Black Woman Leading

In today’s episode, we discuss building relationships in the workplace with Sheilina Henry, Group Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion for Bloomin’ Brands Inc.

Sheilina shares her inspiring story detailing her ascent from a server to the C-suite in the restaurant industry.  She emphasizes the importance of engaging individuals at all levels of your organization, shares insights about rebounding when your trust is violated in the workplace and reveals some of her personal strategies behind cultivating long-lasting professional relationships.  

We discuss tips to assess and build your ‘personal board of directors’ with reflection prompts to guide you: Where do I want to go? Who’s going to mentor me? Who’s going to sponsor me? Who’s going to push me? Who’s going to help me think about things from a different perspective?

Finally, Sheillina shares insights about her personal growth as a Black woman in corporate and the steps she took to navigate tough relationships, reset her own rules, and bring her whole authentic self to work. 

Guest Bio 

Sheilina Henry is the Group Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion for Bloomin' Brands, Inc. headquartered in Tampa, FL. She is committed to creating a diverse workforce in the restaurant industry at all levels, beyond the front lines. Her primary role is spearheading the strategic plan to create a culture of authenticity and genuine connections where over 65,000 team members feel valued without compromising their identities.

Starting as a server and spending decades in restaurant operations, Sheilina's career ascent has taken some unexpected turns, building her toolbox and expanding her network far beyond the Southside of Chicago where it all started.

Resources:

• Connect with Sheilina:
  • https://www.instagram.com/cloudwalker718/ ;
  • https://www.facebook.com/sheilina.stingley/;
  • https://twitter.com/SheilinaSting
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilina-henry-07036617/

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Learn more about Laura’s consulting work at http://knightsconsultinggroup.com

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

“Seventy-five percent of all physical diseases are linked to unhealthy emotions.”

Thank you for joining me on another episode of Black Woman Leading. In today’s episode, we will be joined by Dr. Napatia Gettings to discuss the mind-body wellness connection. As western medicine has made a clear division in how we talk about mental and physical health; Dr. Gettings stresses that we must get back to an integrated approach because what impacts us emotionally also impacts us physically and vice versa.

Dr. Gettings breaks down the emotion-disease link and walks us through how chronic stress can manifest as a physical disease in the body. From how cannabis can be used to support mental health, to a walk-through of the major systems of the body, to insights on how to take proactive steps to prevent dementia; Dr. Gettings provides a short master class on the mind-body connection! 

Dr. Gettings shares her personal why and how growing up in an abusive household sparked her passion for claiming her own holistic wellness and helping others to do the same.  We discuss tips to resist “grind culture” and standing in your power and self-agency to check yourself and assess your overall health. Tune in. There is so much powerful information in this episode!

Guest Bio

Dr. Napatia T. Gettings understands that we are all a product of our collective experiences, biological predispositions, and nurturing process. Dr. Gettings has a wide array of clinical and leadership experience that solidifies her expertise in the field of Psychiatry. Her passion for holistic health and wellness includes educating her audience about preventative medicine and integrated wellness. Dr. Gettings' practice within the field of psychiatry includes advocacy, legislative policy, mental health awareness, and patient education. 

Dr. Gettings’ mission as a medical doctor specializing in Psychiatry is to bring brain health awareness to the mainstream and dismantle the misconceptions associated with it. As a brain health expert, she advocates for the safe usage of Cannabis as a plant-based treatment modality for brain health conditions. Dr. Gettings is an active member of The American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and holds double board certifications in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and four children. She is currently practicing at The Broward Community Family Health Center where she is the only psychiatrist serving many patients with chronic mental illness. She is licensed to practice medicine in Illinois, Florida, and California. 

She is the founder and medical director of Clarion Conscience LLC, a Telehealth private practice providing mental health treatment across the nation to those in need. Her clinical work has been featured in many publications and media outlets. Through preventative medicine and education, Dr. Gettings helps her audience make the conscious decision to preserve their health.

Resources:

• Visit Dr. Napatia Gettings website at www.drgettings.com 
• Find Dr. Gettings on all social media platforms
• Find a therapist: psychologytoday.com
• Find a Black woman therapist:  https://therapyforblackgirls.com/
• Instagram account referenced by Laura: @thenapministry 

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

In today’s episode, we are joined by Know Full Well Founder, Ashleah Nelson! We are talking about a joy and pleasure-based approach to holistic wellness for Black women. 

