The Intersection

The job market feels broken—and it’s failing both job seekers and hiring teams. Job seekers are exhausted: pouring energy into applications, only to be met with silence. Hiring teams are overwhelmed: sorting through endless resumes, yet still struggling to find the right fit. Something has to change. In this special edition of The Intersection , I speak with Ify Walker, Founder & CEO of Offor,...

This episode is part of our Intersection Podcast Rewind series, celebrating our most downloaded conversations that are shaping leadership.  We are joined by Dr. Ahmmad Brown , scholar-practitioner and expert in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In this episode, Dr. Brown shares practical frameworks for navigating challenging DEI conversations in today’s complex workplace environments. Tune i...

This week on The Intersection Podcast , I’m joined by Suzanne Jakstavich — Chief People Officer, executive coach, and longtime champion for equity and inclusion. Suzanne’s career journey, shaped by her upbringing and early experiences, fueled a deep commitment to building people-first workplaces.. Suzanne shares how leaders can foster psychological safety, lead with curiosity, and model vulnerabil...

This week on The Intersection Podcast, we’re revisiting a favorite conversation in our Intersection Rewind series with Taylor Elyse Morrison — speaker, facilitator, and founder of Inner Workout. Taylor invites us to reimagine self-care not as spa days or checklists, but as a transformative practice rooted in self-awareness and inner dialogue. Drawing from yogic philosophy and her own leadership jo...

This week on The Intersection Podcast as part of our Intersection Podcast Rewind series, we are joined by Nyerere Billups, an ex-senior pharmaceutical leader, motivational speaker, and talent magnet. In this episode, Nyerere shares her powerful journey from homelessness to leadership, and emphasizes the importance of making intentional choices while challenging systemic inequities. As we dive into...

This week on The Intersection Podcast, we’re revisiting a conversation with John Higginson, the previous CTO of Chief, as he shares his expertise on driving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in the tech industry. John explains the vital role white men can play in championing DEI efforts, and how simple, but powerful changes—such as removing gendered language from job descripti...

This week on The Intersection Podcast, we're joined by Michaela Ayers , a multidisciplinary artist and DEIA strategist who is redefining how creativity can be a catalyst for deeper connection and transformational learning in organizations. Michaela, the founder of Nourish Community, brings a wealth of experience designing community-centered, art-infused learning experiences that prioritize th...

This week on The Intersection Podcast, we are joined by Julye Williams, founder of The Project 2043 Institute, where she works to help organizations prepare for our increasingly multiracial society. Julye, an advocate for racial and social justice, brings 20 years of expertise in education, youth programs, and social-emotional learning. She has developed the Liberatory Consciousness Framework, a p...

In today’s episode of The Intersection Rewind , we revisit a powerful conversation with Emily Voorde, the founder and CEO of IntuStrategies, a consultancy dedicated to advancing disability inclusion. Emily's journey is a testament to the work being done to ensure that leadership spaces and organizations are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Emily shares that “disability inclusion i...

We're excited to bring you this episode as part of The Intersection Rewind: 10 Powerful Conversations that Still Resonate. This series features 10 of our most downloaded and favorite conversations from the last five years. . The wealth gap in America continues to widen, with systemic inequities disproportionately affecting communities of color. According to research, Black households hold jus...

How Can You Leverage AI to Drive DEI? 🤔 Data-driven decision-making is crucial for building inclusive and high-performing teams. Yet, only a fraction of organizations are using AI to its full potential. Join me and Torin Ellis, Founder of The Torin Ellis Brand, as we explore how to leverage AI to create more equitable HR practices and inform strategic leadership decisions. Listen now for insights...

"It’s important to identify your values and to see how those values impact your leadership decisions, especially when you're feeling stretched thin." What if saying "no" made you a stronger, more effective leader? Leadership isn’t just about what you take on—it’s about what you let go of. In this episode, we explore how intentional leadership and values alignment create st...

"You can only lead others through change effectively when you’ve first mastered leading yourself through uncertainty." In this episode, Tiffany Perry, culture change architect and founder of Amberus Partners, shares why slowing down and focusing on what you can control is key to leadership resilience. From journaling to executive coaching to reconnecting with nature—discover the tools th...

