Podcast
Revolutionary Leadership with Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown
Hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown · EN
Where Black Women's Stories Become Tomorrow's Blueprints.
Most leadership podcasts hand you inspiration. This one hands you infrastructure.
Revolutionary Leadership is a bi-weekly podcast for Black women leaders, the people who lead alongside them, and the organizations serious about change. Hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (Entrepreneur Books, August 2026), each episode goes inside the strategies Black women are using to transform Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, universities, and the creator economy.
Then we extract the Blueprint. Every episode pulls a usable framework from the conversation. Not a quote to post. A model you can run.
Season 1 features 16 episodes. Conversations already live include Leilani M. Brown on giant steps in revolutionary leadership, Lesley Batson on financial protection as leadership power, Monique Russell on communication as strategic power, Cheryl McDuffie James on the Formation Moments framework, Stephanie Medina on political intelligence in traditional institutions, Dr. Kerriann Peart on burnout as information, Dr. L. Zakiya Newland on the power of peace, Portia Allen-Kyle on saying no to your dream job, and Cerece Rennie Murphy on building platforms that did not exist for Black creators.
Upcoming Season 1 episodes include conversations on nervous system regulation as organizational infrastructure, leading institutions through crisis, the Translation Framework for federal workforce transitions, and integrating courage with wholeness.
New episodes drop every other Thursday through summer 2026.
If you are building power, transforming culture, or thinking about legacy, this is the show built for the work you are already doing.
Subscribe at revolutionarylead.com.
13episodes
Episodes
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Leave It Shattered: Chancellors Dr. Karrie G. Dixon on Crisis, Firsts, and the Pipeline We Build
2w ago00:49:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown sits down with Chancellor Dr. Karrie G. Dixon, the first woman to lead two UNC system public universities in North Carolina. Together, they explore the strategic realities of institutional turnaround and the distinct architecture required to revive organizations facing severe crisis. Chancellor Dixon shares how her extensive background in public education prepared her to step into high-stakes leadership roles and navigate the complex challenges of declining enrollment, public audits, and eroded trust. This conversation provides a blueprint for transformational leadership, emphasizing strategic clarity over reactionary chaos. Chancellor Dixon offers profound insights into the critical differences between mentorship and sponsorship, the realities of contract negotiation for women leaders, and the necessity of building an uncompromised team. By focusing on sustainable systems and student success, she demonstrates how Black women in leadership can break barriers, step out of the savior-scapegoat trap, and model exceptional governance while maintaining a thriving personal and family life. You'll Discover: Crisis Leadership as a Sequence: Why true organizational turnaround requires assessing, prioritizing, and executing strategic plans in a deliberate order rather than trying to fix every historical challenge simultaneously. The Distinction Between Mentors and Sponsors: How mentors advise across personal and professional landscapes, while sponsors actively champion your capabilities in the influential rooms where decisions are made. Team Building for Institutional Stability: The importance of surrounding yourself with diverse, transparent advisors who challenge your perspective, bring historic context, and create the kind of dialogue that strengthens the decisions you ultimately stand behind. Shifting From Resilience to Infrastructure: The strategic move from surviving systems not designed for you to deliberately redesigning them, and why shattering the glass ceiling only counts if you leave it shattered for the women who follow. Featured Voice Pauline Rogers, the founder and executive director of the RECH Foundation, shares how Dr. Kerry's leadership frameworks help advocates and executives navigate systemic challenges without internalizing them. She discusses the profound impact of processing leadership weight within a sacred community of Black women leaders, allowing professional advocates to establish firm boundaries, prevent burnout, and lead from a place of holistic wellness. Where to Find Chancellor Dixon Instagram & Facebook: @EagleInChief13 LinkedIn: Chancellor Dr. Karrie G. Dixon Institutional Profile: NCCU.edu Strategic Leadership Reflection This week, consider the organizational turnarounds you are guiding and how you are preparing yourself for future rooms of influence: TRUST: When taking on an unstable or fractured environment, what explicit steps are you taking to establish transparency and build collaborative goodwill with your community and your team? BOUNDARIES: As you evaluate your professional advancement, have you clearly delineated your career goals to strategic sponsors, and are you actively practicing the negotiation skills required to command your worth? HUMILITY: Are you attempting to carry the entire weight of structural transformation alone, or are you willing to admit what you do not know and rely on the diverse expertise of the team you have built? About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026). Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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The Ripple Effect: Building Wellness Infrastructure with Khiara Mills
