***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Ken Roper shares his journey from growing up in Pickens County to serving as County Administrator, where he leads the operations of Pickens County government. A lifelong public servant, attorney, former prosecutor, and municipal judge, Ken reflects on how early experiences in leadership, community, and service shaped the way he leads today.

Ken shares how his leadership journey began at a young age, from volunteering for school projects to being selected as a student council representative in fifth grade. He reflects on a powerful lesson from his youth: the difference between seeking recognition and truly serving others.

Throughout the conversation, Ken explores servant leadership, the importance of moving beyond ego, and why leadership is not a zero-sum game where one person’s success requires another person’s loss. He shares how finding common ground and creating solutions together allows communities to move forward.

Ken discusses his role as County Administrator and the responsibility of working alongside elected officials to turn community priorities into action. He shares why he finds purpose in public service and the opportunity to help solve challenges that directly impact residents’ lives. For Ken, leadership is about being a community partner and creating a place where people can thrive.

Ken also shares how he uses personal coins as reminders to stay grounded in his values and purpose. Each morning, he selects a coin that represents his intention for the day, using it as a reminder of how he wants to show up, lead, and respond to challenges. He shares the meaning behind his personal motto, “Fabula Vera Fit,” or “the story becomes true,” and how the stories we tell about ourselves and others shape the future we create.

As the conversation closes, Ken describes his leadership style as an Eastern Red Cedar tree: resilient, adaptable, and able to grow through difficult conditions. He reflects on how leadership is built through perseverance, intentionality, and continued growth.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- Ken’s journey from youth leadership experiences to county government leadership

- The difference between recognition and true service in leadership

- Why great leaders must move beyond ego and focus on the greater good

- How local government impacts communities every day

- Finding win-win solutions instead of viewing challenges as zero-sum

- The power of intentionality, personal values, and writing your own leadership story

- How small reminders, like a leadership coin, can shape your mindset and actions

***Guest Bio***

Ken Roper was born in Pickens, and is a graduate of Liberty High School (1987), Furman University (B.A. Political Science, 1991), and the University of South Carolina (J.D., 1994). He has previously served as Pickens County Attorney (2004-2019), Municipal Attorney (Six Mile, Norris, and Liberty), and Municipal Judge (Norris and Liberty). Roper served for seven years as a prosecutor in the state’s criminal courts, securing jury convictions in cases involving drug trafficking, armed robbery, and murder. As a member of the South Carolina Bar, Roper has lectured on the South Carolina Home Rule Act, civility in the practice of law and professionalism, and has served on both the State Bar’s Pro Bono Committee and the Ethics Advisory Committee.

He served on the Board of Directors for United Christian Ministries, the Liberty Chamber of Commerce, Easley Chamber of Commerce, and the Pickens Revitalization Association. In 2021 he was named an Appalachian Leadership Institute Fellow by the Appalachian Regional Commission. He is a member and past president of the Pickens Rotary Club and was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. He currently serves on the South Carolina Department of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs E911 Advisory Committee, Vice Chair of the National Association of Counties Resilient Counties Advisory Board, President of the South Carolina Association of Managers, Administrators, and Supervisors, and on the Government Law Section Board of the South Carolina Bar Association.

Roper was appointed as the County Administrator, the chief executive officer of the county government, by Pickens County Council in July 2019. As Administrator, Roper is tasked with carrying out the vision of County Council by executing their policies, directives and legislative actions, and he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Pickens County. He oversees the multiple divisions of our county government, with the exception of departments governed by elected officials and special districts, and he encourages collaboration between the various departments to best serve all our citizens.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

***About The Podcast***

From youth leadership to enduring community impact, Civically Grown highlights changemakers who have turned early civic action into meaningful legacies. A new episode is released monthly on YouTube and all major podcast platforms: https://civicallygrown.captivate.fm/.

#CivicallyGrown #Leadership #Pickens # CountyAdministrator #Intentions

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Paige Hughes Binfield shares her journey from growing up in a small rural town in upstate New York to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs. Paige reflects on how early opportunities through YMCA Youth and Government helped shape her confidence, leadership style, and commitment to public service.