Did you know that 40-50% of new senior leaders fail within their first 12 months? Stepping into a senior role isn’t just about a new title—it’s about navigating complexity, managing change, and redefining what success looks like. In this episode with Alida Al-Saadi, we dive into the leadership change model we co-developed, designed to support leaders during this pivotal transition.  Whether you’re...

Burnout isn’t an individual struggle—it is an organizational crisis. According to a recent survey by On Ramps and The Memo I Never Got, 95% of social sector senior executives experience burnout, and 63% are considering leaving their roles because of it. The pressure to perform at the highest level, constantly be ‘on,’ and navigate todays complex challenges is relentless. But here’s the truth: Rest...

It’s time to step out of the shadows. As women, we often let our corporate roles define us, losing sight of who we truly are. In this episode of The Intersection , I speak with Catlin O'Shaughnessy Coffrin where we unpack what it takes to reclaim our identities and rediscover who we were meant to be. Listen to the full conversation on your favorite podcast platform to explore what it means to...

With the upcoming holidays upon us, I'm taking time off but for your listening pleasure I'm rebroadcasting the most downloaded episode of 2024.  My guest, Nyerere K Billups, shares his personal journey as a leader which resonated with so many in The Intersection Podcast community. Grab your beverage of choice and listen to this powerful episode (link is in the first comment).   I'm...

We’re joined by Alexandra Levit is the Founder and CEO of Inspiration at work and the founder of Driven—an app and program designed to support historically underrepresented job seekers as they navigate the emotional stress of unemployment. Alexandra shares how a protracted job search impacts mental health, particularly for Gen Z, who are entering the workforce with the worst mental health of any g...

How might organizations support  financially stressed employees and why does it matter? For three decades Jaquette Timmon s has explored the intersection of money, business, and life.  During my conversation with Jaquette we discussed the often-overlooked issue of financial stress and its impact on both personal well-being and workplace engagement.  Tune in for a powerful conversation about the re...

What does it take to lead in today's complex workplace? Sonya Kaleel , a future-focused leader and founder of The Inclusion Practice is conducting cutting-edge research on the competencies needed to lead and communicate in tumultuous times. Sonya discusses the fear of saying the wrong thing, the isolation many senior leaders experience, and the importance of epic listening.   Tune in for a po...

I’ve been feeling it lately.  What is the “it” you ask?  It’s the apprehension some leaders have when discussing DEI.  Most of us working in this space have experienced this troubling shift in our organizations and/or clients.  This got me  thinking…why?  In this episode I discuss… Possible reasons why we’re experiencing this shift What you can do differently  Two disruptive voices to follow  - he...

This week’s replay is with the amazing Halleemah Nash, Founder of Rosecrans Ventures. Hallemah is a people strategist, social entrepreneur, and internship innovator dedicated to scaling professional development for Generation Z talent of color.  Halleemah is passionate about creating cultures where excellence and cultural authenticity intersect.  We discuss building today’s workforce for tomorrow...

The summer hiatus is winding down and new episodes are on the horizon.  Stay tuned for Season 6…we’ve got exciting topics and guests on the horizon.   This throwback episode was recorded with Lauren Leader during Women’s History Month at the height of the Pandemic.  Many of the same issues like work life integration, child care, and lack of remote work options are still an everyday struggle for ma...

The summer hiatus continues and  I’m making some exciting updates to the podcast. I can’t wait to share them! In the meantime I’ve got another awesome replay of  one of my favorite episodes featuring John Higginson, formerly CTO at Chief. He is now at Curriculum Associates, and in addition to his role John is also a tech advisor to the board of directors of several organizations and a member, inve...

We all need a break and I’m taking a summer hiatus to rest and restore. Don’t worry,  I’ve got you covered with a replay of  one of my favorite episodes featuring Dr. Tina Opie and Dr. Beth A. Livingston the authors of  Shared Sisterhood: How to Take Collective Action for Racial and Gender Equity at Work .  Dr. Tina Opie is an Associate Professor of Management and a prominent voice in the fields o...