4w ago00:33:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown sits down with Mills, the founder and therapist at Motivating Minds Mental Health Counseling. Together, they explore the transition from individual self-care to building wellness infrastructure that allows entire communities to thrive. Mills shares how her years as a school therapist revealed a critical ripple effect: when adults in high-stress environments are depleted, it directly impacts the wellness and behavior of the children and communities they serve. This conversation provides a blueprint for shifting from a founder's mindset to a CEO mindset, prioritizing sustainable systems over self-sacrifice. Mills offers clinical and lived insights into the necessity of nervous system regulation and the power of treating wellness as a foundational requirement for leadership rather than a luxury. By focusing on core value alignment and non-negotiables, she demonstrates how professionals in high-stress sectors can move beyond surface-level recovery to design a life where their healthier self is the standard for every decision. You'll Discover: Wellness as Infrastructure: Why true leadership requires moving beyond individual resilience to creating conditions and systems where everyone can show up whole. The 80/20 Rule of Transformation: The principle that while a guide can provide 20% of the tools and strategies, 80% of the progress comes from the leader's consistent implementation and accountability. The Power of Brain Spotting: An introduction to mind-body therapy that targets deeper brain regions where trauma and stress are stored, offering a more profound shift than traditional talk therapy. The CEO Mindset for Sustainability: How scaling impact requires leaders to step back, improve processes, and delegate effectively to protect their energy and avoid replicating burnout. Featured Voice: Dr. Angela Kennedy, principal and founder of Deeper Root Academy, shares how Dr. Kerry's focus on equity and fairness helps educators move from abstract theories to practical shifts in school culture. She discusses the importance of building trust as a foundation for learning and how honest conversations about bias and belonging prepare students to lead and collaborate in a diverse world. Where to Find Mills Instagram: @_motivatingmills | @motivatingmindsmhc Workshops & Cohorts: msha.ke/motivatingmills Strategic Leadership Reflection This week, consider the wellness infrastructure you are building and how you protect your capacity to lead: TRUST: What accountability systems have you built to ensure you are consistently using the tools in your professional toolbox, and who are you trusting to help you stay aligned? BOUNDARIES: If you were to audit what is currently on your plate, which one item is causing the most nervous system overload, and what is the first step toward delegating or removing it? HUMILITY: As a leader, are you modeling wellness for your team first, or are you inadvertently teaching them that self-sacrifice is the only way to achieve impact? About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026). Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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Not a Conference Call Trusting the Visions Only You Can See with
Apr 2300:40:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown sits down with Cerece Rennie Murphy, a best-selling science fiction author and the visionary founder of platforms like Virtuous Con and Narazu. Together, they explore the concept of imagination as a strategic infrastructure, discussing how Cerece transitioned from a demanding career in nonprofit development to building alternative systems for BIPOC creators. Cerece shares how a supernatural vision in 2010 launched her journey into speculative fiction and why she refused to wait for traditional publishing systems to validate her work or the audience she knew existed. This conversation offers a profound blueprint for building community-focused platforms that amplify excluded voices rather than just scaling a personal business. Cerece provides honest insights into the necessity of protecting creative spaces through rest and the power of asking for help early and often. By treating speculative fiction as a tool for innovation, she demonstrates how Black women can move from surviving within maligned narratives to designing expansive futures where their existence is the origin of validation. You'll Discover: The Difference Between Business and Platform: Why building a business focuses on the individual, while a platform is a revolutionary act designed to amplify community voices and solve the problem of discoverability for others. The "Not a Conference Call" Principle: The importance of discernment when sharing a vision; Cerece explains why your calling isn't meant for everyone to hear or hold, and why your own clarity is more important than external consensus. Innovation by Necessity: How speculative fiction serves as a training ground for