Black Woman Leading

Dr. Kiki Ramsey brings a positive psychology lens to one of the most important relationships we have: the one with ourselves. In this conversation, she and Laura explore what it means to create your own happiness rather than waiting on circumstances, titles, or other people to deliver it. Kiki shares her leadership journey and the science-backed practices that help Black women cultivate joy as a d...

Mecca Anderson joins Laura to challenge the assumptions we carry into our personal and professional relationships. Too often we operate on autopilot, repeating old patterns and making unintentional missteps that quietly cost us trust, connection, and opportunity. Mecca shares her own leadership story and her approach to rewiring how we relate to the people who shape our lives and careers, from bei...

Who are you being as a leader right now, and did you ever actually choose her? In this solo episode, Laura opens Season 9's work on the relationship with yourself by guiding you through a leadership identity audit. This is not about casting a vision for who you want to become. It is an honest, present-tense look at who you already are. Most of us never consciously designed our leadership identity....

Welcome to Season 9 of Black Woman Leading, the podcast!  This podcast is an extension of the Black Woman Leading programs and events.  In this opener, Laura sets the table for a new season built entirely around relationships, the full ecosystem of connections that either sustain us or drain us as leaders.  Coming out of Season 8's work on joy and wholeness, she frames this season as what we build...

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Cree Scott, clinical psychologist, founder of Serenity Psy Consulting, and our guest for Episode 21. Dr. Scott recorded with us in November 2025 and passed away in December. Her episode aired posthumously in March 2026, timed to the launch of her book. Her wisdom, her warmth, and her work live on. Rest well, Dr. Cree. Twenty-eight episodes. One theme....

What does it really mean to reset? Not to give up. Not to start over from scratch. But to pause with intention, get honest with yourself, and realign your career with who you actually are and where you actually want to go. In this solo episode, Laura walks listeners through the Black Woman Leading Career Reset Framework, a five-area reflection process designed to help leaders regroup, restore, and...

In this episode, Laura sits down with Suezette Yasmin Robotham, bestselling author, global talent and culture executive, executive coach, and keynote speaker, to explore one of the most important and often unasked questions in leadership: who are you when the titles fade away? Drawing from her book Beyond Titles: Fearlessly Leading as Your Authentic Self, Suezette brings two decades of experience...

In this episode, Laura sits down with Shaquanna Chappelle, executive presence consultant and speaker, to break down what executive presence really is and what it isn't. While executive presence is often framed around image, polish, or performance, Shaquanna invites us into a deeper understanding: true presence is built from the inside out. Drawing from her journey from wardrobe stylist to confiden...

In this episode of Black Woman Leading, Laura is joined by Blessing Uchendu, licensed clinical social worker and somatic leadership coach, to explore what it means to reclaim your power through the body. With over two decades of clinical experience, Blessing challenges a common assumption in leadership development—that growth is simply a mindset shift away. Instead, she introduces a deeper truth:...

In this episode, Laura sits down with Alysia Lee, President & CEO of the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund, to explore what it means to lead through community, creativity, and shared power. Alysia brings a unique leadership lens shaped by her background as a musician and composer, offering insight into how artistic practice (listening, collaboration, and responsiveness) translates into her approach...

In this episode, Laura is joined by Dr. Cornelia Shipley-Bearyman, Founder & CEO of 3C Consulting, to explore what it means to intentionally cast your future, not just react to your present. Drawing from her work in leadership, culture transformation, and her recent PhD in metaphysics, Dr. Cornelia breaks down how our mindset, language, and belief systems shape the realities we experience, both pe...

In this timely and empowering episode, Laura sits down with Sarah Boyd, Founder & CEO of The Formation, to unpack what it truly means to leverage strategic self-advocacy—especially for Black women navigating today's complex corporate landscape. Drawing from her experience working with C-suite leaders and building community for Black women in corporate spaces, Sarah introduces a more nuanced unders...

Updated: We recently learned that Dr. Cree Scott passed away in December 2025. We didn't know when this episode aired. We recorded in November 2026, and she requested that the episode be released this spring closer to her book release. We're heartbroken and keeping this up because her words deserve to be heard. Her book, The Missing Peace, releases April 14th, posthumously. Please consider grabbin...

