In this intimate discussion, four alumni participants of the Black Woman Leading program (Tiffany McClinton, Jhmira Alexander, Tameka Patterson, and Nadia Simmons) share the stories of their growth in self-awareness as Black women leaders working in both corporate and non-profit spaces.

For the purposes of this episode, we use these definitions of self-awareness from this Harvard Business School article:

Internal self-awareness, represents how clearly we see our own values, passions, aspirations, fit with our environment, reactions (including thoughts, feelings, behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses), and impact on others. 

External self-awareness, means understanding how other people view us, in terms of those same factors listed above. 

The guests share their truths, their experience in the Black Woman Leading program, and the power of collective healing on their leadership journey.  Additionally, they provide insights on the obstacles they had to overcome and the supports they had to access to strengthen their self-awareness.

Tune in and find yourself in their stories as the universal themes of overcoming limiting mindsets, transforming negative self-talk, seeking community, showing vulnerability, redefining relationships, finding balance, and setting boundaries are explored in our conversation.

Guest Bios:

Tiffany McClinton

Tiffany McClinton is a Regional Sales Director for Dell Technologies. She is responsible for leading 7 Account Executives who deliver innovative and practical solutions to state and local government, higher educational institutions, and healthcare accounts in the Atlanta metro area.  She is considered a thought leader by advising customers on Dell’s strategic business and technology plans, as a result of her keen focus on driving internal processes to exceed customer’s expectations. She has spent 13 years  developing talent and creating an environment of inclusion and growth for her sales team. She thrives and is passionate about advocating for the advancement of women in the technology industry. Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn.

Jhmira Alexander

Jhmira Alexander is the President and Executive Director of Public Narrative (formerly Community Media Workshop). Jhmira is a trained journalist who is not only a storyteller but a strategist committed to improving community health and well-being through media and civic engagement. Under her leadership, Public Narrative uses storytelling to implement narrative change strategies related to public safety, health, and education. Connect with Jhmira on LinkedIn or on Instagram @jhmiralatrice

Tameka Patterson

Tameka Patterson is an advocate who is passionate about giving voice to the voiceless.  Tameka is currently the Social Services Department Manager at the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Literacy where she oversees case management, career transitions, and professional learning trainers.  She has over 12 years of experience working in social services across a variety of settings, which includes; case management, adult education, domestic violence, transitional housing, supporting pregnant and parenting teens, and early learning sectors.  As an agent of support and guidance, Tameka has extensive experience in developing communities of practice, designing service delivery models for professional development, implementing continuous improvement cycles that strengthens service delivery for diverse populations, and developing and deepening partnerships with community-based organizations and the City of Chicago.

Nadia Simmons 

Nadia is the Supervisor of Data Engineering at RELX. She has several years of professional experience in the Data & Technology field with a niche for research and investigation. She is also the passionate creator of a business designed specifically for motivating students to excel academically. Connect with Nadia @uniquelymeservices

Resources:

We are now enrolling for The Black Woman Leading™ learning experience that starts in August 2021.  Learn more at http://blackwomanleading.com/

Credits:

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

Email Laura: laura@knightsconsultinggroup.com

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

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

Podcast Music: Marshall Knights Music

Podcast Production: JourneyGurl Magic Productions

Graphics: Olayinka Ajibola

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