Paige opens up about one of her earliest leadership disappointments, losing an election at age sixteen, and how that setback became one of the most important turning points in her life. Rather than allowing failure to define her, she learned to reflect, pivot, and return stronger, lessons that continue to shape how she leads today. She shares why resilience, humility, and the willingness to ask questions have become central to her leadership philosophy.

Throughout the conversation, Paige highlights the broader impact of the YMCA beyond gyms and sports, describing the organization as a convener, connector, and incubator for community. She discusses the YMCA’s role in shaping public policy around childcare, community health, and social connectedness, while also emphasizing the importance of financial assistance programs that made opportunities like Youth and Government accessible to her own family growing up.

Paige also reflects on navigating leadership as a young executive, helping others identify their “superpowers,” and why leadership is less about age or titles and more about consistency, relationships, and how you make people feel. Ultimately, she describes her leadership style as a plant: always growing, adaptable, and requiring care, reflection, and the right environment to thrive.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- Losing a major youth election at sixteen and how it shaped Paige’s resilience

- The leadership lessons learned through YMCA Youth and Government

- Why failure is often the foundation for growth and future success

- Helping people identify and articulate their “superpowers”

- The YMCA’s role in public policy, social connectedness, and community building

- Viewing leadership like a plant: adaptable, growing, and rooted in care and connection

***Guest Bio***

Paige Hughes Binfield is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs, serving 28 YMCAs and more than 120 facilities statewide. A proud product of the YMCA, she grew up in the Y’s afterschool program, summer camp, and Youth and Government, later serving as New York State Youth Governor and a Presiding Officer at the YMCA Conference on National Affairs.

Paige previously served as Director of Development for the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England, where she provided fundraising, communications, and strategic support across 25 YMCAs. She also spent five years with the Alliance of New York State YMCAs as the Director of Healthy Living, leading chronic disease prevention and management initiatives across 37 YMCAs and helping secure state funding for statewide programming.

Beyond the YMCA, Paige brings additional experience from the New York State Legislature, United Way of the Greater Capital Region, and the healthcare technology sector, grounding her work in public policy, community health, and nonprofit development.

A nationally recognized leader, Paige was named one of YMCA of the USA’s “30 Under 30” in 2021.

Paige holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from Manhattan College and an MBA in nonprofit management from Springfield College. She resides in Raleigh, NC with her two goldendoodles, Harry and Sonny.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

***About The Podcast***

From youth leadership to enduring community impact, Civically Grown highlights changemakers who have turned early civic action into meaningful legacies. Two new episodes are released each month on YouTube and all major podcast platforms: https://civicallygrown.captivate.fm/.

#CivicallyGrown #LeadershipDevelopment #YMCA #YouthInGovernment #NorthCarolinaAllianceofYMCAs

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Frank Clark, a board certified psychiatrist, poet, and author of six children's books, shares a leadership journey shaped by faith, vulnerability, and the courage to step outside expectations. Grounded in the dual anchors of scripture, "to whom much is given, much is required," and a core belief that true character is revealed in times of challenge, Dr. Clark reflects on how leadership isn't about titles but about tuning yourself, serving others, and redefining success on your own terms.

From early lessons in rhythm and collaboration as a young dancer in tap, ballet, and modern, to finding his voice in organized medicine, Dr. Clark traces how mentorship, therapy, and lived experience, including his own mental health journey, have made him a more compassionate and effective leader. He opens up about the pressure of climbing ladders built by others, the freedom of stepping down to build his own, and how saying "no" became essential to saying "yes" to creativity, family, and purpose.

Dr. Clark also shares powerful examples of leadership in action: modifying rigid clinical approaches to better serve patients with substance use disorders, and organizing a clothing drive for incarcerated individuals after discovering they lacked basic undergarments.

