The Way We Lead | An Inclusive Leadership Podcast

What if the secret to a magnetic personal brand isn't a viral social media strategy, but something deeper and more personal? In this "Mini but Mighty" episode, host Gaby Acosta reveals how to craft a personal brand so compelling it naturally attracts the right opportunities and audience - all by tapping into your unique values and purpose.

This episode is a roadmap for thought leaders seeking to make a lasting impact....

For many historically underrepresented folks, our goals for influence and financial abundance are deeply rooted in concerns about survival. Kerrie Carden challenges this paradigm, urging us to shift our focus from mere survival to thriving – with the powerful insight that our success is inextricably linked to the success of our communities.

In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the world of social capital with Kerrie Carden...

"Who am I to be a thought leader?" It's a question we hear from our highly qualified clients all the time.  

If you're struggling with self-doubt and impostor syndrome and it's holding you back from telling your story, you're not alone. 

In this tactical "Mighty But Mini" episode, host Gaby Acosta challenges the insecurities that plague many experts, especially those from hi...

Are you hesitant to share your unique perspective in your field? You’re not alone. In this episode we sit down with Lola Adeyemo, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and founder of EQ Mindset and the nonprofit Immigrants in Corporate.

Lola shares her remarkable journey from business analyst to confident consultant and thought leader in diversity and inclusion. Discover how she overcame initial doubts to deliver a compelling TEDx talk that r...

Season 2 kicks off with a fresh look, sound, and mission as Gaby Acosta welcomes new co-host Elizabeth Solomon. Together, they're tackling a critical issue: the glaring representation gap in thought leadership. In this eye-opening episode, Gaby and Liz break down the systemic barriers facing underrepresented voices in academia, media, and beyond, setting the stage for a season dedicated to "amplifying & cultivating di...

How do we ensure that all students feel seen and affirmed, no matter their identity? Founder of the Radical Maestra, Kathy Lebrón is on a mission to help educators, families, and students use education as a vehicle for healing and liberation. In this episode, Kathy provides tangible tools for teachers who want to invest in their own professional development around the topic of power, privilege, antiracism, and restorative justice. ...

In this week's episode, Gaby and Jenelle meet their shero, Reshma Saujani who is an award-winning Founder and CEO of national nonprofit Girls Who Code and author of the book “Brave, Not Perfect,” which transformed both of their lives. 

In fact, the book was so impactful on them that they both got "Brave, Not Perfect" tattoos to remind them that failure is merely a stepping stone to success. 

If you’...

If we want to be inclusive leaders at work and in our communities, we also need to be allies and advocates for those who experience mental illness.

In this episode, we are joined by two guest experts and advocates who are using nontraditional means to raise mental health awareness. First, we hear from Dr. Jonathan Singer, Associate Professor of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago and President of the American Associat...

Many companies wait until their business hits a period of high-growth or experiences a significant retention issue before investing in diversity and inclusion strategies, but startups can’t afford to treat D&I as an afterthought. We’re joined this week by Kellie Wagner, founder of Collective, a diversity and inclusion consultancy and research lab shifting how companies grow, engage, and retain diverse teams. Kellie outlines pro...

It’s so important for young people to have diverse role models in every field. This rings true to our most recent guest Charnelle “Cha” Quallis, who joins us to discuss diversifying the film industry, especially in the editor's room. While there is a recent proliferation of female editors in both fiction and non-fiction storytelling, the industry continues to lack representation from female editors of color. We talk about why ...

People are most effective when they can influence their immediate sphere. This week’s guests, Marie Bigham and Steve Frappier focus on removing barriers in a field they've dedicated their lives to over the last two decades: post-secondary education. In 2016, they were part of a small group that launched ACCEPT (Admissions Community Cultivating Equity & Peace Today), a nonprofit organization that empowers college admissions...

What happens when a member of your family or community is NOT a good ally or worse, completely rejects us for who we are? Our long-time friend and DC Center for the LGBT Community’s Board Co-Chair, Rehana Mohammed joins us to talk about her intersectional identities. She also shows us how being an ally can get messy when you live in a tight-knit community, and provides tangible tips for how to ask for allyship when folks in that co...

Innovation strategist and entrepreneur, Dalia Katan is leading the conversation on how diversity and human connection can unlock untapped growth for organizations. Dalia joins us to share her practical research-based tips for creating workplace environments that can reduce prejudice and improve social cohesion across gender, race, ethnicity, and political ideologies. We also start to ask what it looks like to be a champion for unde...

We're high school sweethearts who are now married. We're both convinced that our relationship wouldn't have made it through the trials and tribulations of growing up over the last 15 years if it hadn't been for the tools that we learned in an after-school program called, "City at Peace." In this episode, we outline the community ground rules for The Way We Lead and give you a look into the experience t...

If you're anything like us, you might feel overwhelmed by the inequality in the world, but feel unsure of how to take action.  We invite you to join us as we take off on a journey to become better allies. Listen in to get to know your hosts Gaby and Jenelle as they learn practical strategies from real-world leaders to actively advocate for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

Check out S1E1 episode notes for ful...