How can women of colour break out of their comfort zones, embrace entrepreneurial journeys, and redefine success on their terms?

Join us for this inspiring episode with Neha Kirpalani, an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, Harvard Business Review writer, author, and DEI champion.

Neha shares her leadership journey, from investment banking to founding her marketing agency, driven by curiosity, passion, and the Japanese concept of Ikigai. She reflects on how aligning her work with joy and fulfillment helped her transition from a stable corporate career to entrepreneurship.

Neha emphasizes the importance of breaking out of comfort zones, embracing risk, and following one’s dreams despite fear and uncertainty. Drawing inspiration from Gully Boy and Shirley Chisholm’s iconic quote, "If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair," Neha discusses how self-trust, resilience and continuous learning have fueled her growth.

Together, we reflect on how critical it is to create your own space, advocate for yourself, negotiate pay and opportunities, and avoid self-rejection. Neha’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of breaking generational cycles, healing ancestral wounds, and redefining personal and professional success.

Embrace growth in your leadership journey by stepping into your power, trusting your instincts, and creating space for bold opportunities.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How can women of colour break free from societal expectations, heal from financial trauma, and lead with authenticity?

Join us in this transformative conversation with Lystra G. Sam, a social justice entrepreneur, community activist, and founder and managing director, Qmooniti Travel & Lifestyle.

Lystra shares her leadership journey, shaped by her upbringing in a Trinidadian household, challenges of assimilation and pivotal moments that helped her embrace her strengths. From dancing with Prince to travelling the world, Lystra's path highlights the importance of confidence, integrity, and breaking societal norms to lead authentically.

Lystra delves deep into the impact of money trauma on Black and Indigenous women and shares how the Trauma of Money program helped her heal and reshape her relationship with money. By addressing generational and systemic financial trauma, Lystra advocates for healthier money management, leadership growth, and businesses prioritizing well-being. She stresses that healing from trauma is crucial before achieving financial stability and leadership success.

Together, we reflect on how critical regulation of our nervous systems as women of colour is to heal trauma and break free from unhealthy financial and work patterns. By creating this ripple effect of healing within, trust, community building, and empowerment will be possible for future generations.

Embrace healing in your leadership journey by understanding your relationship to money, trusting your intuition and creating new habits. 

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How can women of colour break the cycle of burnout and realign their work with their life’s purpose while embracing authentic leadership?

Join us in this insightful conversation with Winnie Keji, leadership and management consultant.

Winnie shares her leadership journey, beginning as the eldest sibling and evolving through various stages of life. From her early roles as a class prefect and Sunday school leader to mentoring immigrant women and teenage girls, Winnie reflects on how leadership naturally chose her despite initial resistance. She emphasizes the crucial role of mentorship, self-discovery, and authenticity in her path.

Winnie opens up about her experience with burnout, describing how it manifested in phases, including chronic fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and behavioural changes. She highlights the unique challenges faced by racialized women, such as systemic pressures, racism, sexism, and cultural expectations. Key contributors to burnout, like overcompensation, code-switching, caregiving responsibilities, and financial burdens, are addressed, especially for women supporting extended families.

Together, we reflect on how breaking the burnout cycle requires a powerful act of self-love to rediscover joy and fulfillment, a journey that will look different for every woman of colour.

Prioritize yourself in your leadership journey with inspired action and gentle reminders of your worth and humanity.   

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How can women of colour break free from traditional career hierarchies and embrace their full potential as leaders?

Join us in this insightful conversation with Dr. Candy Ho, award-winning educator, consultant and entrepreneur.

Candy shares her leadership journey, masked by kindness, compassion and values-driven decisions, especially during challenging times. She discusses the limitations of the traditional career ladder and offers a refreshing perspective—viewing life and career as a constellation of roles.

Candy emphasizes balancing leadership, personal growth, and meaningful life choices to create a fulfilling career. Reflecting on her career shift from a tenure-track position to entrepreneurship, Candy highlights how the pandemic prompted her to prioritize authenticity, agency, and ambassadorship.