Ultimately, Dr. Clark names his leadership style as the bonsai tree, rooted in balance, harmony, resilience, and the quiet strength to bloom in every season.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• How early dance experience taught collaboration, patience, and being in rhythm with others
• Why Dr. Clark believes everyone needs therapy, and how it helped him lead more authentically
• Shifting from rigid clinical care to individualized treatment
• Launching a clothing and undergarment drive for the incarcerated population
• The danger of climbing ladders defined by others and the freedom of building your own
• What it means to “climb down the ladder” and still thrive
• Legacy as “spreading the joy of creativity”

***Guest Bio***

Dr. Frank Alexander Clark is a board-certified adult outpatient psychiatrist at Prisma Health–Upstate. He also serves as a clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine–Greenville.

Dr. Clark received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Monmouth College in Illinois and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Northwestern University. He then completed his residency in general psychiatry at Palmetto Richland Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.

In addition to his psychiatric practice, Dr. Clark has held many leadership positions in local and national organizations, including the South Carolina Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Psychiatric Association (APA). He is a member of the American College of Psychiatrists and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Clark is believed to be the first Black president of the Greenville County Medical Society.

Dr. Clark is a prolific poet who uses his creative work to provide a voice and raise awareness for issues related to mental health as well as diversity, inclusion, and belonging. He has collaborated with award-winning composers around the world who have set his poetry to music. His works have been performed by the South Carolina Philharmonic, the Wild Beautiful Orchestra, and the Rocky Mountain Chamber Choir.

He has also published six children’s books, including Positively Haiku: Illustrated Affirmations in 17 Syllables and Positively Haiku Part 2: Peace, Love, Discovery in 17 Syllables. These books introduce children to positive affirmations through haiku poetry.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

***About The Podcast***

From youth leadership to enduring community impact, Civically Grown highlights changemakers who have turned early civic action into meaningful legacies. Two new episodes are released each month on YouTube and all major podcast platforms: https://civicallygrown.captivate.fm/

#CivicallyGrown #LeadershipDevelopment #Psychiatry #Poetry #Dance #Purpose

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Jen Cruz shares a leadership journey rooted in service, resilience, and a deep commitment to community. An applied social epidemiologist and community organizer, Jen reflects on growing up in Wapato, Washington, a small town where leadership was less about titles and more about showing up for others.

Jen describes a leadership style fueled by persistence, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge systems that don’t serve people well. From participating in a service pageant that emphasized community involvement and purpose, to organizing a student protest around unsafe school travel conditions, to serving as student body president and team captain, her early experiences reveal how leadership often emerges in moments of necessity, visibility, and conviction.

Jen shares how her mother’s example of generosity and community care shaped her worldview, and how that legacy continued through teachers, coaches, and mentors after her mother’s passing. These influences grounded her belief that leadership is relational, collective, and rooted in accountability to others.

Now stepping directly into a senior leadership role after completing her PhD, Jen discusses the importance of “flexing” confidence while still growing into her leadership identity. She offers insight into building teams, cultivating partnerships, and navigating the complexity of public health work in real-world settings. Her approach emphasizes humility, collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose.

The conversation highlights the importance of knowing yourself, surrounding yourself with people who both support and challenge you, and leading with both confidence and care. Jen ultimately describes her leadership style as vibrant and resilient, like poppies, grounded in community and able to thrive wherever they are planted.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Growing up in Wapato, Washington, and how community shaped early leadership
• Organizing a student protest for safety and its lasting impact
• The influence of Jen’s mother and intergenerational community care
• Leadership through service, sports, and student government
• Transitioning quickly from PhD to senior leadership
• Building teams and partnerships in public health
• The mindset: “expect nothing, appreciate everything”
• What it means to “flex your confidence” in leadership

***Guest Bio***

Jen Cruz, PhD, MPH (she/her) is a community-centered researcher passionate about the intersection of public health and justice. She is an applied social epidemiologist with strong quantitative and qualitative skills. Jen has worked in differently-resourced settings in both the US and globally. Her approach to research and theory of change draws heavily from her experiences as a community organizer. She is dedicated to using her skills and positionality to amplify the strengths that already lie within communities and hold those in positions of power accountable for dismantling harmful systems of oppression.

Jen received her BS in Psychology from Seattle University, MPH in Global Health Epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and PhD in Population Health Sciences from Harvard University. She was also a Fulbright-Nehru Student Research grant recipient.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

***About The Podcast***

From youth leadership to enduring community impact, Civically Grown highlights changemakers who have turned early civic action into meaningful legacies. Two new episodes are released each month on YouTube and all major podcast platforms: https://civicallygrown.captivate.fm/.

