1. What have you found most challenging as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise?

What has been most challenging and presented the most opportunity has been addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression that create barriers for staff and clients in reaching their full potential.

2. How did you become a CEO or executive of a large enterprise? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I am not a CEO. I'M currently a Director of Equity and Inclusion at a mental health non-profit in Michigan.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I wake up early at 4am and start my day with prayer, reflection, and exercise. I'm usually at work around 7/8am. Following work is usually spent with family.

4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

My most significant lesson(s) has been to remain humble, and to be a lifelong learner.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Lions Dont Need To Roar and How To New An Anti-Racist are 2 books that have had a great impact. Lions Don't Need To Roar was introduced to me by a friend early in my career as a new leader..The book conveys that real leadership is about influence and knowing who you are and what you stand for. How To Be An Anti-Racist I read about a year ago. It affirms that in fighting racial oppression , there is no such thing as "neutral".

6. How do you build leadership capacity in a large enterprise?

Capacity requires strategy, collaboration, and innovation.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise so far?

I remember spending some time with a manager who I used to supervise. We had some difficult conversations about the impact of actions vs. our intent. From that conversation we learned together to be strategic about the type of IMPACT we had as a team of leaders. Because its not about intent. We had to really intentionally cultivate our actions to have the impact we desired.