leadership, allowing the descendants of those who "hoped in utter darkness" to imagine and then build systems that do not yet exist. Featured Voice: Olivia Denton Thomas, brand counselor and founder of Wintentional Development Company, shares how Dr. Kerry's "provocative peer pressure" helps leaders move beyond surface deliverables to understand where their talents are best used, ensuring they build the future without succumbing to burnout. Where to Find Cerece Rennie Murphy Website: cerecerenniemurphy.com Virtuous Con: virtuouscon.com Strategic Leadership Reflection This week, consider the infrastructure you are building and how you protect your capacity to lead: TRUST: What vision for your community or industry are you currently holding that no one else can see yet, and what is the first step toward making it tangible? BOUNDARIES: Where in your life are you overriding your body's signals for rest, and how would protecting your "creative space" change the quality of your leadership? HUMILITY: As you build your own platforms, are you opening doors for others to find their own space, even in areas that do not personally interest you. About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026). Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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When to Say No to Your Dream Job (And Why It's Strategy, Not Sacrifice) with Portia Allen-Kyle
Apr 900:40:23Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Portia Allen-Kyle, a civil rights attorney, strategist, and organizational architect whose work sits at the intersection of law, policy, race, and power. Together, they explore how Black women can move beyond navigating broken systems to actively redesigning them by using their intersectional identity as a strategic lens. But this isn't just theory — it's lived experience. Portia shares a powerful real-time example: the moment she turned down what most would call a "dream job" to protect her family, her book, and her clarity. What looks like sacrifice from the outside? It's actually strategy. Portia previously served as the interim executive director of Color Of Change and as a senior advisor in the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Transportation. She is the founder of FuturaBold, a consulting firm focused on equity-centered organizational alignment, and the author of the forthcoming book From Write-Offs to Riches: How Tax Policy Perpetuates the Racial Wealth Gap and Undermines Our Democracy. In this conversation, she offers a blueprint for building authentically Black organizations — not just through staffing, but through values and infrastructure — while sharing powerful personal insights on the necessity of strategic exits and the clarity of non-negotiables. You'll Discover: The Intersectional Strategic Lens: Why being a Black woman isn't a burden to manage — it's a vantage point that lets you see dynamics and read rooms in ways traditional frameworks ignore. Portia breaks down how to USE this advantage, not just carry it. What Breaks When You Copy: Why Black organizations that adopt white organizational models (especially "best practices" around vesting schedules, hierarchies, and performance metrics) end up causing more chaos and harm. Portia names what breaks — and what to build instead. The Power of "No": Portia shares the exact decision-making framework she used to turn down a prestigious role — and why the decision wasn't hard once she had clarity on her non-negotiables. This section alone is worth the listen. Strategic Exits: How to navigate leaving or declining opportunities in a way that honors integrity, manages the narrative, and protects your legacy. Portia gets honest about the emotional labor Black women do even in the exit — and why we can't leave like everyone else. Economic Power as Infrastructure: Why tax policy and the racial wealth gap are fundamental leadership and democracy problems that cannot be solved with individual "hustle" alone. Portia dismantles the myth of individual solutions for systemic problems. Featured Voice: Adureh Onyekwere, Senior Program Associate at the Vera Institute of Justice, shares how Dr. Kerry's leadership frameworks supported Black women prosecutors through identity-affirming strategy, collective wisdom, and sustainable leadership practices—transforming emotional labor into long-term organizational strength. Where to Find Portia Allen-Kyle Website: futuraboldllc.com Substack: Portia Allen-Kyle / Why Race Still Matters LinkedIn: Portia Allen-Kyle Social Media (X/Instagram): @MsPortia Strategic Leadership Reflection This week, sit with the contemplation of your own non-negotiables and strategic advantages: PERMISSION: Where in your leadership have you been waiting for permission to name your non-negotiables? ADVANTAGE: What would change in how you lead or what you say "yes" to if you decided your intersection was your greatest strategic advantage? LEGACY: What are you building today that the next generation of Black women leaders will be able to use as a blueprint? About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026). Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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The Power of Peace: Radical Self-Prioritization as Leadership Brilliance with Dr. Zakiya Newland
