In 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:

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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

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