In the third segment of the Women of Color with A Badge podcast series, we have in the guest chair Christa Williams. In this episode, some of the topics we discuss in this passionate conversation include community activism, supporting people's right to vote, why leadership is about service, how to build a personal brand to set yourself up for career success, her thoughts about how community leaders can build bridges to develop trusting relationships with law enforcement and her advice to women about how they can succeed in a male-dominated industry.

Christa Williams is a woman of color with pride and hope in South Carolina. She is passionate about her work to improve education and representation for the citizens of the state.

Christa is a candidate for the City of Columbia County Council for District 1. Her passion and dedication to improving the lives of the citizens in Columbia inspired her decision to run for political office.

She completed her Bachelor's and Masters's degree at Columbia College and she's a Doctor of Education Student at Northeastern University, Boston MA.

She is a commission officer for the SC Army National Guardsman and is a Captain for the SC Department of Corrections. As the President of The Rural SC-Project, her organization empowers underrepresented communities in S.C. She is a community activist who is dedicated to the citizens of South Carolina and helping the state become great for every citizen.


Questions I Asked During this Interview

• What inspired you to start The Rural SC Project?
• What impact did the verdict of George Floyd have on her?
• What are your thoughts about so many state legislatures passing laws that suppress the vote in our nation?
• How has your training from the SC National Guard and SC Dept. of Corrections prepared her to successfully lead The Rural SC-Project and achieve success as a Woman of Color with A Badge?
• What actions community leaders can take to develop trusting relationships with law enforcement communities?
• And so much more ...

What You'll Learn In This Episode

• Why she is so passionate about serving under-resourced communities
• The legal procedure law enforcement officers are supposed to take when it comes to restraining suspects
• The importance of educating yourself as a voter 
• How the culture of a law enforcement agency influences what is and isn't acceptable by leaders within the agency
• The importance of community leaders being aware of all the responsibilities of law enforcement officers
• Community leaders need to have discussions about mental health with citizens
• How communities can empower themselves to create the change they want to see in their community
• And so much more ...

I’m grateful for you and for your gracious time listening to the podcast. I always appreciate it if you can take a moment to rate, review, and share this show with anyone who could benefit!

Contact Christa

• The Rural SC Project
• Facebook
• Email: [email protected]

Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes |

Have you found yourself going through the motion more so since the start of the pandemic?

Have you noticed that you aren't able to focus as much as you use to?

Do you find yourself waking up in the mornings feeling tired and unsure why?

In this solo round,  host Jackie Capers-Brown shares her thoughts about the importance of acknowledging what you are feeling when you experience a disruption that changes how you are accustomed to "doing" life.

Jackie challenges listeners to consider what might happen if they don't take command of their lives within the scope of their control NOW as they navigate their approach to the pandemic or any other disruption they may be experiencing in life.

She shares why it's important to have a "compass" that helps us to direct our thoughts, feelings, and actions when we are faced with challenges and opportunities.

She suggests actions listeners can take to calm their "fight or flight" nervous system response when they feel danger, perceived or real in order to better manage their thoughts, feelings, and response to diverse situations amid a challenging time.

She invites listeners to take command of their life, own their power to trust themselves, be fearless, walk by faith, and show up in life with a dose of badassery toward creating new realities in life..

I’m grateful for you and for your gracious time listening to the podcast. I always appreciate it if you can take a moment to rate, review, and share this show with anyone who could benefit!

Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn | iHeartRadio

In the second segment of the Women of Color With a Badge Series, we have in the guest chair Chandra Cleveland.

Chandra is a highly decorated, distinguished degreed law enforcement veteran with more than 35 years of experience. She's a Certified Human Trafficking Investigator and Licensed Private Investigator. In addition,  she's an international speaker, media expert, educator/trainer, and consultant.

You're going to love her story of how she was inspired to pursue her law enforcement career. We discuss the community projects that she started to give the youth in our communities to keep our children on track and give them hope for a better future. You will hear the passion she has for young people and for women who are in abusive relationships and how her passion fuels her commitment towards these groups today.  And, you're going to be surprised about what she has to say about who is trafficking children now and why.