Ashleah Nelson is a wellness coach and educator dedicated to shifting wellness inward. Her approach is informed by her experiences as a social worker and sexual health advocate- prioritizing intuitive knowledge, body respect, and pleasure. Through individual coaching and weight-neutral fitness, Ashleah helps Black women reconnect with their intuition in order to nourish a full life.

In this insightful episode, we discuss Ashleah’s personal journey towards centering pleasure in her self-care practices.  Ashleah, like many of us, felt the pressure to be healthy by being restrictive in her wellness practices.  Things like over-exercising, counting every single calorie, and eating one too many quinoa bowls to be “healthy”  became her norm (she doesn’t even like quinoa!).  She was doing all the things, but she didn’t feel good about it. She began to question her approach, and this led her on a quest to prioritize practices that contributed positively to her health AND brought more joy into her life.  

Ashleah challenges us to shift from a mindset of lack to abundance and embark on this pleasure-based journey as well. We discuss how to examine and create new “rules” for yourself, tips for being more connected and present in your body, and her insights on how to create intentional joy practices in your daily life.  

Resources:

• Visit Ashleah’s website at www.knowfullwell.co
• You can also find her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/knowfullwell.co/ 

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

When was the last time you took a moment to create a vision for the career and life you want?  This is a powerful exercise because we believe that you can be what you can SEE.  

Welcome to Episode 7 of Black Woman Leading, the podcast.

From creating your big vision, to assessing your strengths and weaknesses, to setting goals, building in self-care strategies, and celebrating successes (both big and small); in this episodes, Laura invites you to explore the possibilities of designing a professional journey that honors your gifts, contributions, and vision for the future. 

Get out a pen and paper and use this episode as a time of reflection as Laura 

 walks you through her seven-step Vision Mapping Framework to help you strengthen your sense of self-agency to direct your future growth and development.

Resources:

(Book) 12-Week Year by Brian Moran

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

Welcome to episode 6 of Black Woman Leading, the podcast.

Talking about money at work is uncomfortable for many people. The wage gap for Black women is well documented.  And although systemic racism and sexism is a key driver of this reality, we wanted to focus on empowerment in this episode and what is within our control when it comes to compensation and salary negotiations.

The guest expert for this episode is Yakentha Britton, the Founder of Level Career. Yakentha helps professionals land their dream jobs through resume editing, recruiting, salary negotiation, and employee relations support. 

Amongst other important points, Yakentha answers a commonly asked question: how do I negotiate compensation?

One of the most common scenarios when looking for a job is settling on a salary, and sometimes people tend to be underpaid because they don’t take the time to research. Yakentha explains the importance of investigating beforehand to support your negotiations, and she offers tips for how to do that effectively. 

Other key points discussed in this episode include how to respond when your requested salary amount is rejected, and why it’s important to take a pause before accepting a job offer to make sure it’s the right decision for you.  

Guest bio:

Yakentha Britton is the Founder of Level Career. She is passionate about supporting professionals that need help in advancing in their careers. With 10+ years’ experience in human resources and recruiting, Yakentha understands how to spotlight skills and accomplishments that attract top employers. She specializes in helping professionals land dream jobs through resume editing, recruiting, salary negotiation, and employee relation support. 

You can connect with Yakentha on her website,  Instagram, and LinkedIn.  

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher

Finding a job might be one of the most stressful experiences any human goes through. Interviews can be nerve-racking, and waiting for that second call is even worse. However, have you ever stopped and wondered if you are even waiting to get a call from a job you want? One that is actually good for you?

In today’s episode, I welcome Nakisha Hicks, a veteran HR executive who partners with women to guide them in their careers. From tactical strategies to mindset hacks, Nakisha shares a few tips to empower you to land a role in a reciprocal job search experience (because YOU are the prize!).  She provides insights to help you present yourself in the best way possible, while also assessing if the employer is a good fit for you.

Nakisha also shares a bit of her own experience and how she was able to network, focus on herself, and, most importantly, elevate herself. 

Guest bio:

Nakisha Hicks is the owner of The ElevateHer, LLC. She is a career coach and veteran HR executive who partners with women to guide them in their careers by assisting, equipping and strengthening them to discover their potential. Through her work at The ElevateHer, the women in which she serves have been able to recognize their professional value and worth, taking them from stuck and stalled to new and exciting heights in their careers.