In this episode, Laura is joined by Dr. Crystal Moten, an award-winning writer, historian, and expert on Black women's history who has spent her career amplifying the lives and labors of Black women. Dr. Moten introduces the concept of professional wanderlust, a term she coined to reframe how we think about career mobility. Drawing inspiration from the idea of wanderlust in travel, she explores ho...

In this episode, Laura sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Adams to explore what it truly means to amplify your strengths… not just possess them. In today's dynamic corporate and technological landscape, many Black women leaders are deeply skilled yet under-recognized. Dr. Adams challenges listeners to move beyond quiet competence and into intentional visibility — leveraging presence, strategy, and even...

In this empowering episode, Laura is joined by Pamela Gelie, Founder of URise,  for a heartfelt and practical conversation on what it truly means to redefine balance…especially as Black women navigating multiple roles, expectations, and seasons of life. Pamela shares her personal journey of pursuing greater freedom, meaning, and values alignment, including how her search for balance ultimately led...

In this conversation, Laura and Dr. Brandeis Marshall explore the concept of responsible AI and the critical need to reframe our understanding of it. Dr. Marshall's insights shed light on how leaders and everyday users can navigate this complex terrain with a focus on ethics and responsibility.  Key takeaways from this discussion include the importance of informed leadership, mindful AI usage, and...

In this solo episode, Laura shares practical strategies for setting healthy boundaries at work without guilt, over-explaining, or burning bridges. Aligned with Season 8's theme Leaning Into Joy, this conversation explores why boundaries are essential for protecting your wellbeing, preserving your energy, and creating a healthier workplace experience, especially for Black women leaders who may be ...

In this conversation, Laura welcomes Kelli Jackson, Founder of Expert Edge Career Management Agency, to discuss the importance of positioning oneself for new career opportunities Kelli shares her insights on navigating the job market, the significance of storytelling in job searches, and the evolving landscape of leadership roles. She emphasizes the need for strategic job searching, the value of p...

In this episode of the Black Woman Leading podcast, Laura welcomes Dr. Sam March. They discuss the importance of cultivating a growth mindset and how it intertwines with emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the journey towards harmony in life.  Dr. Sam emphasizes the significance of recognizing triggers, the difference between balance and harmony, and the unique challenges faced by Black wo...

In this episode of Black Woman Leading, Laura Knights welcomes Alanna Thomas to discuss the importance of embracing your gifts and what it truly means to lead from the fullness of who you are. Together, they explore how Black women leaders can reconnect with their God-given gifts and talents, especially in environments that may have misunderstood, minimized, or even shamed those very qualities. Al...

In this conversation,Laura welcomes  Dr. Nina Joy Mena to discuss digital detoxing and self-care, particularly for busy professionals and Black women leaders.  The discussion covers the impacts of digital overload on mental health, the necessity of establishing boundaries with technology, and practical strategies for maintaining wellness. Dr. Mena emphasizes the significance of self-care routines...

In this powerful episode, Laura is joined by Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Associate Professor at Duke University's School of Medicine and Co-Director of Duke CTSI Center for Research, Community Engagement, Social Impact and Trust (CREST Center), for a timely conversation on rethinking resilience. Inspired by Dr. Bentley-Edwards' article "I Am Not (Your) Superwoman, Black Girl Magic, or Beautiful St...

As we step into a new year, this solo episode invites you to pause, reflect, and intentionally define how you want to lead starting from the inside. Laura explores what it means to trust yourself as a leader and to draw from your internal vision, values, capabilities, and ways of knowing to guide how you want to lead in this new year. Rather than focusing on resolutions or external expectations, t...

In this conversation, Laura welcomes Dr. Lakila Bowden to explore the transformative practice of self-celebration and the role it plays in helping Black women reclaim agency, joy, and permission to lead from a place of fullness. Drawing from key concepts in her book, The Sho'Nuff Principle, Lakila lays out a liberatory framework for centering ourselves without guilt, raising our expectations, and...