Women of color executives are leading at the highest levels while carrying burdens that remain unseen and unspoken. Many navigate predominantly white institutions where they are expected to excel, outperform, and manage the emotional landscape of others—often at the expense of their own well-being. The constant vigilance required to read rooms, anticipate resistance, and diffuse tension drains the very leaders who were called to transform organizations, not simply endure them.

This BOLD Talk invites a powerful shift. Instead of asking women of color to be more resilient, it poses a more honest and necessary question: What systemic barriers are we no longer willing to normalize? True leadership development must address the intersections of race, gender, culture, and institutional power that create invisible obstacles for so many leaders.

Drawing on more than 30 years in higher education and experience as a former community college president and now executive coach, the speaker shares the realities she has witnessed and lived. These experiences led to the creation of the RISE UP™ Method, a transformative leadership framework designed to move women of color from survival mode into sustainable, embodied leadership excellence.

The RISE UP™ Method centers six pillars: Reclaim, Ignite, Sustain, Excavate, Uplift, and Progress. Together, they offer a roadmap for reclaiming power, setting courageous boundaries, and leading with clarity during times of change. This session also incorporates liberated mindfulness, demonstrating how presence and grounding can become strategic tools for leadership.

Participants will leave with an Ingat Ka / Take Care Micro Meditation—a simple daily practice to reset energy, protect well-being, and support more intentional leadership.