EquitAble

Equity is both an urgent goal and a long-term vision, requiring leaders to hold onto ambitious ideals while navigating current practical constraints. Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams explore how nonprofit organizations and their leaders can focus, adapt, and collaborate to make meaningful progress even during times of crisis. The conversation emphasizes learning from lived...

Examining the complex role of white men in conversations about racial and economic justice, the episode challenges prevailing narratives and calls for greater inclusion and vulnerability among men who are often painted with a broad brush of privilege. Through personal stories and a focus on changing culture and mental models, Dr. Adriane and Jay Coen Gilbert highlight both the suffering and the re...

Dr. Adriane Johnson Williams sits down with Ashley B. Stewart of The Corvian Group to explore how leaders can navigate unprecedented complexity and collective trauma in today’s workplaces. Together, they unpack why traditional management tools are ineffective against the backdrop of a global pandemic, social unrest, and ongoing systemic inequities. By centering conversations on emotional intellige...

Organizations often overlook the nuanced realities of their members by relying solely on surveys and formal reviews. Augusto Cuginotti joins Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams to explore how participatory narrative inquiry, a process of collecting anonymous stories, helps organizations reveal the true experiences of their members, particularly those unlikely to speak up. Together, they discuss how tradi...

Complex, often adversarial dynamics exist between the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, with an urgent need for structural change and mutual accountability. Amber Hamilton and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams investigate how nonprofits can leverage collective action to demand justice and more equitable practices from philanthropic institutions, challenging traditions of power imbalance and superficia...

Leaders succeed when they intentionally balance achieving results with honoring the humanity of those they guide. In Part 2 of a candid conversation, Crystal Collier of Leadership and Results Coaching and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams explore the foundational role of emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and self-awareness in effective leadership, emphasizing the importance of seeing and un...

Leaders today face the challenge of pursuing results while honoring the humanity of their teams, especially in a climate marked by collective trauma and socio-political upheaval. This engaging discussion (Part 1 of 2) with Crystal Collier of Leadership and Results Coaching explores how adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence, boundaries, and trust form the foundation for creating environments...

In this conversation between Jamila Walker, Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, MSSW, and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams centers on why Black women, especially entrepreneurs and leaders, require dedicated mental health supports and environments of safety. The episode highlights the interplay between personal wellness, workplace culture, and equitable access to care, emphasizing that true equity de...

Amber Hamilton, an expert in nonprofits, philanthropy, and leadership, challenges the status quo of institutional philanthropy, examining how wealth-hoarding and outdated models keep communities marginalized while upholding white dominant power structures. Through personal reflections, sharp critique, and humor, she envisions a philanthropy rooted in community, humility, and real structural change...

Dave Armstrong brings us inside the vital role small, locally owned grocery stores play in rural community resilience, equity, and well-being. Through the story of Farm Fresh in Carterville, Illinois, the episode highlights how such businesses support local vendors, foster personal relationships across generations, and address issues of isolation and imagination. By blending old-school values with...

This episode explores how individuals and communities can move toward a more equitable world by intentionally gathering, sharing resources, and embracing both the joy and the intensity of the human experience. Kym Alexander talks with Chad Jones, an organizer and embodiment coach, who discusses innovative, accessible event models and the role of somatic awareness in nurturing genuine leadership an...

Racial equity work is multifaceted, and progress depends on a diversity of methods, audiences, and personal experiences. Dr. Nika White, Founder of Nika White Consulting, and Jasmine Williams, CEO & Principal Consultant of Parson Williams Group, talk with Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams, exploring the realities of equity-driven consulting, highlighting the importance of meeting people where they...

Holistic wellness is often co-opted by profit-driven industries rooted in white supremacy, failing to serve the unique needs of queer, trans, and BIPOC individuals. In an impactful conversation with Standpoint Consulting's Kym Alexander, Dalia Kinsey, RD, LD shares significant lived and professional experience as a holistic dietitian, offering strategies for resisting toxic wellness culture, recla...