Mar 2600:46:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Dr. L. Zakiya Newland, a clinical social worker, educator, and mental health advocate with over 30 years of experience. Together, they explore the concept of radical self-prioritization—not as an indulgence, but as a clinically necessary strategy for sustainable leadership power. Dr. Newland is a Full Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Social Work at Molloy University, founder of LZN Consulting LLC, Convener of Black Family Summit Inc., and President of the Nassau Suffolk Association of Black Social Workers. She began her journey in Harlem, serving as a clinical social worker, community liaison, program developer, and mental health clinic administrator. She offers a clinical reframe of self-care—moving it from a luxury or reward to a strategic infrastructure —with frameworks that help Black women leaders move from depletion to sustainable brilliance, including how to recognize when you're overextended, set boundaries without guilt, and think strategically about the fullness of your leadership experiences. You'll Discover: The 4 A's Framework: A clinical process for moving from depletion to restoration—Acknowledge, Awareness, Action, Acceptance—applied to real scenarios when self-care feels "selfish." The "SAS" as a Signal: Why internal irritation and "salty" responses are biological signals of depletion, not personal failure. 8 Dimensions of Wellness: How Physical, Emotional, Social, Intellectual, Spiritual, Occupational, Environmental, and Financial health are interconnected—and which dimensions Black women leaders most neglect. The Fullness of Experiences Framework: How to extract strategic lessons from employment, volunteer work, and contracted roles to build your gifts, skills, and "overall fabulosity." Self-Care as Clinical Necessity: Why rest is strategic infrastructure, not a reward—and how to shift from "should do" to "clinically necessary." Peace as Strategic Positioning: How protecting your peace positions you for sustainable power, not something you earn after achievement. Community Over Google: Why Black-led mental health resources matter more than generic wellness advice—and specific platforms Dr. Newland recommends. Featured Book Dr. Newland highly recommends "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" by Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed clinical social worker, for its practical strategies and workbook. Featured Voice Lliane Cannon, a teacher and parent at Deep Root Academy, shares reflections on the impact of equity and fairness teach-ins. She describes how these supportive and intentional conversations create ripple effects, moving students and families from theory to real, actionable dialogue. Mrs. Cannon highlights how centering fairness and inclusion equips children with the tools to navigate the world with empathy and critical thinking. Where to Find Dr. Lisa Zakiya Newland Websites: blackfamilysummit.org | setupthewin.com Instagram: @Educate2ElevateCS LinkedIn: Lisa Zakiya Newland Strategic Leadership Reflection This week, identify one boundary you need to reinforce as strategic protection. Walk through the 4 A's: ACKNOWLEDGE: What is actually happening in this area of your life? AWARENESS: What is the cost of not setting this boundary? ACTION: What is one specific step you can take to reinforce it? ACCEPTANCE: Can you accept that protecting your peace is part of your leadership brilliance? About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026). Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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Burnout Is Information: Why Joy Is Your Strategic Leadership Edge with Dr. Kerriann Peart
Mar 1200:52:24Tap to summarizeIn this midpoint episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Dr. Kerriann Peart, an international leadership strategist and the founder of Peart Consulting LLC, for a profound exploration of burnout, cultural identity, and the radical reclamation of joy as a leadership necessity—not a luxury. With over 17 years of experience spanning nonprofit HIV/AIDS advocacy, healthcare, education, and corporate leadership, Dr. Kerriann brings a global perspective rooted in her Jamaican heritage and her current work in Barbados. After navigating three distinct cycles of burnout that led to severe self-disassociation, she transformed her approach to focus on emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, and embodied authenticity. Today, she serves as a part-time professor at the University of the West Indies and consults on regional health initiatives, helping Caribbean and Caribbean American women professionals lead with dignity, wholeness, and authentic presence. Together, Dr. Kerry and Dr. Kerriann examine how traditional leadership playbooks often reward depletion over sustainability, why joy is not something we earn after success but a form of intelligence that reshapes how we lead, and what becomes possible when Black women stop abandoning themselves to succeed. They discuss the "disassociation trap" of performing identities that are not our own, how returning to the body's wisdom acts as a catalyst for transformation, and why Caribbean women's excellence is often exploited rather than celebrated. You'll Discover: Burnout as a Systemic Signal: Understanding that exhaustion is often a sign of a system's incompatibility with your humanity rather than a personal weakness. Dr. Kerriann shares how three cycles