In this episode of Black Woman Leading, Laura is joined by Blessing Uchendu, licensed clinical social worker and somatic leadership coach, to explore what it means to reclaim your power through the body.

With over two decades of clinical experience, Blessing challenges a common assumption in leadership development—that growth is simply a mindset shift away. Instead, she introduces a deeper truth: your nervous system is shaping how you lead, how you respond, and how you experience the workplace.

Together, Laura and Blessing unpack the power of somatics, a body-based approach to awareness and healing, and why it is especially critical for Black women leaders. In environments where microaggressions, constant visibility, and systemic pressures are present, the body often carries what the mind has learned to push through.

Blessing reframes somatic work as a form of reclamation, a way for Black women to reconnect with their bodies, their boundaries, and their internal signals after years of conditioning that may have required disconnection for survival.

Through both clinical insight and real-world application, she shares how understanding and working with the nervous system can transform not only individual wellbeing, but also leadership effectiveness, team dynamics, and workplace culture.

Aligned with Season 8's theme Leaning Into Joy, this episode invites listeners to slow down, tune in, and consider how reconnecting with the body can unlock a more grounded, empowered, and sustainable way of leading.

About Blessing

Blessing Uchendu is a licensed clinical social worker and somatic leadership coach who's on a mission to change how we think about what makes a great leader. With over 20 years of clinical experience, she's done with the idea that better leadership is just a mindset shift away. Through her practice, Freshwater Counseling and Consulting, she partners with organizations to help leaders understand something most leadership development skips entirely: your nervous system is running the show. When you learn to work with it, everything changes — how you show up, how you connect, and how your team performs. Follow her on LinkedIn for her takes on somatic and nervous system-informed leadership at work.

Connect with Blessing

Website: https://www.freshwatercc.com/

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

BWL Resources:

• Join us at the 2026 Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference & Retreat. May 11-14, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Save your seat at www.BWLretreat.com

• Full podcast episodes are now on Youtube. Subscribe to the BWL channel today!

• Check out the BWL theme song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l68EqEJjXq0

• Check out the BWL line dance tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eui89AmJwUg

• Download the free Black Woman Leading Career Reset Kit - https://blackwomanleading.com/career-reset-kit/

Credits:

Learn about all Black Woman Leading® programs, resources, and events at www.blackwomanleading.com

Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/

Email Laura: [email protected]

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraeknights/

Follow BWL on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/blackwomanleading

Instagram: @blackwomanleading

Facebook: @blackwomanleading

Youtube: @blackwomanleading

Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights - https://marshallknights.com/

Graphics: Dara Adams

Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms:

• Apple Podcasts

• Spotify

• Stitcher

• iHeartRadio

• Audible

• Podbay