Yaya has inspired global audiences on stage and on set since high school, with one guiding principle: to remain tenaciously true to herself, whatever the cost. As a female actor, single mother, and former model, she has faced both conscious and unconscious biases from all sides, yet has remained resolute in her determination to succeed. 

And her brilliance is not only limited to her prowess as one of the world's finest performing artists. She is also fluent in five languages, a university graduate, a devoted parent, a loyal friend, a role model to millions, and a perfectionist in her portrayals of the characters she embodies on screen. Her career accomplishments include acclaimed performances in "Take the Lead," "Ugly Betty," "Whitney," "The Butler," "Chicago Med," "All My Children," and "Our Kind Of People," to name but a few.

Join us in a conversation with Yaya as we explore how she has carved out a path of tenacious determination from Harlem to Los Angeles, and learn how she has remained true to herself, her son, and the world she loves, both on and off stage. 

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