Questions I Asked In This Episode

• What is the theme song for your life and why?
• What is your superpower and how has it helped you to be successful as a law enforcement officer?
• How did your promotions inspire the women around you to pursue promotional opportunities in their agencies?
• What leadership traits did you consistently demonstrate to be successful?
• What are your thoughts and feelings about police reform in our nation?
• Why is it important for police officers to deescalate tense situations now more than ever?
• What inspired her to pursue a law enforcement career?
• What are some actions parents can take to help keep their children safe and prevent them from being trafficked?
• What are some tips you can give to women traveling alone?
• And more...

What You Learn In This Episode

• Why she prefers to play charades with her family than any other game
• The above the call of duty actions she's taken and continue to take to be of service to her local community
• The leadership trait that defined how she showed up to her work as a law enforcement officer
• What she means by WE the community gave police officers too much power
• Her thoughts about how police officers should handle interactions with people with mental health to drug intoxication
• Why I told her she needs a twin
• How a child can be trafficked and sent home every day
• How her law enforcement career prepared her for the work she does today
• And so much more... 

I’m grateful for you and for your gracious time listening to the podcast. I always appreciate it if you can take a moment to rate, review, and share this show with anyone who could benefit!

Contact Chandra

Website
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn


Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn |

In the first segment of the Women of Color with A Badge Podcast Series, Latisha Walker is in the guest chair. 

Latisha Walker is a wife, mother, and forward thinker who is committed to innovation, change, and providing solutions. As a retired law enforcement officer, she has served many communities throughout South Carolina. Latisha is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Tiffany Grant Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance through scholarships and grants and empowers students through educational resources and workshops.

 Latisha graduated from Claflin University with a B.A. in Sociology in 2009. . She has completed a plethora of specialized training such as human trafficking awareness, hostage negotiations, child sexual abuse, and leadership in public service, just to name a few. 

 Latisha made history as the first African American female investigator with the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office and the first African American female who was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the Alcohol Enforcement and Vice Services Unit with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. She also oversaw and supervised the division's first-ever human trafficking unit. Prior to joining SLED, Latisha was a supervisor in the Investigative Division and was the Director of Juvenile Services with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. While there, she implemented their first-ever youth mentoring program and dance company.

Questions I Asked In This Episode

·  Why did you start the Tiffany Grant Foundation?

· What inspired you at 23 to embark upon a law enforcement career?

· What is a common challenge women have to face as an officer in a male-dominated industry?

· What are your thoughts and feelings about the social justice movement taking place in our society?

· What are three traits of highly effective leaders?

· How can women officers help their male colleagues deescalate tense situations?

· How were you able to manage the grueling hours of law enforcement and the demands of your family?

· What was something you wish you had known at the start of your career?

· And so much more...

What You Will Learn In This Episode

· The impact The Tiffany Grant Foundation is having on the lives of future nurses and students from low resource communities

· The perceptions women officers have to overcome to succeed

· How gaining the respect of the community she served helped her to build trust

· Why it's important for  police officers need to have an understanding of diverse cultural mannerisms

· How her husband served as her rock during her career

· The advice she would give women interested in a law enforcement career

· Why she is optimistic about change

· And so much more

I’m grateful for you and for your gracious time listening to the podcast. I always appreciate it if you can take a moment to rate, review, and share this show with anyone who could benefit!

Contact Latisha

Website
Facebook

Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify |

In the fifth and last segment of the Level Up HER Leadership podcast series, we have a returning guest, Melissa Watson Ward in the guest chair.

In today's conversation, Melissa and I discuss her leadership journey to greatness, the lessons she's learned about facing conflict head-on, fear, managing our emotions, the impact of effective emotional intelligence skills to asking for constructive feedback from those you serve, and your squad of people who hold you accountable for doing what you say you're going to do, and what it takes for women leaders to build and sustain trust, take strategic risks, own their vision for change and how they can show up fully in their power to be agents for positive change.

Taking a leap of faith to chart a new path in her career led our guest Melissa N. Watson to become the Executive Director of  Emerge South Carolina. Emerge South Carolina is changing the face of politics by recruiting, training, and providing a powerful network for Democratic women who want to run for office. Melissa believes women leaders are the key to making our communities and our nation a better place.

Questions I Asked In This Episode

· What is your superpower and how has it helped you to navigate the disruption that has taken place because of Covid?

· How has your emotional intelligence skills played a role in your ability to remain calm under pressure?

· What turns you on about the work that you do?

· What are 3 traits great leaders demonstrate on a consistent basis?

· How can leaders develop & sustain trust with the people they serve?

· What has bee a failure you've experienced and how did you prevent it from derailing your great work?

· Why is it important for women to take strategic risks?

· What fear have you overcome to do your great work?

· Why is it important for women leaders to be adaptable to level up their success?

· And so much more...

What You Learn In This Episode

· How being organized in your thoughts and actions helps you to be calm in the midst of change and chaos

· The question that Melissa asks herself that helps to ground her and keep her focused on what's most important in the midst of a challenge

· Why it's important to acknowledge the truth of your emotions

· The lens we need to use to better manage our emotions

· The vision and mission of Emerge SC

· Key benefits to having women political leaders

· Why leaders need to be wiling to be uncomfortable to grow

· The positive impact a transparent leader has on her team

· The winning attitude you need to adopt to adapt to failure

· And so much more ...

 Contact Melissa Watson Ward

Website
LinkedIn

 Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn | iHeartRadio

In the fourth segment of the Level Up HER Leadership Podcast Series, we have Stacy Gregg in the guest chair. Stacy is one of the podcast's all-time favorite guests.

 In today's podcast conversation, Stacy and I discuss how women, especially black women can use their faith and personal power to create a corporate career that aligns with the best of who they are while at the same navigating common challenges and using the support of others to navigate new challenges to achieve career success.

Stacy Gregg, CPPO, CPPB is a passionate advocate for the public procurement profession.  As such, she works by a set of values and guiding principles, which include accountability, ethical practice, professionalism, and service.  All of which Stacy believes is true to who she should be as a woman of God.   As a procurement professional, she has the rare gift of being analytical and personable. She’s a woman whose faith serves as the foundation for her personal and professional values.

Questions I Asked

• What is procurement and why do you love it?
• What was your first job and what did you enjoy about it?
• What turns you on about your job?
• What are three traits great leaders demonstrate on a regular basis?
•  How can a leader rebuild trust?
•  What are some ways leaders can leverage their struggles from overcoming challenges to build confidence?
•  What is one tip you can share to help women remain cool under pressure?
• ·What are some things black women can do to increase the level of respect they experience in the workplace?
• What s perceived dishonesty and how does it negatively impact your leadership career?
•  What are some benefits black women gain from working in an inclusive workplace environment?
• And so much more...

Insights You Learn

• How our spirit provides us with a level of perception
• What influences people's perception of you as a leader
• Why she loves the podcast based on the Scrubs television show
• How a temp job led to her successful corporate career
• Thoughts about how she will use her experience when she retires in a few years
• Key lessons she learned about being a member of a team from her first job
•  How to use the basic principles of strength training towards the challenges you face as a leader
•  How supervisors and managers can create a trusting workplace environment
• The luxury Black women don't have in the workplace
• Self-talk and Proverbs 18:2
• The action she has started to take to be a better human
• And much more ...

Contact Stacy Gregg

National Institute of Government
LINKED
 

Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn | iHeartRadio

In the third segment of the Level Up HER Leadership Series, we have a returning guest to the show, Mary Lynn Young.

In today's podcast conversation, Mary and I discuss how women can use their faith to achieve leadership success while executing practical strategies to build up their teams, create high-performance cultures and inspire loyalty in the hearts of those we serve as leaders.

 Mary is a pastor at the Perpetual Praise Ministries located in Columbia, SC. She ministers with her husband Roy Young. Mary is a registered nurse and the business owner of an in-home health care service. She is a nurturer and builder of people with purpose, power, and praise.

Questions I Asked

• What was your first job and what did you love about it?
• What skills did you learn from your first job that you are applying to your work today?
• How do you manage the responsibilities of being a pastor and business owner?
• What is one reason why people lose trust in leaders?
• What are three traits that will help leaders build and maintain trust with those they serve?
• How does our self-talk affect our work performance?
• What are some ways women can improve their communication?
• Why it is important for leaders to generate genuine care towards those they serve?
• Why avoiding taking a stand often prevents women from achieving greater roles of responsibility?
• And so much more ...

Insights You'll Learn

• Why it's more important to be an example than a mouthpiece as a leader
• What it takes to create a culture of love
• The three things that everyone wants to feel from their leader
• The leadership approach that inspires loyalty and excellence from team members
• What leaders can do to retain employees
• The impact of having a "It's my way or the highway" mentality as a leader
• How being a jack of all trades creates feelings of incompetence which often leads to imposter syndrome
• And so much more ...

Contact Mary Young

Facebook

Music Credit:

Adobe Success

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn | iHeartRadio

In the second segment of the Level Up HER Leadership Podcast Series, we have in the guest chair, Morgan A. Wider. She’s the owner of Wider Style and the author of The Worthy Wardrobe.

This is Morgan's second time on the podcast. Today, we dive deeper into our conversation about building a wardrobe that reflects the best in a woman regardless of her body shape and size.  We discuss insights and strategies from her book The Worthy Wardrobe and how when women dress the body they have, they love the wardrobe they build.  

She loved and lost, she traveled, she learned, and she transformed. With a decade of leadership experience at major retail giants and an Economics degree from Georgetown under her belt, Wider opted to turn all of the things she learned along the bumpy road of life into a style consulting firm and has been living the entrepreneurial dream since.

When she’s not transforming lives through corporate Executive Presence workshops and closet revamps, she’s probably baking her late grandmother’s famous Jack Daniel’s pound cake—fearlessly and guilt-free after practicing what she preaches about self-love and body positivity.


Questions I Asked In This Episode

• What is your definition of worthy?
• What actions did her client Dana take when it came to her wardrobe that caused her to invisible and the actions she took to become more visible on her job?
• What are key benefits for women when they build a wardrobe that reflects their body now?
• What web of societal expectations create inner conflict within women when it comes to their wardrobe?
• How do women start to build a worthy wardrobe?
• How does her work as a stylist help women be who they are?
• How does building a wardrobe that matches our true self increases our executive presence and success?
• What are three traits highly effective leadership demonstrates on a consistent basis?
• What inspires her about her great work?
• and so much more...

Here's Some of What You Learn In This Episode

• Why she believes women's mind and body supports their unique message to shine in the world
• The paradigm shifts women have to make to embrace both their brains and beauty
• How a trip to Italy changed everything in her life
• The ways your wardrobe communicates your personal brand
• The practice she uses to manage the voice of her inner critic
• How making different choices about your wardrobe can literally change your life
• Her insights about how our self talk influences women's body image and wardrobe
• The importance of being authentic as a leader
• What is a moo 
• How another woman's affirmation can change how you see yourself and your body
• Body positivity insights
• and so much more...

Contact Morgan Wider

 Book

Website

 Morgan A. Wider

Personal Style Expert & Speaker

202-423-0316

 
Contact Jackie Capers-Brown
www.jackiecapersbrown.com

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify |

Today, in the guest chair is Linda S Husser. Linda Husser is the Bodacious Lifestyle Coach for Black women over 50 who are seeking to reinvent themselves and regret-proof their life. As a recovered statusquoholic, she understands how important it is to disrupt aging and not allow societal norms to dictate how the mature woman should march to the beat of her drum. She is the president of the self-empowerment and lifestyle brand Bodacious Black Woman.


Questions I Asked

• What is the last Audible book you listened to and what is one takeaway you gained from listening to it?
• What was her dream when she was younger about the woman she wanted to become?
• What was her first job, and what skills she learned on that job she uses today?
• What is your superpower?
• What inspired her to walk away from her 30-year career to become a lifestyle coach?
• How have you coped and thrived during the Covid pandemic?
• Why our self-talk is important to our success?
• What advice she would give to listeners who fear failure so they don't take steps to create the positive change they want to experience in life?
• What she's curious about now?
• What have you learned about yourself after taking the leap to become a business owner?
• And so much more...

In This Episode, You'll Learn

• Reasons why you should bet on yourself and give yourself the green light to live a regret-proof life at any age.
• You're not too old and it's not too late to be, do, and have all the things you want to experience in life.
• The importance of creating a space for people to be seen and heard and the benefits you gain from doing so in your life and career.
• When you have more years behind you than in front of you, it's important that you assess where you are and how it's going to help you experience more of what you desire in life.
• Why all of us need to rethink failure and rethink fear.
• How Thomas Edison provides us with a perfect example of rethinking failure.
• Three actions you can take to be the change you want to see in the world.
• The importance of GRIT
• and so much more

Contact Linda Husser

Website: www.lindashusser.com

Linked in: linkedin.com/in/lindashusser

Facebook: facebook.com/lindasusanhusser

Facebook Group: bodaciousblackwomen.com

Instagram: lindashusser

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn | iHeartRadio

Music Credit:

Success  - Adobe Music

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify |

Contact Jackie: www.jackiecapersbrown.com

Today, In the guest is Pastor Ralphielle Green. She says we need to stand up for what we say we stand for.

She's the CEO of Inclusive Early Child Care, LLC in Columbia, SC. She is an educator and advocate for special needs children and their families. Her non profit organization is for preschool children with Special Needs. She offers help to all parents of children with disabilities.

She has been volunteering at numerous agencies since high school, including  DJJ, nursing homes, CASA, OVS, Citizens Panel Review, YWCA, Sistercare, Family Connections, and Meals on Wheels. She was a mentor for Fort Gordan Cadets and a Girl School volunteer and Leader for 17 years. She won the 2016  Volunteer of the Year award over twenty-two counties in South Carolina. 

She attended Columbia Bible College but completed my Educational and Biblical degrees at Liberty University. I am an ordained minister through the Ecumenical Church of Columbia.

Most people know me to have a kind personality. I love working with people of all ages from multiple backgrounds.

As an SC Endeavors certified trainer. She trains child care professionals, helps parents advocate for their child, provides parents with support, resources, and help to find quality childcare. She conducts free parent training and offers parent help with IFSP, IEP, and 504 preparation.

Questions I Asked

• Why is volunteering one of your favorite pastime activities?
• Why is the Girl Scouts organization important to you?
• What is your superpower and how has it helped you to overcome challenges and succeed?
• What insights have you learned about yourself on your journey to greatness?
• Why is self-leadership important to achieving our goals?
• What does courage look and feel like to you?
• What are some stereotypes the public needs to dismantle when it comes to children and adults with disabilities?
• and so much more...

In This Episode, You'll Learn

• How her family supported her when she was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 15
• Why she feels her Lupus diagnosis was good for her and her family
• The impact she had as a Girl Scout Leader
• How her Lupus diagnosis helped her to be a better person
• How her ability to be objective helps her to connect with people and be less judgmental
• The benefits she's gained from being exposed to diverse people
• The betrayal that she needed to forgive herself for to move forward
• The role our personal integrity plays on the level of self-trust we have in ourselves
• and so much more...

Contact Ralphielle Green

Website
Facebook
LinkedIn

 

Subscribe to Podcast: Apple Itunes | Spotify | Amazon TuneIn | iHeartRadio

Music Credit:

Success  - Adobe Music

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