give in to the notion (perhaps, the expectation) that people who work in the social/nonprofit sector are willing to do it for lower pay than they'd receive elsewhere? Tish speaks to this challenge as she grapples with another: how do you manage supporting the community that you came from and love and simultaneously design the life that you want to live?
How do you make a difference in a community, but not give in to the notion (perhaps, the expectation) that people who work in the social/nonprofit sector are willing to do it for lower pay than they'd receive elsewhere? Tish speaks to this challenge as she grapples with another: how do you manage supporting the community that you came from and love and simultaneously design the life that you want to live?
How do you transcend insecurities about your journey to confidently sit at the leadership table and serve your community in your uniquely powerful style? As Ryan advances the mission of Greenlight Fund and the residents of Baltimore, he has come to see that his personal evolution is as much of an asset as his professional credentials. Listen as he shares how embracing both authenticity and his journey gives him the foundation that he needs to be effective as an ED.
How do you transcend insecurities about your journey to confidently sit at the leadership table and serve your community in your uniquely powerful style? As Ryan advances the mission of Greenlight Fund and the residents of Baltimore, he has come to see that his personal evolution is as much of an asset as his professional credentials. Listen as he shares how embracing both authenticity and his journey gives him the foundation that he needs to be effective as an ED.
What does it mean for you to reject any notion that you are a victim and embody that spirit in a way that empowers people in the community that you serve? Whether on or off the clock, Felicia is nobody's victim; however, she knows how hard life can be. To this end, she has focused her career on empowering families and communities.
What does it mean for you to reject any notion that you are a victim and embody that spirit in a way that empowers people in the community that you serve? Whether on or off the clock, Felicia is nobody's victim; however, she knows how hard life can be. To this end, she has focused her career on empowering families and communities.
When an organization has a large and powerful mission and a growing team that is located across an entire country, how does it achieve alignment and make sure everyone is on the same page? How does an organization prevent the rise of lone rangers who will pursue their own agendas at the expense of the organization? At the end of the series, I’ll share my thoughts. As you listen to the episode, take note of what these four leaders have in common!
The Greenlight Fund
Ryan Turner of Baltimore MD
Tish Johnson-Jones of Newark, NJ
Simone Hardeman-Jones of the Twin Cities
Felicia Rinier of Philadelphia, PA
When an organization has a large and powerful mission and a growing team that is located across an entire country, how does it achieve alignment and make sure everyone is on the same page? How does an organization prevent the rise of lone rangers who will pursue their own agendas at the expense of the organization? At the end of the series, I’ll share my thoughts. As you listen to the episode, take note of what these four leaders have in common!
The Greenlight Fund
Ryan Turner of Baltimore MD
Tish Johnson-Jones of Newark, NJ
Simone Hardeman-Jones of the Twin Cities
Felicia Rinier of Philadelphia, PA
While some women allow their fears and insecurities to discourage them from pursuing challenging roles, Dr. Laurel Harry did not and is Pennsylvania’s newest Secretary of Corrections. From her first position with the PA DOC to her current post, her career path demonstrates her commitment to people. She takes seriously her duty to improve the lives, outcomes, and experiences for the people under her charge, no matter which side of the wall they’re on.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-harry-3b1b55281
https://www.cor.pa.gov/Pages/Secretary%20of%20Corrections.aspx
While some women allow their fears and insecurities to discourage them from pursuing challenging roles, Dr. Laurel Harry did not and is Pennsylvania’s newest Secretary of Corrections. From her first position with the PA DOC to her current post, her career path demonstrates her commitment to people. She takes seriously her duty to improve the lives, outcomes, and experiences for the people under her charge, no matter which side of the wall they’re on.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-harry-3b1b55281
https://www.cor.pa.gov/Pages/Secretary%20of%20Corrections.aspx
Can you imagine what you would be like if you’d spent the last 40 years of your life and career as a jail warden? What about being a female warden for 40 years in a very Republican town when you’re a liberal in a very liberal state? You probably can’t imagine, and neither could we! After spending a little over a year as a retiree, Sandy Mueller, invited us into her home to share how she went from studying psychology and dance in college and wound up working her way into the warden’s office. Simultaneously, she is everything you expect and everything you don’t: candid, politically savvy, confident, and a proud potty mouth.
https://correctionalnews.com/2015/01/28/sandra-mueller/
https://www.app.com/story/news/local/ocean-county/2021/12/09/ocean-county-nj-jail-warden-retire-dec-31/6443796001/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-mueller-40787ab5/
Can you imagine what you would be like if you’d spent the last 40 years of your life and career as a jail warden? What about being a female warden for 40 years in a very Republican town when you’re a liberal in a very liberal state? You probably can’t imagine, and neither could we! After spending a little over a year as a retiree, Sandy Mueller, invited us into her home to share how she went from studying psychology and dance in college and wound up working her way into the warden’s office. Simultaneously, she is everything you expect and everything you don’t: candid, politically savvy, confident, and a proud potty mouth.