of burnout taught her that "I am whole as I am, with my authenticity, given my heritage, identity, and cultural nuances." The Identity Performance Trap: Dr. Kerriann's powerful insight: "I didn't know I was Black until I moved to the United States." How navigating imposed racial identities in American corporate spaces creates specific burnout patterns for Caribbean and immigrant Black women. Joy as Self-Calibration, Not Indulgence: Moving beyond social media versions of "happiness" toward what Dr. Kerriann calls a "yummy space" of internal alignment and responsibility. Joy as a relaxed butterfly feeling—subtle but wholesome—that tells you when you're in authentic alignment. The Exploitation of Excellence: How Caribbean women's high standards and quality work are often misread as an opportunity to overextend and exploit rather than celebrate. "Because we do our work at a particular level and quality, people think that means pile everything on us." The Body's Wisdom - Womb and Gut Intelligence: Why listening to the "womb" and "gut" provides a level of truth that logic often misses, especially for women of the African diaspora. Dr. Kerriann: "My whole womb said no... I bypassed my gut." Heritage as Power Source: How reconnecting with heritage—whether Caribbean roots or more distant African ancestry—provides access to wisdom and practices that sustained our people through impossible conditions. The jihad concept: internal conflict between performing imposed identities versus living in authentic wholeness. The Ripple Effect of One Leader's Calibration: How one leader's shift toward sustainable brilliance and authentic presence creates a beacon of permission for the entire organization. When Black women lead from reclaimed joy, we don't just change how we work—we change what leadership makes possible. Where to Find Dr. Kerriann Peart Website: https://peartconsulting.org/home LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriannpeart/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.kerri_p/ Email: hello@peartconsulting.org Featured Voice District Attorney in Suburban Georgia shares reflections on working with Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown. She describes a unique process of drilling down into important issues with mindfulness and productivity, supported by Dr. Kerry's "keeping receipts" to ensure accountability to one's own promises. This District Attorney highlights how this relatable, confident guidance helps groups move from problem identification to being truly solutions-oriented. This Episode Includes a Strategic Leadership Reflection This episode includes a powerful reflection to help you move from burnout to calibration: ✓ Pause and ask: What actually feels good in my body right now, regardless of what "should" feel good? ✓ Identify one decision this week that can be guided by that feeling of alignment. ✓ Examine your leadership culture: Are you rewarding depletion and midnight emails, or supporting wholeness? ✓ Reframe your perspective: Is joy a reward for later, or the fuel that makes your current work possible? If this conversation spoke to you, share it with a leader or professional who is navigating the weight of performance and is ready to trade burnout for boundaries and authentic presence. Every Black woman leader deserves to know that joy isn't something we earn after we've depleted ourselves—it's the fuel that makes sustainable leadership possible. About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026). Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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The First Chair: Political Intelligence in Traditional Institutions with Stephanie Medina
Feb 2600:42:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Stephanie Medina, Court Administrator for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, for a powerful conversation about institutional leadership, equity in public systems, and what it means to steward justice with courage and clarity. With more than 14 years of service in the Maryland Judiciary—across both Baltimore City and Baltimore County—Stephanie made history in October 2022 as the first female and first person of color appointed to her role. From her early work as Program Coordinator for the Baltimore Criminal Justice Coordinating Council to serving internationally as Deputy Director General for the Belize Red Cross, Stephanie brings a global, systems-level perspective to leadership inside complex public institutions. Together, Dr. Kerry and Stephanie explore what it means to lead within legacy systems while advancing innovation, accountability, and cultural responsiveness. They examine the unseen labor of public sector leadership, the responsibility of building organizational climates where teams can thrive, and how representation at the highest levels reshapes what future leadership looks like. You'll Discover: Leading Inside the System: How to create forward movement within institutions bound by tradition, policy, and public scrutiny. Historic Leadership Moments: What it means to carry the weight—and opportunity—of being the first. Coalition Building as Political Intelligence: How trust relationships across committees, councils, and jurisdictions create solutions and strategic power. Public Service as Calling: How Stephanie's international and domestic leadership experiences inform her approach to systems