#CivicallyGrown #YouthLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Wapato #SeniorLeadership

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Moryah Jackson shares her leadership journey shaped by resilience, service, and early opportunities to lead.

Now serving as Executive Director of Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity, Moryah reflects on growing up amid frequent moves, housing insecurity, and constant transition, and how those experiences built the adaptability and confidence she relies on today.

From student government beginning in third grade, to creating a service-learning walkathon as a teenager, to launching a multimillion-dollar corporate foundation during the pandemic, Moryah’s story highlights the long-term impact of youth leadership, mentorship, and agency.

This conversation explores how supportive adults, service learning, the arts, and being pushed to do hard things helped shape her leadership identity. Moryah also shares how she leads through uncertainty, invests in systems, builds healthy team culture, and prioritizes personal well-being alongside professional responsibility.

The episode closes with reflections on reading to apply learning, investing in yourself, supporting emerging leaders, and why Moryah sees her leadership style as a field of wildflowers: resilient, authentic, and rooted wherever they grow.

***Guest Bio***

Moryah Jackson, Executive Director, Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity:

From experiencing housing insecurity as a child to leading a mission-driven organization focused on affordable housing, Moryah Jackson has built a life centered on purpose, leadership, and compassion. In March 2025, she joined the Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity team as Executive Director. With a career that spans higher education, banking, corporate philanthropy and community development, Moryah brings a unique blend of strategy and heart to her work.

Prior to joining Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity, Moryah launched and led a $10 million corporate foundation, directed community engagement strategies across six Southeastern states and designed a Leadership Academy that graduated more than 80 emerging banking leaders. Her work reflects a common thread: bringing people together, building bridges across difference and creating pathways to opportunity.

As a first-generation college graduate, Moryah’s perspective is informed by her lived experience and academic background. She studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic as an undergraduate and completed a graduate fellowship in Maseru, Lesotho. Her global education expanded her understanding of cross-cultural leadership.

Moryah inspires others to lead with empathy, clarity and courage. She is passionate about cultivating cultures where people feel valued, wellbeing is a priority, and curiosity fuels innovation. A results-oriented leader with a growth mindset and a “let’s make this happen” attitude, Moryah brings both heart and discipline to her work. When she’s not working, you can usually find her on a soccer field, exploring a state park or browsing the shelves of a local bookstore.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

***About The Podcast***

From youth leadership to enduring community impact, Civically Grown highlights changemakers who have turned early civic action into meaningful legacies.

Two new episodes are released each month on YouTube and all major podcast platforms: https://civicallygrown.captivate.fm/.

#CivicallyGrown #YouthLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Resilience #Agency #MentorshipMatters #NonprofitLeadership

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss connects with Cathy Stevens, senior associate at the Riley Institute at Furman University, about leadership, preparation, and creating opportunities for young people through education and community partnerships.

Cathy reflects on her leadership journey and the lessons she has learned from working with leaders across the country. For more than a decade, she directed a national fellowship that supported advocates working to expand afterschool and summer learning programs in their states. Through this work, she collaborated with nearly 200 leaders representing all 50 states to help secure funding, build partnerships, and expand programs that give young people safe and enriching opportunities beyond the school day.

Throughout the conversation, Cathy highlights the importance of listening as a leader. She shares how creating space for every voice, even during brainstorming sessions that may not lead directly to action, can spark better ideas and strengthen teams. She also discusses the value of professionalism, preparation, and setting a tone that encourages collaboration and optimism.

Cathy opens up about a deeply personal source of courage in her life: her daughter Halle, who lived with a rare disease and faced profound medical challenges with remarkable strength and gentleness. Cathy describes how her daughter’s resilience continues to shape her leadership and reminds her to bring courage and compassion into difficult moments.

She closes with powerful advice for leaders at every stage of their careers: keep learning, prepare thoroughly, involve your team, and remember that the tone a leader sets shapes the culture for everyone.

