Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry podcast and the President and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC providing consulting and training to companies and organizations in leadership, DEI, community and partnership development as well as CSR/philanthropic efforts. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Tulane University in the MPA program, a research affiliate at Antioch University, columnist for Texas Metro News and the author of 4 books including Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy, recently published by Baylor University Press.

Ten things I wish I knew by my 30s

1. The importance of establishing credit and finances

2. Time flies so make wise decisions…each decision is building a foundation

3. What you focus on, you’ll get more of

4. Realize when it’s time to leave a job, friendship or relationship

5. Expecting others to be something they are not

6. Love isn’t enough

7. No regrets…just lessons you learn from

8. A closed fist can’t get anything in it—be open to possibilities

9. Learn to give AND receive

10. Investing in your career is great but if you only build one area and fail to invest in the others, you are like the fencers I saw in high school—well developed on one side but weak and atrophied on the other—how are you building relationships, spiritually and emotionally, etc. You are more than what you do

11. Bonus: Build an emotional vocabulary—

Dr. Halima Leak Francis (She/Her) is the Founding Director and Professor of Practice of the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement Public Administration Program. Nationally accomplished, her career spanning more than 20 years has focused on strengthening capacity and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, higher education, and civic sector leadership. A dedicated community volunteer, she prioritizes advancing systematic equity and inclusion by supporting organizations that are committed to the same. Dr. Leak Francis holds a B.A. in English from Hampton University, an M.A in Sociology of Education and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from New York University.

Lorraine is an attorney and dedicated servant leader who has served in various capacities at federal, state, and local levels to help shape legislation and policy for the benefit of working people. While serving as a state legislator, Lorraine has been a tireless advocate on the issues that matter most including healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and justice reform, all while battling the pandemic and serving her constituents. For Over a Decade she has helped organize voter protection efforts, trained attorneys in election law, and played an important role in Major election law litigation efforts that led to court ordered Texas redistricting maps as well as stopped Texas from implementing Voter ID as drafted.

In Her free time, Lorraine has served fellow Texans in a Variety of capacities including service in Public Boards, and mentoring up and coming community organizers.

Lorraine earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas A&M University School of Law with an intellectual Property Concentration. Prior to Law School, Lorraine graduated from the University of North Texas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.

With over 14 years of thought leadership experience, Michelle Williams is a social impact and innovation strategist, empowering corporations and non-profit organizations to better define, execute and implement their impact, philanthropic and equity-centered goals. Michelle owns CODE 214, a social impact consulting firm dedicated to helping corporations and non-profit solidify their serviced based footprint. She is currently the Executive Director of Fintech In Action, a coalition of action-oriented corporations and individuals accelerating progress and inclusion of Black Professionals within the Industry. Prior to FIA, Michelle served as the Executive Director for the Dallas Entrepreneur Center ( The DEC Network), a non-profit organization, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start, build and grow their businesses through education, mentorship, advocacy and access to an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Overseeing The DEC Network's Southern Sector expansion, Michelle fundraised over $2.5 million and launched a cross-sector initiative across three strategic locations and oversaw a collaborative of the City of Dallas and 60+ business service Organizations.

Christine is a Business Growth Architect who guides small business owners to get from 0 to 8-Figures in Record Time, drawing from her experiences as an Attorney, Strategic Adviser, Serial Entrepreneur and C-Suite executive in 10 businesses, a professionally- licensed 100-Ton boat captain, while also helping Hundreds of clients on 5 continents to do the same. As a survivor of two category 5 hurricanes in two weeks being trapped alone in a wind coffin for almost 24 hours, and surviving the aftermath for months without electricity, running water and telecoms, Christine shares resilience and leadership strategies that helped her weather the storms in Life and Business, and with Her book, The Resilient Leader: Life-Changing Strategies to Overcome Today's Turmoil and Tomorrow's Uncertainty, available for Pre-Order.

After Completing her PhD. Leslie was hired as a staff psychologist for the Department Of Justice, in New York City and quickly became the Chief of Forensics. Leslie went on to become the Chief Psychologist and during the Clinton Presidency, which was strongly supportive of hiring women to assume government leadership positions. Her experience includes the Federal Witness Protection Program, interviewing, court-ordered psychological assessments, testifying. Leslie currently maintains an active practice working in many diverse settings including Department of State Employees and a consulting group focusing on improving employee morale within Fortune 500 companies.

Karen Mangia is a WSJ Best Selling Author and one of the most sought after thought leaders in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during her career. She is the author of four books: Success From Anywhere: Create Your Own Future of Work from the Inside Out (Wiley), Working from Home: Making the New Normal Work for You (Wiley), Listen Up! How to Tune in to customers and Turn Down the Noise (Wiley) and also Success with Less (Marie Press Street). A prolific blogger and sought-after media interview, she has been featured in Forbes and regularly contributes to Thrive Global, Authority Magazine and ZDNet.