In 2014, I began a simple practice that became one of the most consistent rituals in my leadership journey. Each month, I shared three words – a short mantra to guide reflection, intention, and focus. Not long essays. Not complicated frameworks. Just three words. And somehow, that simplicity became powerful. Over time, it created
The Return of “These 3 Words”: A S.O.F.T. Leadership™ Practice for 2026 Read More »
April is a significant month for me. Because where others see separate observances…I see a leadership pipeline. April is: National Internship Awareness Month• Stress Awareness Month• Financial Literacy Month And at the intersection of all three is a conversation we are not having enough in leadership spaces. As a social work leader who has supervised
April is Much More Than My Birthday Month Read More »
People ask me why I named my framework S.O.F.T. Leadership™. Because “soft” isn’t what the world taught me to be. As an eldest daughter… The reliable one. The dependable one. As a social worker… Who experienced compassion fatigue and burnout. As a Black woman… Who inherited unfair societal limitations and cultural conditioning Softness didn’t feel
Why Is It Called S.O.F.T. Leadership™? Read More »
Sometimes the leader knows before the leader-in-the-making does. S.O.F.T. Leadership™ requires stewardship. Years ago, I hired a recent graduate for their first full-time role after completing an MPA. During the interview, they shared a bold goal: they wanted to help change the education system — including higher education. Their role included facilitating multiple weekly
S.O.F.T. Leadership™ Requires Stewardship Read More »
Nonprofit leaders, We all understand that donors and foundations want to see where their money is going. And truthfully? When we accept funding, we accept a level of access. But access should never come at the cost of program disruption, interrogation, or client exploitation. S.O.F.T. Leadership ™ requires ethical leadership and that is something different.
S.O.F.T. Leadership ™ Requires Ethical Leadership Read More »
March is Social Work Month and Women’s History Month. For most of my career, I focused on doing the work – not documenting it. I did my job well, because what else would I do? My work spoke for itself… just not always in rooms I wasn’t in. Over the years, I supervised diverse
31 Days of S.O.F.T. Leadership in Practice Read More »
As we close out Black History Month and near the start Women’s History Month and Social Work Month I’m reminded that I went into social work to become a leader and an entrepreneur. – Community Economic Development I went into social work to build and lead an intergenerational community connecting seniors and young people
Blending S.O.F.T. Leadership™ and Social Work Read More »
Innovation as S.O.F.T. Leadership™ in Action Black History isn’t just American history; Black History is innovation history. The infrastructure of modern life — transportation systems, medical advancements, communication technology, public safety, agriculture, and global computing — exists because Black innovators identified problems others overlooked and created solutions the world now depends on. Traffic signals.
Black History Month: 28 Black Inventors Who Shaped the Modern World Read More »
Self-love in leadership isn’t a feeling — it’s a practice. And in the context of S.O.F.T. Leadership™, it becomes the foundation for sustainable success, not just temporary relief. Why Self-Love Is a Leadership Competency We’ve spent decades learning that leadership is measured by output — hours logged, results delivered, battles survived. But what if
From Self-Love to Sustainable Succcess: Embodying the S.O.F.T. Leadership™ Way Read More »
February is often framed as a month of love— but rarely the kind women in leadership are taught to practice with themselves. For high-performing leaders, especially Women of Color, self-love has been mischaracterized as indulgence instead of infrastructure. But under S.O.F.T. Leadership™, self-love is essential. It is wise. It is protective. It
Self-Love, S.O.F.T. Leadership™, and Sustainable Success Read More »