Next Generation Leadership

Let’s get something straight: being promoted into a management role doesn't make you a leader. It gives you a title. The leadership part? That’s earned—through daily practice, reflection, and the courage to grow.

Last night, my son Shiloh had his “step-up” ceremony at high school. He’s a rising senior now, and this annual tradition marks a powerful transition: celebrating the graduating seniors while inviting the juniors to prepare for their final year.

In the middle of a cold front sweeping across much of the U.S., I welcome a warm morning breeze, wearing a lovely linen robe Michael bought for me at a pop-up stand on the beach, reading glasses from a trip to Tokyo, and sipping coffee brought to us by friends from Colombia. My life is busy and hectic, but free from worries about where my next meal will come from, whether or not I can afford to...

Last week I attended ColorComm, a conference for women of color in communications. It was hosted in the glamorous Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, FL. I was surrounded by breathtaking women from a variety of communications-related roles and representing organizations from McDonald’s and BET to Edelman and elected officials (can’t imagine being an elected official in Florida right now!). Presidents, ...

Managing group dynamics is part science, part art – and a lot of attention to detail for the facilitator. “Creating space,” “encouraging engagement,” and “being accountable” are all tall orders, especially for most group leaders, who aren’t trained facilitators but have responsibility for helping the groups they work with function effectively and inclusively.Norms are agreements established at...

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is all around us, and still a mystery to many. It’s difficult to know where it begins and ends, and what must be present to yield the desired results. Below is an un-checklist of what I consider to be essential ingredients for getting EDI right. None of them can be turned into a “check the box” activity or program, but each is necessary. 1. Philosophy We...

Simply put, your Big Rocks are your priorities. They are your mission-critical objectives, often focused on accomplishments within a given year. Establishing the 3 Big Rocks related to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in your organization will position you for clarity of commitment, efficient resource allocation and maximum impact. Rock 1: Lay a Solid Foundation EDI in most organizations has been...

The spotlight that EDI has received at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos reinforces something many of us already know: it is a priority issue that is top of mind for leaders across industries and the globe. Consistently highlighted is the need for investing and acting beyond surface-level programming–beginning with a “nuanced understanding of root causes”, according to the Lighthouse...