When asked to describe her leadership style as a plant, Cathy chose a hardy palm tree, a symbol of strength and steadiness that stands firm when the winds get rough and helps shelter others in the storm.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• Why listening and honoring ideas strengthens teams and leadership

• How afterschool and summer learning programs expand opportunities for young people

• The role of partnerships, funding, and advocacy in advancing education initiatives

• Why professionalism and preparation still matter in leadership spaces

• How personal experiences can deepen courage and compassion in leadership

***Guest Bio***

Cathy Stevens is a senior associate with the Riley Institute at Furman University. In this role, she serves as an advisor to and representative of the Riley Institute with particular emphasis on the work of the Center for Education Policy and Leadership. She offers counsel to the directors of the Riley Institute’s afterschool and summer learning programs and facilitates connections among them and state and national individuals and organizations involved in afterschool and summer learning. She also serves as a member of the selection committee for the Diversity Leaders Initiative.

Prior to serving as senior associate, Stevens served as the director of afterschool and summer learning initiatives at the institute and was the director of the White-Riley-Peterson Afterschool Policy Fellowship for 11 years. She serves on the board of Family Connection of South Carolina and is a member of the advisory council for Prisma Health Children’s Hospital.

Stevens holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Furman University and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Clemson University.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

#CivicallyGrown #LeadershipDevelopment #AfterschoolPrograms #EducationLeadership #Courage

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss talks with David White, founder and CEO of Fostering Great Ideas, about leadership, dignity, and building movements that last. David shares how his teen experiences, from sharing meals with men experiencing homelessness to hearing that he was special, shaped his confidence, resilience, and willingness to take bold risks.

He reflects on his journey from corporate finance to foster care transformation. Today, the organization engages more than 150 volunteers and 20 staff members to support youth in foster care through mentorship, advocacy, and innovative community-based programs.

David emphasizes that foster care is a community effort. Biological parents, foster parents, siblings, mentors, volunteers, and neighbors all play a role in restoring dignity for children navigating trauma and instability.

Throughout the conversation, David addresses the realities of foster care. Youth enter care with belongings in trash bags, siblings are separated, young adults face homelessness, and some experience disproportionate vulnerability to trafficking. Yet he transforms these challenges into energy for building movements.

He closes with practical wisdom for aspiring movement builders: start with dignity, stay curious, recognize the specialness in yourself and others, build platforms that elevate people, and surround yourself with truth tellers.

When asked to describe his leadership style as a flower, David chose a rose, balancing strength, beauty, and vulnerability.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• How David’s teen experiences shaped his resilience and boldness

• Why transforming foster care takes community-centered thinking, not just programs

• Practical strategies for building movements that restore dignity and make lasting impact

• The power of mentorship and relationships in shaping young lives

• Turning personal experiences into collective action and meaningful change

Connect with Fostering Great Ideas at https://fgi4kids.org.

***Guest Bio***

David White holds an MBA in Corporate Finance and an MSW in Child Welfare. After spending 12 years working in corporate finance, he decided to pivot his career into serving individuals who are severely marginalized. He worked at two child-focused non-profit organizations prior to creating Fostering Great Ideas in 2011, an innovative organization serving children in foster care. https://fgi4kids.org/

David was an Adjunct Professor with Clemson University’s MBA in Entrepreneurship program for ten years. He taught Community Impact Entrepreneurship: bringing entrepreneurial spirit to difficult world problems.

David enjoys hiking, gardening, cycling, and spending time with his family. He can be reached at [email protected].

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

#CivicallyGrown #LeadershipDevelopment #FosterCare #FosterYouth #Dignity

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss sits down with China Terrell, commercial real estate developer, attorney, and founder of Peace.Legal, for a reflective and energizing conversation about leadership, faith, and the power of making your “next move.”

China learned early how to organize people, write proposals, and create events that brought others together at her church. As president of her youth group, she discovered a love for producing experiences, building teams, and stepping forward with ideas even before she fully understood where they might lead. Those early habits of initiative and creativity later became the foundation of her professional leadership style.

