Women of Color Rise

How do you build a legacy that lasts five generations?    In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Cheryl McKissack Daniel, Former CEO of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority and woman-owned design and construction firm in the U.S. From JFK Airport to Columbia University, Cheryl's work shapes the very skyline of New York.   As a fifth-generation builder, Cheryl didn't always plan...

How can we move from fearing equity to championing it?    In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Celeste Warren, former Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Merck and author of The Truth About Equity. With nearly three decades of experience, Celeste has been recognized by Black Enterprise's "Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion."   Celeste's father...

How can we move from fearing equity to championing it?    In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Celeste Warren, former Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Merck and author of The Truth About Equity. With nearly three decades of experience, Celeste has been recognized by Black Enterprise's "Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion."   Celeste's father...

How can you find your spotlight in a competitive industry?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Christina Selby—Vice President of Production and Touring at Nederlander Producing Company of America, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, and a leading voice on the Broadway League's Executive Committee.   A first-generation Honduran-Haitian American and lifelong New Yorker, Chri...

How can you transform exhaustion into a life of purpose and joy?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Patrice Tanaka—award-winning PR leader, author, and founder of the Joyful Planet Consultancy and Joyful Planet Foundation. After co-founding three successful PR agencies, Patrice found herself reeling after 9/11. That moment sparked a radical shift from being a "micromanaging" CE...

Facing a bully at work?    In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dali Rivera—parenting coach, U.S. Army veteran, author, and founder of the Diversity and Anti-Bullying Academy (DABA). Dali transformed her pain over both her and her daughter's bullying into a powerful purpose, creating tools for confident advocacy in schools and in the workplace.   Dali shares advice for leaders to c...

  How can neurodiversity become a leadership strength?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Nella Garcia Urban, CEO of DSST Public Schools. Nella came from YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, where she spent over 20 years in various roles leading and operating charter schools. Nella is also the Board Chair of LEAL, Latino Educators Advancing Leadership.   As a proud Latina and neur...

How can you unlock creativity to thrive in leadership and life?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Natalie Nixon—creativity strategist, author of The Creativity Leap and Move, Think, Rest, and CEO of Figure 8 Thinking. Recognized on the Thinkers50 Radar and named one of the Top 50 keynote speakers by Real Leaders, Natalie helps executives and organizations harness creativit...

How can you accelerate your path to CEO?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Rahesha Amon, CEO of City Teaching Alliance. With 25+ years of leadership experience, Rahesha has been a teacher, coach, principal, and senior executive at NYC DOE before stepping into her current role.   A proud Black woman and fourth-generation New Yorker, Rahesha never dreamed of being a CEO—she...

What does it mean to play the game to change the game?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Erica Mosca—Nevada State Assemblymember and Founder/Executive Director of Leaders in Training. Her nonprofit now empowers over 200 students annually with a 100% college acceptance rate and 81% postsecondary persistence. Erica is also the first Filipina elected to the Nevada State Legislatu...

What does it mean to bring feminine energy into leadership and parenting?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Shavon Terrell-Camper, a Realignment Coach and former therapist with over 3,000 hours of coaching experience helping individuals build self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and authentic leadership. Shavon shares how to shift from default masculine approaches—power, co...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Gloria Lee—Social Entrepreneur, Lecturer at UC Berkeley and Stanford, and visionary behind a new venture focused on helping elders thrive while aging in place. A seasoned educator and nonprofit leader, Gloria's career includes Founder, CEO of Educate78, President and COO of New Schools Venture Fund, and Area Superintendent and COO of Aspire Publ...

How do you get real team buy-in?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I talk with Jana Reed, COO of Nonprofit Finance Fund. Jana brings years of experience as a systems-level leader—previously serving as COO of iMentor, co-founder of Ascend Learning, and Chief of Schools at Citizens of the World Charter Schools.   Jana walks us through how her leadership has evolved—from focusing on modeling...

Thinking of running for school board? In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Judith Cruz, Former Board President, Houston Independent School District. Judith has over twenty-five years of experience as an educator, non-profit leader, and volunteer in public schools.   Judith shares her path to school board leadership—and what it really takes to serve well. Know your why – Serving on...

Do you mentor others?   In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Fernande (Nan) Duffly, the first Asian American Judge appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court.   Nan shares how mentorship played a critical role in her journey. Her mentor, Sam Adams, encouraged her to consider becoming a judge—something she hadn't envisioned for herself. At the time, there were very few people who...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Nancy B. Gutiérrez, President & Lead Executive Officer of The Leadership Academy, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to developing transformational leadership for educators at all levels. Nancy also serves on the boards of The Hunt Institute, brightbeam, and The Neurodiversity Alliance, and is the Board Chair of Education Leaders of...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Jillian Juman, CEO of Envision Education—a network of high-performing middle and high school charter schools in Oakland, CA.    Jillian shares her powerful journey toward liberation and what it means to lead as a Black woman who embraces curiosity, intuition, and spiritual connection.   Lean into curiosity and play: Jillian follows what sparks h...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Angira Sceusi, Executive Director of redefinED atlanta, a nonprofit committed to ensuring every student in Atlanta can attend an excellent K-12 public school. Angira was named to the 2025 Atlanta 500, a list of the city's most powerful leaders, and selected for the 2026 class of Leadership Atlanta.   Angira shares her journey from being a behind...

How can you find a mentor?   For this Women of Color Rise episode, I speak with Veronica Conforme, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Greenhouse E3, a national nonprofit developing diverse pipelines of future education leaders. Veronica describes herself as a rebel—she turned down her father's advice to become an accountant and instead set out to change the world. Her career includes serving as COO of the N...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System. A 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist and former collegiate champion, Dr. Clarke now leads transformational change in health equity and inclusive excellence.   Dr. Clarke shares how an Olympic mindse...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System. A 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist and former collegiate champion, Dr. Clarke now leads transformational change in health equity and inclusive excellence.   Dr. Clarke shares how an Olympic mindse...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Yordanos Eyoel, Founder and CEO of Keseb, a nonpartisan organization advancing inclusive and resilient democracies through transnational civil society. An Ethiopian-American democracy entrepreneur, Yordanos is an Ashoka and Aspen Institute Fellow and has received awards from the Elevate Prize Foundation and Unorthodox Philanthropy. Previously, s...

How can you make your voice heard?   We've all heard the saying: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This episode of Women of Color Rise is an example of that.   I'm joined by fellow leaders Christian Green, Zainab Abbas, Ian Esquibel, and Derek Burtch—all part of the Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing. Together, with Cecily Relucio, we're...

How can leaders turn perceived limitations into strengths?   On Women of Color Rise, I speak with Alia Abbas, Chief of Staff at New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. With a career spanning Estee Lauder, Warner Bros. Discovery, Prudential, and Citi, Alia has led in strategy, operations, and innovation—proving that disability and faith are not barriers but strengths.   Alia didn'...

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Angie Kamath, Dean of NYU School of Professional Studies. Under her leadership, NYU SPS has been ranked as a top higher education institution, recognized for its career-connected, industry-focused degrees and courses.   Angie shares tips about how to turn imposter syndrome into your superpower: Reframe It as a Strength: Imposter syndrome isn't a...