Episode Overview

Summary: We are four Black CEOs, joining together to reflect on today’s political climate, focusing on race within leadership. Our views are our own. Listen and learn, as we share our experiences and different walks through life as we process and respond to the events of Black Lives Matter, and what it means to be a Black person and CEO in 2020. (A conversation that’s long overdue, wouldn’t you agree?) Let us know what you want to hear us talk about!

In this episode we discuss the following:

1:50 Taking private group conversations in the Black community and bringing them front and center for a public discussion

3:45 Black people have had the lack of luxury of separating personal and professional lives in how they can respond to issues of race….until now?

4:41 The importance of the historical context of us being minorities in CEO roles

8:30 Race, Reactions, and Leadership: “The grace and the space” to figure it out vs. the burden to lead or respond

22:10 It ain’t new: overdue outrage, and difference of reactions

31:05 Megaphone moment: Why we feel we are finally able to share our truth as Black people

35:55 - Why Now? Where did these huge diversity champions come from?

39:18 Ally-ship: What are best practices for Black people, White people, POC non-Black, in leadership?

55:48 - Being a leader in this moment no matter what your race is

Best quick quotes from the ep:

• "Grace and space"

• "Megaphone moment"

• "Why now?"

• "It ain’t new!"

• "Who did I need permission from to speak up?"

• "Get comfortable being uncomfortable"