In 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:

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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