Illustrating Leadership Lesson: Creating Opportunity
And connection really is the thread.
Eboné chose to highlight Madam C.J. Walker, an entrepreneur and community builder whose leadership continues to inspire her. What stood out most was not only Madam Walker’s business success, but the way she used that success to create opportunity for others.
She did not build only for herself.
She built with her community in mind.
Eboné shared how Madam C.J. Walker put her products in the hands of Black women across the country, giving them a path to financial opportunity. She listened to the women who worked with her. She gave back through scholarships and community support. She understood that leadership is not just about what we create, but who we lift as we create it.
That idea reminded me of something my mom used to say when I was little:
Leave the room better than you found it.
At the time, she probably meant the actual room. Pick up the pillow. Put things away. Notice what needs care.
But those words have become something much bigger for me.
Leave the relationship better.
Leave the conversation better.
Leave the leader better.
Leave the space better.
That is the kind of leadership Eboné brings into her work, too. Whether she is speaking about allyship, confidence, Black history, LGBTQ+ inclusion, or leadership, her goal is to help people feel more connected and more able to act.
Because authenticity is not just about being seen.
It is also about creating the conditions for other people to show up more fully, too.
As Eboné said near the end of our conversation: lead with authenticity.
It matters.
Connect with Eboné
Make sure you check out Eboné's website and go say hi on LinkedIn and Instagram!
Connect with Jessica
Learn more about how your host supports leaders by visiting her website...and definitely send a connection request on LinkedIn and let her know you listened to this podcast!