https://correctionalnews.com/2015/01/28/sandra-mueller/
https://www.app.com/story/news/local/ocean-county/2021/12/09/ocean-county-nj-jail-warden-retire-dec-31/6443796001/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-mueller-40787ab5/
If you were blindfolded and eavesdropping on a conversation among a jail warden, a social worker, and a chaplain, do you think you could tell which speaker was the jail warden? If Warden Karen Taylor was one of the speakers, I don’t think you could. Warden Taylor is a career corrections professional with more than 26 years of experience, and she is focused on corrections rather than punishment. Her efforts to address the root causes of recidivism has set her on a path to figuring out how to make sure that people who are jailed in her county get what they need so that they don’t come back. As you listen to this leadership drive, you’ll hear why leaders from the Biden Administration and White House wanted to know so badly what she’s doing and how that they paid her a visit.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-taylor-58931a41/
If you were blindfolded and eavesdropping on a conversation among a jail warden, a social worker, and a chaplain, do you think you could tell which speaker was the jail warden? If Warden Karen Taylor was one of the speakers, I don’t think you could. Warden Taylor is a career corrections professional with more than 26 years of experience, and she is focused on corrections rather than punishment. Her efforts to address the root causes of recidivism has set her on a path to figuring out how to make sure that people who are jailed in her county get what they need so that they don’t come back. As you listen to this leadership drive, you’ll hear why leaders from the Biden Administration and White House wanted to know so badly what she’s doing and how she's doing it that they paid her a visit.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-taylor-58931a41/
When you think about the people who are leaders in law enforcement and correctional institutions, is love the first thing that comes to mind? If you answered no, you would not be alone! Nevertheless, it is through the lens of love and compassion that Cyn Link viewed her work. Over the course of a career spanning more than 25 years, going from corrections officer to superintendent, she came to believe the human connection with their people is a leader’s core obligation and perhaps the foundation of their legacy. As you listen to this leadership drive, consider whether you think it is possible to effectively lead people without love.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-link-752891169/
Would churches be better managed if pastors saw themselves as CEOs running businesses? How would churches be different if the members debated and chose specific values instead of simply agreeing to the broad language of their doctrine or denomination? Well, Rev. Dr. Hunt does see himself as a CEO of a medium-sized business and he has pushed his Baltimore congregation to adopt specific values. As you listen to how he leads his church and the results that he’s gotten, consider whether you think such structure is appropriate for a religious institution.
www.canthonyhunt.com
https://epworthchapel.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-anthony-hunt-ph-d-8427a258/
When you think about urban centers and images of violence that are often used to describe those communities, do you ever wonder, “Why are they harming each other? Why do those communities struggle so much?” Frankly, if you’ve never asked the question, you are odd person out! Dr. Nadine Finigan Carr has taken questions like these to heart and has dedicated her career to understanding the causes of and remedies for violence in urban communities. She is lending her expertise to the City of Baltimore as the University of Maryland at B’more’s inaugural director of the Center for Violence Prevention.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/finigancarr/
https://www.umaryland.edu/violence-prevention/executive-director.php
How many people begin their careers set on a particular direction and ultimately pivot because their soul finds its sweet spot? How many people do you know who accept that moving across the country, multiple times, is the only way they’re going to get to do the work that they really want to do? Mark has crisscrossed the country in pursuit of personal and professional happiness and has landed in the role that he’s spent the last decade positioning himself for. As you reflect on your career and other weighty decisions you’ve made, are you clear about what you want and what is driving you? Are you willing to pivot to get to your sweet spot?
https://www.markanthonythomas.com/
https://gbc.org/
Marcus Allen, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Independence Region located in Center City Philadelphia shared his journey with us! As he has grown, so has the organization. Could it be that the more self-aware a leader is, the more successful their team is? Moreover, Marcus’ transparency about how he manages his board and internal operations gives valuable insights into how a leader must balance charisma, strategy, and authority so that their teams actually gets to do the work of advancing the mission of their organization.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-allen-a4860231/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/independencebigs/
Is the internalized oppression that leaves many African Americans seeing themselves as small greater than societal and systemic oppression? Do Black people who come to the US from other countries have different experiences because they come from cultures and countries where their Blackness is centered? JerriAnne Boggis, shares her experiences of owning her place in the world, as a Jamaican who has lived in New Hampshire for the last 30-plus years, and as the Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail. Her team works to raise awareness of the historical contributions of Blacks in New Hampshire so that we might learn the answer to, “How would our world and our individual perspectives be different if each of us felt that we belonged?”