China recounts her work revitalizing communities through commercial real estate and describes a standout example of “scrappy” leadership that involved partnering with local police. By transforming an unused room into a welcoming comfort space for officers, she helped increase police presence, strengthen neighborhood safety, and build trust between the development and the community without the high cost of traditional security measures.

China also explores the ongoing nature of leadership with mistakes as part of the process, the importance of setting clear personal values, and the necessity of honest self-reflection and self-correction. For her, leadership is not an arrival point but a continuous journey of learning, adapting, and refining.

She closes with a vivid metaphor for her leadership style: a seed, small, full of life, and packed with possibility. Just as a seed grows, produces more seeds, and begins again, she believes leaders always carry the capacity to renew themselves and create new impact at any stage of life.

This episode is a reminder that leadership is about courage, reflection, and the willingness to keep planting new seeds, trusting that each next move can open the door to something better.

In this episode, you will hear about:

1. How early church leadership experiences built lifelong confidence and initiative
2. The motivating power of the phrase “you’re only as good as your last move”
3. Why faith and hope can be anchors in uncertain moments
4. Creative, low-cost innovation that strengthened relationships with police and improved community safety
5. The importance of values, reflection, and self-correction in leadership
6. A powerful metaphor of leadership as a seed full of endless potential

***Guest Bio***

China Terrell is a commercial real estate developer and attorney.

In 2025, Ms. Terrell, founded Peace.Legal, a law firm and economic development consultancy that champions businesses as a powerful force for building thriving communities.

Before opening her firm, Ms. Terrell served as CEO of American Communities Trust, a nonprofit focused on community revitalization through commercial real estate development. As CEO, Ms. Terrell assembled more than $24 Million in complex tax credit financing, loans, federal, state, and local funding and philanthropic dollars for economic development projects in East Baltimore.

Ms. Terrell is a recognized innovator in sustainable and equitable approaches to economic development. She was recognized in 2020 as one of The Baltimore Sun’s “Women to Watch” and since then has received awards from the Maryland and Baltimore Chapters of the American Institute of Architects for excellence in urban design.

Ms. Terrell graduated from The Johns Hopkins University with her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School magna cum laude with her Juris Doctor. She also has a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. Ms. Boak Terrell is a member of the bars of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

**Show Host**

Dr. Shaniece Criss

#CivicallyGrown #LeadershipDevelopment #PolicePartnerships #CommunityDevelopment #FaithAndLeadership

***This Episode***

In this episode of Civically Grown, Dr. Shaniece Criss sits down with Phyllis Johnson, president and co-founder of BD Imports and founder of the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about leadership, courage, and what it means to grow something over time.

Growing up as the youngest of eight in rural Arkansas, Phyllis learned early about collaboration, observation, and persistence. Those lessons stayed with her, from her teenage years navigating racial dynamics in her first job, to becoming a global coffee importer connecting producers in Africa and Latin America with roasters across the U.S., Canada, and beyond.

Phyllis shares how curiosity led her into an industry she did not initially understand, why saying yes has opened doors she could not have planned for, and how asking uncomfortable questions helped reveal stories that were hiding in plain sight. She reflects on decades of board service, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and why she does not always see herself as a “leader” even when others do.

The conversation also explores leadership later in life. Phyllis talks candidly about choice, joy, and approaching work with the mindset of “What challenges do we get to help solve today?”

She closes by describing her leadership style through a powerful metaphor: a monstera plant that started as a single stalk and, with time and care, grew to fill an entire room.

This episode is a reminder that leadership does not have to be loud to be transformative. Sometimes it starts with paying attention, asking one honest question, and staying committed long enough for growth to happen. In this episode, you will hear about:

1. How early life experiences shape lifelong leadership instincts
2. The power of observation and speaking up, even when it feels risky
3. What the coffee industry teaches us about global systems and relationships
4. Why saying yes can create opportunities you cannot predict
5. Leading across cultures with humility and curiosity
6. A beautiful metaphor for leadership as something nurtured over time

***Guest Bio***

Phyllis Johnson is President and Co-founder of BD Imports and Founder and Board Chair of the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE). Growing up as the youngest of eight in rural Arkansas, she learned the power of persistence and collaboration early on. Alongside her husband Patrick, she co-founded BD Imports, building relationships with coffee producers in Africa and Latin America and connecting them to specialty roasters across the U.S. and Canada.

