In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Malaika Simmons, MS, reflects on what it means to trust yourself, stay aligned with your values, and lead with intention—even within systems that can pressure you to disconnect from who you are.

From navigating experiences of bias and self-doubt to helping others make values-aligned leadership decisions, Dr. Simmons shares how awareness, empathy, and alignment have shaped her life and work.

This conversation explores courage, identity, empathy, wellness, and what becomes possible when we stop trying to control everything and start responding intentionally to the moment in front of us.

Meet Malaika Simmons, MS ✨

Malaika Simmons is a researcher, experience designer, and CEO of Momentology Media, LLC, where she helps leaders and organizations build human-centered systems that sustain performance without overextension. With a background spanning healthcare, public health, and large-scale national initiatives, her work sits at the intersection of leadership, systems design, and human experience.

She is the creator of the Momentology™ Method, a human operating system for sustainable success, and the originator of Extraction Fatigue™—a pattern she identified in high-performing leaders where capability becomes the system's safety net. Malaika's work helps public health leaders and mission-driven professionals recognize where systems are unintentionally draining their people and redesign them for alignment, trust, and execution.

Conversation Highlights 🎙️

• The Momentology Method — Malaika introduces the human operating system she developed to help people lead with awareness, gratitude, expectance, and aligned action.
• Motherhood Changed Everything — She reflects on how becoming a mother taught her that control isn't the goal—how we respond to what's in front of us is what matters.
• Claiming Your Power — Malaika shares what it was like to navigate spaces where she was often the only person who looked like her, and why she refuses to let others define who she is.
• Everything Is Data — As a qualitative researcher, she explains why every experience offers information if we're willing to pay attention.
• Choosing Your Response — She explores the difference between reacting automatically and responding intentionally, and why that distinction can transform the way we lead.

"I will never let anyone change my mind about who I am." — Malaika Simmons, MS

Stay in Touch 🔗

With Malaika Simmons, MS

Malaika Simmons on LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malaikasimmons/

Momentology Media, LLC on LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/company/momentology-media/

Website ↗: https://momentologymedia.com/

Servant Leader Type Finder ↗: https://www.servantleadertype.com

With Dr. Kristi McClamroch

LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch

Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6

Speaking & Leadership Development 🤝

Dr. Kristi McClamroch partners with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and higher education organizations through keynote presentations, facilitated conversations, workshops, and leadership development experiences.

Her work explores courage, leadership, systems change, the conditions that shape decision-making, voice, well-being, and values-aligned action.

Whether you're planning a conference, retreat, leadership program, or organizational event, Courageous Public Health can help create meaningful conversations that inspire reflection, connection, and action.

To explore speaking or consulting opportunities, connect on LinkedIn ↗ or visit our website ↗.