I have been climbing the corporate ladder for over twenty years. Making it to the top is no easy feat, especially for a Black woman in male centric industries like tech and sports & entertainment. Along the way I have learned so much about myself and what it means to be a leader. Leading and managing people are not necessarily one and the same, but the reality is that most corporate leaders are also people managers- it just comes with the territory in most organizational structures. People management takes real and constant effort. It is a skill and cultivating it begins with having your own personal set of core leadership values to serve as your moral compass on the journey. These are my core leadership values, forged through years of thought and introspection. What are yours?
Authenticity - I strive to “show up” and be
my best authentic self every day and
encourage others to do the same.
Integrity - I believe that trust is the most
valuable asset in a leader’s arsenal. I make
it my business to be the kind of person who
people can trust and believe in.
Humility - I believe that you never outgrow
your human responsibility to serve, listen
to, and respect others. True leaders hire
people with strengths that complement
their weaknesses, put their egos aside, and
work side-by-side with them to accomplish
amazing things.
Inclusivity – I believe that the success of
every organization requires the presence,
acceptance, and celebration of all people.
Servant Leadership – I believe that when
my team, my community, and my organization, I win. I make their
growth, success and development my
priority.
Adaptability – I believe that if you’re not
“growing,” you’re not “going.” I strive to
remain nimble and flexible to accept and
drive change for continuous growth.