change. Credentialed and Grounded: The role of professional development, including the Certified Court Executive designation, in strengthening institutional leadership. Featured Voice Diana Becton, District Attorney for Contra Costa County, California, shares reflections on the evolving role of prosecutors in advancing justice, equity, and community trust. As a leader who has consistently centered reform and accountability, DA Becton speaks to the importance of courageous public service and how cross-system collaboration strengthens outcomes for communities. This Episode Includes a Strategic Leadership Reflection A Political Intelligence Reflection to help you: ✓ Identify one organizational dynamic or decision-making process you don't fully understand ✓ Map formal and informal power structures ✓ Ask: Who really influences this? What unwritten rules govern it? ✓ Determine how a deeper understanding could create more equitable outcomes If this conversation resonated, share it with a public sector leader, administrator, or changemaker navigating the responsibility of leading within complex systems. About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, founder and CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women." Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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Formation Moments: Navigating Your Shift, Reset, or Detour with Cheryl McDuffie James
Feb 1200:55:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Cheryl McDuffie James, CEO and founder of Business Imaging, author, and trusted advisor to executives, for a powerful conversation on navigating the pivotal shifts that define a leadership journey. With a career spanning 20 years in Fortune 200 companies—including a trailblazing tenure as the first African American female exempt employee in Pepsi's finance group—Cheryl shares how she transitioned into entrepreneurship to help leaders show up authentically. Together, they dive into Cheryl's Formation Moments framework, a toolkit born from personal resilience and professional expertise designed to help Black women identify their current season and lead through it with intention. From managing systemic barriers to mastering the superpower of resilience, this episode provides the language and frameworks needed to turn obstacles into preparation for future vision. You'll Discover: The Formation Moments Framework: A breakdown of the three primary seasons of change: the Shift, the Reset, and the Detour. The Shift: How to recognize when it is time to turn away from one path to embrace a new, purpose-driven calling. The Reset: Navigating moments where the vision is right, but the timing requires you to tool up rather than surrender. The Detour: How to endure long-standing obstacles that are designed to shape your purpose, not force you to quit. Resilience as a Superpower: Why Black women's ability to recover quickly from adversity is a mastered skill and a strategic advantage. Leading Without Burnout: The critical need for leaders to examine if they are inadvertently creating cultures of exhaustion for millennial and Gen Z talent. Featured Voice Judy McCutcheon, founder of the Disruptive Leadership Conference and CEO of Go Blue Consulting, shares how Dr. Kerry's growth mindset sessions and strategic facilitation help international organizations move from avoidance to alignment. Judy reflects on Dr. Kerry's unique ability to create safe environments where leaders can challenge assumptions and handle complex human dynamics to achieve real, actionable outcomes. This episode includes a strategic leadership tool: Formation Moments Framework Diagnostic This tool helps you: ✓ Identify which of the three seasons (Shift, Reset, or Detour) you are currently navigating ✓ Determine the appropriate action steps based on actual reality rather than an external timeline ✓ Audit your resilience muscle and mental fitness to sustain long-term leadership ✓ Develop a 90-day action plan to move forward with clarity and intention Where to Find Cheryl McDuffie James Business Imaging: https://www.businessimaging.com Substack — Formation Moments: https://formationmoments.substack.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-mcduffie-james-mba-3944641/ Book: Evolving Eve: How Women Are Changing the Way We Love, Parent, Work, and Lead Referenced Books: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, founder and CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation. Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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The Strategic Voice: Transforming Communication Into Power w/ Monique Russell
