Ladies Leading Host Ava Thompson Greenwell is joined by her family members as she announces a new direction for the podcast. Can you say pause? You can use this link to listen (or relisten) to previous episodes.

Managing Editor Daschell Phillips works with a variety of writing genres – including the sacred and the secular.

Diversity, equity and inclusion, also known as DEI, are the buzz words in many workplaces. Corporate leader Stefanie Hicks breaks down what it means, why it's important in every industry and how to assess whether your companie's DEI plans are more than just talk.

Journalist Deborah Douglas has traveled many writing roads. This time, her journey has prompted her to write the first book to cover the offcial civil rights trail in the South.

Sheryl Lewis is the author of From the Kitchen Table: Words of Wisdom, Acts of Love, and Food for the Soul. She says her life has been deliciously full because of her love for family.

Surrenthia Parker is one of the first Black women orthopaedic surgeons in the U.S. She is listed as a pioneer in The History of Black Women in Orthopaedic Surgery website. Although still low, she says she is seeing progress as the number of Black women surgeons grows.

Taking the editorial helm of Essence Magazine has been a "pinch me" moment for Danielle Cadet. Like many who have ascended to high-profile positions in legacy media, she's juggling the pros and cons of social media.

Global Girls executive director and founder Marvinetta Penn wants Black girls to be the center of attention. For more than two decades, Penn has been building self esteem through the arts.

Have you always wanted to write a novel or a memoir? Publisher Julia Royston coaches would-be authors on how to succeed. This year she is celebrating 15 years in the publishing business. You can learn more about her offerings here.

Nathalie Loma wants to go global with her wedding and evening gown designs. She credits her seamstress mother for sewing into her a spirit of creativity. Take a look at her exquisite designs.

Today marks the official start of Black History month in the U.S. Marcia Walker-McWilliams, a black history baby, is all grown up now and taking the lead on teaching the public about the treasures of embracing Black history for survival.

Consignment shop owner Vivian Killebrew explains how "Stepping Out on Faith" tested her faith during the pandemic and what led her to full-time entrepreneurship.

Journalist turned author Lisa Frazier Page became a New York Times best selling author with The Pact in 2003. Since then she's been the ghost writer for several famous people, including mathematician Katherine Johnson of Hidden Figures fame and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. She explains what keeps her writing.…

Ninety-year-old Lillie Parsons gives us something to chew on this Thanksgiving. She talks turkey about the importance of good parenting and love for family.

If your voice is your money-maker, you know you can't make a living if you lose your voice. Nationally recognized voice and communications strategist Cathy Runnels provides tips on how to enhance and preserve your speaking voice regardless of age. Her company,Accent on Speech, provides services that help with delivery, dialect reduction and other i…

Nikitta Foston discusses how her journalism background serves her well in her new role as senior speechwriter for the American Medical Association and why she decided to launch her personal podcast, Pivotal Moment.

Dr. Hazel Glasper wants us to prioritize our dental health and understand that the mouth is the gateway to overall health. Listen to how she is influencing her industry through “Teach Me Dental,” a movement she founded to save lives..

Santrice Martin has just joined the c-suite as COO of the Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation. She shares the secret sauce on how to access money from foundations like hers and what it's like working for an organization whose primary job is to give money. Learn more by going to: https://ilchf.org/grantees-applicants/…

Now it's your turn to tell me your thoughts about The Ladies Leading Podcast. Go to https://ladiesleading.net/ to tell me what you think and make guest recommendations. Once you take the survey get a special code at the end and get your free e-book: Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News. It'll make for great summer reading.…

Lt. Cmdr. Brenda E. Robinson started flying planes in the Navy and then transitioned to commercial airlines. Now she's passing along her love for technology to the next generation.

Law Professor Joyce Hughes is one of the first Black women to earn tenure at a predominately white university. Her recent retirement brought both rejoicing and regrets.

Dr. Sharon Robinson talks about the crisis in the physician ranks and why it's now more important than ever to recruit and retain medical doctors of color.

Sonya Gilkey explains what it takes to follow your dream of being an inventor and an entrepreneur.

Lisa Matthews is only the second Black woman to ever lead one of the most prestigious journalism organizations in the world.

Jeri Bingham works to educate and celebrate introverts and those who want to better understand them. Where do you fit?

Psychologist Inger Burnett-Zeigler explores ways for Black women to recognize their unique trauma and seek emotional healing.

NBC Today Show Co-Host Sheinelle Jones has a new venture focused on a rarely-talked-about topic among Black women. Find out how she juggles a demanding career with family life and where she finds inspiration.

Katrina Adams started playing tennis at six years old and later rose to the highest level of the U.S. tennis governing body.

Wishing you well during this holiday season and sharing some exciting new programming for 2022.

Lenice Levy and her husband own a restaurant that’s doing more than just surviving. After two decades as black business owners, they know the secret sauce to the recipe of success.

Former NAACP Chair Roslyn McCallister Brook has taken on a new leadership role that allows her to use her civil rights activism background to influence diversity, equity and inclusion around the world.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Melynee Leftridge discusses why she loves her job and what she wishes more people knew about the legal system. The Atlanta resident explains what it’s like to run a political campaign and how her immediate family members support professional aspirations.

Jennifer Green is one of the few Black women in the U.S. to reach the top rungs of the corporate ladder at a Fortune 500 Company. As a vice president at Yum! Brands, she leverages a “servant” leadership style to help others like herself thrive. Learn what she thinks it takes for more Blacks and other people of color to thrive in corporate America.…

Attorney and Louisville City Councilwoman Jessica Green co-wrote Breonna’s Law to ban no-knock warrants after the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police. She talks about going on CNN to talk about the legislation right after giving birth and how she handled an egregious situation with a white male colleague. In addition, she founded a law f…

Covid- 19 researcher Dr. Jennifer Cunningham Erves studies black communities’ responses to the call for vaccinations. She explains how the corona virus vaccine was fast-tracked and why participation from more people of color in clinical trials is important to the future of medicine.

Welcome to the new season of Ladies Leading. Financial Technology leader Lauryn Nwankpa is charting a new path in the social impact space at Dave, a digital banking service. Learn how she leads and the strategies she uses to mentor, inspire and make time for herself. She recently became a board member of ChargerHelp!, a Black woman-owned ­­­­compan…

Hear an update on Ladies Leading, some exciting changes on the horizon and details on how to recommend a guest for the podcast.

In this fifth and final episode featuring the groundbreaking new book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News, we learn how the women featured make a difference in journalism. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell leads a discussion with several Northwestern University women students of color about the news managers' impact on coverage…

This fourth of five episodes focuses on the management careers of the women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Televisions News. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell and several Northwestern University women students of color discuss how the women leaders navigated suppression of self, the angry black wome…

This third of five episodes explores the newsroom experiences of the women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Television News. Author Ava Thompson Greenwell and several Northwestern University women students of color discuss the managers' experiences and responses to the various types of microaggres…

This second of five episodes provides a brief history of the pioneering journalism careers of black women news managers such as Ida B. Wells, Mary Shadd Cary and Charlotta Bass. These women laid the foundation for the management careers of the 40 women featured in the new groundbreaking book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Televisions …

This first of five episodes provides an introduction to the professional and personal lives of 40 women featured in the groundbreaking new book, Ladies Leading: The Black Women Who Control Televisions News. Key concepts such as FOMM (fear of making a mistake) and ITS (intellectual theft syndrome) are discussed by author Ava Thompson Greenwell and s…