With more than 25 years in the industry, Phyllis has become widely recognized for her commitment to advancing gender and racial equity in coffee. Through BD Imports, she has helped establish new opportunities for women and Black entrepreneurs in coffee, including the creation of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance chapters in East Africa and the Black Coffee Producers’ Program in Brazil.

Under her leadership, BD Imports has received awards such as Responsible Business of the Year and Diverse Supplier of the Year, while Phyllis herself has been honored with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Barbara Jordan Award for Women’s Leadership and recognition as a YWCA Woman Business Owner of the Year. She has spoken at the United Nations and World Trade Organization, consistently advocating for equity and representation in the global coffee trade.

In 2020, Phyllis authored an open letter on racism in the U.S. coffee industry that led to the founding of the CCRE, a nonprofit dedicated to building racial equity and expanding opportunities for Black Americans in coffee. Under her leadership, the organization has launched scholarships, mentorship programs, and internships in partnership with major industry players, and in 2024 held its inaugural “First Sip” event at the Specialty Coffee Expo.

A published author, speaker, and advocate, Phyllis has served on numerous boards including the Specialty Coffee Association, Coffee Quality Institute, and International Women’s Coffee Alliance. She holds a degree in Microbiology from the University of Arkansas and a master’s in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. She lives in Georgia with her husband and three adult children.

***Show Host***

Dr. Shaniece Criss

What does fashion have to do with leadership, confidence, and community? More than you might think.

In this episode, Dr. Shaniece Criss connects with Leigh Ann Miller, Managing Partner at Mae New York, a luxury womenswear brand creating small batch, made to order pieces in the historic New York garment district.

Leigh Ann shares how early leadership experiences gave her the confidence to build what did not yet exist, why hearing “no” is rarely personal, and how fashion can help women feel seen, confident, and prepared for pivotal moments in their lives.

A powerful part of the conversation centers on choosing the right business partner. Leigh Ann explains why entering a partnership requires the same care, patience, and discernment as choosing a spouse, and how shared values, clear roles, and trust are essential to building a sustainable company. She reflects on how the right partnership can reduce stress, sharpen decision making, and ultimately strengthen leadership.

From launching a high school newsletter at 15 to selling a successful business and now co leading a fashion brand, this episode explores humility, responsibility, sustainability, and the long term impact of thoughtful leadership.

You’ll hear about:

1. Why “no” does not mean never
2. How early leadership builds lifelong confidence
3. Leading peers with humility and clarity
4. Why choosing the right business partner matters
5. How shared values shape strong partnerships
6. Fashion as identity, confidence, and community impact
7. Building a sustainable and values driven business

||||| Guest Bio |||||

Leigh Ann Miller is Managing Partner at Mae New York – a luxury womenswear collection devoted to creating small batch and made to order pieces in the historic New York garment district. Originally hailing from the vibrant culture of south Louisiana, Leigh Ann's journey led her to pursue her education at Wofford College in South Carolina. Falling in love with the Upstate, she made it her home and has been an integral part of the community ever since. After initially working in higher education, she embarked on a new path, earning her MBA from Clemson University and a certificate in Venture Finance from UC Berkeley. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Leigh Ann seized the opportunity to acquire an iconic women’s clothing storefront in Greenville, Pink Bee GVL, and infused it with her own vision and expertise. At Pink Bee GVL, Leigh Ann curated a distinctive collection of clothing, featuring legacy brands from both the US and abroad. After almost 4 years of successful growth of the Pink Bee brand, Leigh Ann sold and exited the business in June of 2024. In addition to her professional endeavors, Leigh Ann is deeply involved in community service and advocacy. She serves on the National Advisory Council of The Policy Circle and plays an active role in the planning and execution of two local charity balls. Furthermore, Leigh Ann volunteers her time and resources to support her local children's hospital Child Life Department and is a faithful donor to academic, athletic, and patient support causes.

||||| Show Host |||||

Dr. Shaniece Criss