Jan 2900:41:54Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Monique Russell, global communications expert, keynote speaker, and founder of Clear Communication Solutions, for a strategic and refreshing conversation on how Black women leaders convert communication barriers into platforms for power, clarity, and influence. With more than two decades of experience coaching executives across Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, and international organizations, Monique breaks down how communication, emotional intelligence, and narrative control shape the environments leaders must navigate, especially when their voices are undervalued, misinterpreted, or penalized. Together, Dr. Kerry and Monique explore why communication is not just about being articulate, but about being strategically heard, shaping narratives, influencing decision-making, and transforming environments that were not built with Black women in mind. You'll Discover: • Why misinterpretation is a sign communication is working, not failing. • The difference between sounding articulate and being strategically influential. • Why "just speak up" is harmful communication advice for Black women. • How to lead difficult conversations where emotions drive decisions. • Why structure and dialogue frameworks actually deepen relationships and equity. • How Black women can own their narrative without shrinking or self-editing. Featured Voice Karundi Williams, Executive Director of re:power, shares how Dr. Kerry's strategic leadership advising supported a multiracial organizational transformation led by a Black woman, and why culturally aligned leadership development matters for sustainability and impact. Karundi reflects on the emotional, political, and cultural complexity of leading through transformation, and underscores the importance of research-backed interventions and praxis that honors identity, power, and lived experience. This episode includes a strategic leadership tool: Voice Mapping Exercise This exercise helps you: ✓ Identify where your voice gets minimized ✓ Observe who gets heard and why ✓ Interrupt patterns that reinforce inequity ✓ Shift influence without shrinking or over-functioning Where to Find Monique Russell Clear Communication Solutions: https://clearcommunicationsolutions.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquerussell/ Podcast — Bridge to U: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bridge-to-u/id1525102010 Books: • Intentional Motherhood: Who Said It Would Be Easy? • The Ultimate Speaker's Guide About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, founder and CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation. Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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Why Financial Protection Is Leadership Power with Lesley Batson
Jan 1500:40:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown is joined by Leslie Batson, Founder & Chief Wealth Strategist at Rebel Rock Wealth and CEO of You Bet Your Assets! for a candid and clarifying conversation about why financial protection is a leadership imperative. Leslie brings 20 years of IT and business consulting experience to the world of financial strategy, pairing systems thinking with protection-first financial foundations that enable leaders to take bold risks without jeopardizing their stability or freedom. Together, Dr. Kerry and Leslie explore how financial unpreparedness can limit strategic leadership choices and how Black women, in particular, face heightened vulnerability due to layoffs, loss of healthcare, and gaps in insurance or savings that make strategic planning nearly impossible. You'll Discover: • Why financial protection is a leadership issue — not just a personal finance topic. • The three core pillars of financial protection every leader needs (liquid savings, income protection, life insurance). • How high income can mask financial fragility. • Why stock-first investing culture leaves out most of the fundamentals. • What to assess if you suspect instability in your organization. • How solopreneurs can protect both themselves and their business. Featured Voice Sherry Boston, District Attorney for the DeKalb County Judicial Circuit (GA), reflects on the importance of culturally aligned leadership development for Black women in high-impact public roles. Sherry describes how Black Women Lead created a sanctuary for Black women chief prosecutors to strategize, reset, and receive support tailored to the specific dynamics they face in systems not designed for them. She underscores how rare and transformative it is to receive facilitation that understands the cultural, political, and emotional realities of Black women leaders — and urges others to invest in such spaces. Financial Protection Resource for Listeners This episode includes an exclusive financial tool: Financial Protection Worksheet This worksheet helps you: ✓ Review your financial "vitals" ✓ Identify insurance & savings gaps before crisis hits ✓ Build a protection-first financial runway ✓ Strengthen your ability to make strategic decisions Download it here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/khfv23T/financialprotection Where to Find Leslie Batson Rebel Rock Wealth (Financial Strategy & Protection): rebelrockwealth.com You Bet Your Assets! (Business Financial Consulting): youbetyourassets.com Podcast: Rebel Rock Money Talk: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rebel-rock-money-talk/id1470903033 About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, founder and CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation. Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to navigate systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish. Connect with her here. Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode? Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: RevolutionaryLead.com ✉️: DrKerry@revolutionarylead.com LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/revolutionaryleadership Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production
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