Together, we reflect on identity as a powerful source of truth and success for women of colour and consider how a shift in approach to leadership can impact future generations.

Celebrate breaking new ground in your leadership journey with new definitions, intentional decision-making and value alignment.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How can women of color overcome the isolation of being the "only one" in leadership and build strong, empowering communities together?

Join us in this heartfelt conversation with Shelley-Anne Vidal, founder of ACT by Vidal.

Shelley-Anne shares her journey of discovering her natural leadership abilities from a young age, driven by her “gift of the gab.” Her career as an author, coach, speaker, facilitator, and instructor has been shaped by her Trinidadian heritage and her experiences of living in Canada.

Shelley-Anne highlights the challenges of being one of the few women of color in leadership roles and how finding community helped her shed the feeling of being a "lone wolf." She offers powerful metaphors like the "unicorn" to illustrate the importance of self-awareness, releasing societal expectations, and finding like-minded individuals who uplift and re-energize.

Together, we dive into how breaking the cycle of isolation is critical to creating supportive communities where women of colour can be truly seen, celebrated, and nurtured into the leaders they aspire to be.

Reclaim your leadership journey with intentional choices, authenticity and community.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How can women of color break free from the suffocating superwoman schema and lead with well-being at the forefront?

Join us in this powerful conversation with Nataizya Mukwavi, founder of Black Women Connect Vancouver.

Nataizya vulnerably shares her own leadership journey, influenced by strong women and her father, and how her collaborative leadership style has evolved as her organization grows.

She opens up about the heavy toll living under the "superwoman" schema, sharing her experiences of hitting burnout after a severe car accident and taking on more leadership roles.

Together, we discuss the importance of setting boundaries, seeking therapy, and detaching self-worth from the constant drive to prove resilience. Nataizya shares the impact of finding supportive communities and how embracing relationships that uplift and empower you leads to more confidence and authenticity.

Deepen your journey toward leadership rooted in well-being, wholeness and community.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How can women of colour break free from oppressive leadership structures prioritizing performance over humanity?

Join us in this insightful conversation with Altagracia Montilla, Founder and CEO of A.M. Consulting.

Together, we dive into how women of color can break free from societal expectations and oppressive ways of leading. Altagracia shares her powerful leadership journey, rooted in her experiences as a strong South Bronx woman, and how starting her own business helped her realign with her values and vision.

She introduces "healing-centered leadership," which focuses on six principles: being asset-based, embracing vulnerability, building strong communities, deep reflection, being conflict brave, and fostering trust.

Throughout the discussion, we explore the importance of compassion, self-love, and intuition and how journaling and connecting with elders can deepen one’s relationship with self and ancestry.

Ignite your dream of a reimagined leadership from within.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

In the premiere of season two of Unspeakable Leadership, host Rohene Bouajram delves into the significance of rest, spirituality, and breaking generational cycles as women of color leaders.

As an immigrant and settler, she reflects on the deep connection to cultural roots and freedom, invoking the nostalgic sound of drums created by the late Zimbabwean artist Douglas Vambe.

This season focuses on the power of breaking cycles, healing ancestral wounds, reclaiming identity, and leading with authenticity. Join Rohene as she engages in inspiring conversations with women of color, exploring leadership, healing, and transformation.

You can learn more about Rohene on her website.

What is your pace?

Join us as we close the first season of Unspeakable Leadership with Rohene Bouajram, podcast host, through a walk down memory lane and a powerful reminder.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.

How do we lead in alignment and authenticity?

Join us in this conversation with Dr. Aftab Erfan, Executive Director of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Associate Member at SFU School of Public Policy, and a board member at the Vancouver Foundation.

Together, we delve into the complexities of dynamics through the lens of conflict and social justice movements. We explore tensions between grassroots activism and institutional power, noting that suspicion and mistrust interplay when women of colour enter leadership roles.

Aftab shares what brings fulfillment and purpose amidst societal pressures to stay true to herself. She highlights the importance of bridging the gap of understanding and dialogue between those in positions of influence and those advocating on the margins to effect transformational change.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in the episode, check out the show notes here.