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerrianne-boggis-7b88a613/
https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/about-us/our-team/
Have you ever wondered, "What would our organizations be like if leaders lived their values even when they knew their perspective was unpopular and might come at a cost?" In a world where many people are worried about cancel culture, the Rt Rev Dr. Shannon-MacVean Brown is a remarkable in her boldness about how she sees herself, what God has called her to do and what it means for her to lead the Episcopal Church of Vermont as a Black woman. As you listen, can you imagine what our organizations would be like if there were more leaders like the Rt Rev Dr. Bishop?
https://diovermont.org/the-rt-rev-shannon-macvean-brown-bishop-of-vermont/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-macvean-brown-d-min-3817622b/
Have you ever thought, "I don't know what it means to build an inclusive team"? On the other hand, have you ever been at work and said to yourself, "I'm just going to play it safe and get through this?" If these sound familiar, Audra Bohannon is here to tell you that you do know how to build that team and that you might get by playing it safe, but you are also playing it small. Audra's years of experience as a leader, strategist and DEI expert, along with her comfortably elegant vibe, have made her precisely the kind of coach and facilitator whose expertise is highly sought after. Her leadership calling card is her ability to help her clients envision and go after higher and better versions of themselves. What is your leadership hallmark?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/audra-bohannon/
What does the leader of the organization do when feelings of overwhelm begin setting in? If you don't know, you might want to ask Christine Lloyd-Newbury. When many leaders are sheepishly asking, "How many pieces are in the box?", Christine is excited about the puzzle-making of being executive director. She is passionate about the work and honest about the challenges she faces. Her story is a gift to the leader who feels like they are expected to promise the world and build Rome in a day.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-lloyd-newberry-92687427/
https://www.saraholbrookcc.org/
LaNeshe Miller-White, Executive Director, Theater Philadelphia
How do you balance being inclusive and also believing everything isn’t for everybody? Can you be part of an organization that focuses on the needs on a particular group and be a part of a group that aims to meet the needs of everybody without betraying either group or hypocrisy? LaNeshe Miller-White shares with us how she does just that as she leads Theater in the X, a Philadelphia Theater Company, that centers the Black experience while she also leads Theater Philadelphia, a regional organization whose mission is to support all theater groups. Can you own your values as clearly as LaNeshe has owned hers?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laneshem/https://theatrephiladelphia.org/http://www.theatreinthex.com/
Please note that we used the term "hearing impaired" during this conversation. We realize that "deaf" or "hard of hearing" would have been more affirming language. We ask for grace as you listen. Thank you.
Can you have a healthy relationship (whether as a family member, romantic partnership, a coworker, or just a friendship), with someone who uses drugs? I used to answer this question with my personal/family experiences front and center in my mind. After my interview with Carla, I still do; however, my perspective has changed. Can Carla change your mind?
Carla Sofronski, Co-founder, Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Network -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-sofronski-1a2b74203/
Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Network -
https://www.pahrn.org/
What happens when you find yourself on a career path that you know you don't want to be on, but you don't know what's next either? Instead of fretting, Jason took a risk on a job that offered him an opportunity to do work he never dreamed of doing. That decision changed the trajectory of his life and has led him to a career and business that allows him to help people live better lives by helping them to save their homes.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonzavala56/
What makes a professional woman who is a wife, mother, and career social worker walk away from her aspect of her life, except her children, to start over? What makes such a woman a highly sought after therapist for men? Dr. Alonda Alloway did just and is just that! She gives us a glimpse into the work she put in to take her life and career off the
path that everybody else thought she should be on in order to be true to who she is and always has been. Do you have the courage to be who you are and accept the challenges and risks that come along with you? Is the work toward peace of mind worth disrupting the ease of monotony?
https://therapyforblackmen.org/therapists/alonda-alloway/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alonda-alloway-sterling-va/355633
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alonda-alloway-phd-lcsw-4696632/
How much longer will you walk down the path that isn't making you happy before you decide to do something different and take control of your life? Michelle and Kenya give us a taste of the labor and emotional work it takes to reorient their lives so that they can spend more and more of their time on what matters to them. Are you willing to devise a plan to get to peace and happiness, even if it requires work?
https://www.outdoorjournaltour.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/outdoorjournaltour/
https://www.facebook.com/outdoorjournaltour/
https://www.bomaxranchandretreat.com/home
Where's the beef? Robert Burns, the leader of one of the largest foundations in the US shares the connection between his work and growing up on a cattle farm in the south. Whether we realize it or not, what we believe about people and life in general shows up in how we live and live. If you look back over your life, can you clearly see how you became who you are?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbburns/
https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/about-us/staff/robert-burns
Is perpetual resistance a sign that your vision won't come to pass or a test of your commitment? In the face of a daunting task, this soul easily answers the question, "Is it worth saving?"
https://twitter.com/joymd76
https://www.instagram.com/joycelyndvs/
https://dignityjustified.com/joycelyn
Do you have what it takes to lead in the face of hostility, rejection, and limited resources? Do you know when to keep fighting and when to throw in the towel? One woman's conviction to do the work she's called to do, no matter what.
https://montgomeryselmadistrict.org/presiding-elder
Just because you love what you do, it doesn't mean that work is a breeze: how one leader follows her passion, takes on its challenges, and avoids burnout.
Ashley Rogers - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-rogers-6955007a/
Whitney Plantation - https://twitter.com/WhitPlantation
The journey to powerful leadership begins with insisting on personal authenticity, even when there's tremendous pressure to do it like everybody else does it.
https://www.ninthamechurch.org/supervisor-seawright
Mylena's colleague and friend asks what everybody wants to know: why did you create The Leadership Drives podcast?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindasdonio/