Welcome to Intentional Conversations!

This week we were honored to be joined by Shayla Atkins for a powerful discussion on authenticity and what that really means, future-proofing for leaders, how to practically do that and why we all need more S.P.I.C.E.

🎧 Grab your headphones, hit play, and let the conversation begin!

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KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM SHAYLA:

• The future-ready leader and work is NOW. It is what we’re living in today.
• They’re changing the approach of soft skills to no longer soft, they’re necessary, but really elevating soft skills and a human centered approach.
• There is a myth with authenticity, it’s not how real you can be, it’s about being in alignment with your values and how you show up.
• Telling our brains that our natural selves are not enough and that makes a trauma response every time, that activates your fight / flight response.
• We have to know how to lead self before leading others.
• You'll get compliant teams, but not committed teams.
• Understanding resilience, but it isn’t resistance, these 2 are conflated. It is taking the time to sit and plan, be strategic and proactive and the 1st thing is taking a Stress Inventory.
• Stress inventory - what is activating stress? What is a high fatigue period? Is it cyclical in nature? Put proactive strategies in place, you can do it with yourself, your team, your organization.
• We aren’t going to power through until the rubber band pops, we’re going to stretch, power down, cool down, recover.
• On your teams, are you planning and anticipating change and disruption?
• WHAT IS S.P.I.C.E.? It’s a ROAD Map and a guide to ascension that is aligned and strategic in nature.
• S - Savvy (Black women are most educated women on the planet. We are not able to translate our biz education to biz outcomes.)
• P - Performance
• I - Image / Your authentic brand
• C - Communication
• E - Exposure
• Data should drive and inform strategies and leadership, often it is missing, even the maturation of the data. We get qualitative data daily... when you blend the quantitative / qualitative - that is what gives you the human approach.
• Level setting on perspective, we understand long term sustainability over short term gains.
• "If you cannot be who you are, where you are, change where you are, not who you are." Carolyn Wanger - Former CEO of Essence

🟣 CONNECT WITH SHAYLA:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayla-n-atkins

Website: www.theatkinsimpact.com

Book: Women Redefining Leadership With S.P.I.C.E.

Book: Black Women Lead With S.P.I.C.E.: Effective And Authentic Leadership Without Sacrificing Your Identity

🟣 CONNECT WITH NWC:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikawhite/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikacwhite?fref=ts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikacwhite/

NWC Website: https://nikawhite.com

🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

Looking for a speaker for your next keynote, workshop, continuing education or panel, Dr. Nika White is actively booking for Q4 and Q1 2026 events now!

CLICK HERE TO GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED: https://www.nikawhitespeaks.com/