Direct Primary Care is presented as a transformative model for healthcare, re-centering the doctor-patient relationship and bypassing insurance-driven restrictions, bureaucracy, and inequity. Dr. Maryal Concepcion shares her personal journey from corporate medicine burnout to founding her own rural practice, advocating for a more affordable, accessible, and human-centric approach. The conversation...

The episode explores the philosophy of community-driven change and equity through the eyes of Natalie J. McKinney, executive director of Whole Child Strategies, Inc., and Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams. By challenging the myths of individualism and the "bootstrap" narrative, the conversation reveals the indispensable role of communal infrastructure, trust-building, and direct engagement with residen...

The significance of genuine collaboration and trust-building between philanthropic organizations and black-led nonprofits are highlighted in this special conversation with Aerial Ozuzu, Director of Community Impact for The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and Tenikki Sesley,  Chief Executive Officer of Apple Seeds, Inc.. The discussion covers the creation and operation of the Black-Led Non...

The complex beauty and contradictions of Southern identity, community, and language is explored through heartfelt conversation with Landon Bryant, social influencer, comedian, and author of “Bless Your Heart, A Field Guide to All Things Southern.” Kym Alexander (Chief Strategy and Operations Officer) joins Adriane and Landon to discuss how joy, community, and equity are interwoven with Southern tr...

Joy is explored as a vital, non-negotiable aspect of human well-being and a critical component in the pursuit of equity. Jacqueline Oselen (a.k.a. "Jackie O.") shares personal stories, community experiences, and practical wisdom on accessing joy, especially during challenging times of grief and conflict. The conversation reframes joy not just as an emotion but as a form of agency and resilience, n...

"Equity is personal. We know when we're being treated inequitably. What we struggle with is how to help others learn to identify it systematically or how to address it." Jena Martin, law professor at St. Mary’s University and scholar in business and human rights, shares how she helps future attorneys connect legal frameworks with the lived experiences of real people. She reflects on her journey th...

If you stay ready, you don't have to get ready. That is a really important part of doing equity work.  As the world undergoes significant shifts in 2025, having a stable foundation is essential. That requires strong policies, effective practices, and a deep understanding of how to institutionalize equity. Christina-Mai Just (Chief Equity Officer) and Kat Johnson (Chief of Staff) of Utah's Promise,...

"It's not profits first. It's people first to create profits." Human Resources expert Naseera Mays and Standpoint Consulting's Kym Alexander (Chief Strategy and Operations Officer) engage in a compelling conversation about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, affirming that profit gains are a result of prioritizing people. Naseera shares her journey from corpo...

"Now is not the time to fight the language war. We're not gonna win it. It's the time to be about it." Dr. Johnson-Williams dives into some urgent and pressing themes surrounding the current political and economic climate in America. She discusses the rise of authoritarianism and its interplay with race and capitalism, emphasizing that race is a fundamental aspect of America's identity and economy...

"We need to redefine public safety by engaging with Black communities to explore alternative measures beyond traditional policing, aimed at genuinely addressing their needs and concerns." April Frazier Camara discusses the pivotal role of public defenders in safeguarding individual rights and ensuring fairness within the justice system. She highlights the systemic inequities in law enforcement and...

People are often shocked when I tell them that only 3% of black women-owned businesses last longer than 3 years. Another little shocking piece of data is that only 1.1% of black woman-owned businesses are employers. Facing financial turmoil at the end of 2019 and the subsequent impacts of the pandemic, Renee Malone navigated her business through adversity by focusing on foundational work, equity,...

Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Standpoint Consulting, guests Kym Alexander and Kayla Brooks join host Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams to discuss their collaborative journey in building a Black women-owned business focused on equity. They reflect on the impact of trust, love, and mutual admiration on their work, the transformative power of leading with love, and their hopes for the future. Through...