Resources mentioned in episode:

To contact Nakisha, visit TheElevateHer.org. You can also reach out to her on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

Many times we feel out of place, unhappy, or unmotivated at work and in life because our values are not being honored, or they are being violated in some way.  If we haven’t taken the time to clarify and define what our values are, it’s hard to get to the root of our discomfort.  Getting in alignment with your values drives work and life satisfaction, and is critical for your self-care. 

Listen to this episode and follow along as Laura walks you through a values clarification exercise to help you get in alignment with YOU!

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

“If you are saying that you are a leader, that you listen to your team and you care about your team, that you want to be innovative and you want to be life-changing and culture-shifting, how can you be a leader and not have that inclusivity a part of it?”

The events of the last year have brought more visibility to Diversity-Equity-Inclusion practices in organizations. For some Black women, this increased visibility has come with increased emotional labor as they find themselves engaged in these conversations in the workplace.

On episode 4 of the Black Woman Leading podcast, I welcome Aisha DeBerry to share her take on how to navigate this based on her work as a DEI practitioner and inclusive leadership strategist.

Guest bio:

Aisha DeBerry is the Executive Director of Diversity and Community Partnerships for the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She pushes initiatives for equal access for diverse populations to pursue medical professions, such as developing strategic plans to enhance diversity from student admission, faculty recruitment, student faculty staff retention, and all things in between. 

Aisha is also the founder of ADJ Consulting, a consulting firm that provides diversity and inclusion strategies to include research, planning, training, and assessment. 

Resources mentioned in episode:

To contact Aisha, visit aishadeberry.com. You can also reach out to her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.  

You can also visit ADJ Consulting on this link. 

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

Welcome to the second episode of Black Woman Leading! In today’s episode, I am joined by Valeria Edmonds, who speaks about the importance of communicating in your workplace. We have the opportunity to discuss why you should always be your authentic self and how you can find your zone of genius. Valeria shares lessons learned on her journey to establish a positive personal brand and remain competitive in the workplace. She also expresses what she does to maintain the balance of head and heart we have all been looking for. 

Guest Bio

Over the last 30 years, Valeria has had various HR assignments across different divisions within ExxonMobil Corporation. She has worked primarily as a global HR business partner with change management, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, recruiting, and training expertise. Her current assignment to Qatar Petroleum in Doha allows her to leverage her experience by consulting on talent management processes. Valeria was recently appointed Head of Professional Development within their Human Capital division. In this role, Valeria is responsible for establishing processes and procedures to improve the technical capabilities of over 5000 professional staff. 

Valeria is a published author and certified leadership coach. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in leadership at Carolina University. Valeria now lives in Doha, Qatar, with her husband, Ricardo Sewell. They love to travel and experience different cultures. They have a blended family of five adult children who live in the USA. Valeria is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and on the Doha Chapter of the International Coaching Federation.

Resources mentioned in episode:

Valeria Edmons LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/akavaleria/

Masterful You Facebook Page- www.facebook.com/MasterfulYouCoachingService

Masterful You email - [email protected]

The9Percent Book Website - www.the9percent.com

The9Percent Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/The9Percent/

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher

Welcome to the Black Woman Leading Podcast!  This podcast is an extension of the Black Woman Leading learning experience.  My intention with this podcast is to provide validation, encouragement, and insight to support Black women on their journey to create the life and career you desire.  

We will tap into our collective wisdom, hear about other Black women leaders' journeys, and discuss the “heart” and head” work” required for you to grow in your leadership capacity.

Our episodes will have a holistic focus on three core areas -- leadership development, mental wellness, and relationship management. We’ll further discuss the three cores in both solo and guest episodes.

About Laura
Laura Knights is the Creator of Black Woman Leading™ and host of the podcast. She is an executive coach, speaker, facilitator, and licensed clinical social worker with 17+ years of experience creating personal and professional development programs that have touched leaders worldwide.

Her expertise and background in business, human resources, adult education, and social work uniquely equip her to teach others how to deal with both the "head work" and "heart work" required to succeed at work and in life.  She is the Founder and CEO of Knights Consulting LLC,  a leadership development consultancy that provides customized training and coaching programs to create more confident leaders and high-performing teams.

Laura has always been dedicated to supporting Black women to survive to thrive in their personal and professional endeavors. Black Woman Leading™ is the latest iteration of her efforts and a genuine passion project that combines all the best of her professional experiences and skills.

Learn more at blackwomanleading.com.

Credits:

Learn more about the Black Woman Leading™ learning experience at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher