Voices of Leadership: Insights and Inspirations from Women Leaders

The Power of Vision and Action: Sadiqa Reynolds on Civil Rights, Leadership, Mental Health, and Community Transformation

• Bespoke Productions • Season 1 • Episode 27

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Today, we are joined by Sadiqa Reynolds, a remarkable civil rights leader, attorney, and former judge who has dedicated her career to championing mental health and advocating for access for all.

As a pioneer in various leadership roles, she has consistently broken barriers, becoming the first woman to hold significant positions throughout her career. Our conversation explores her experiences of being first and how those moments have influenced her approach to leadership and advocacy.

Her tenure at the Louisville Urban League is a testament to her dedication, having expanded the organization's reach and impact through strategic leadership. Transforming a contaminated site into a $53 million sports and learning center, she demonstrates a commitment to community transformation.

Highlighting the work of the Perception Institute, Sadiqa emphasizes changing narratives around race and inclusion, aspiring to a world where everyone belongs. Through candid reflections on the solidarity among women leaders and drawing inspiration from figures like Maya Angelou, Sadiqa urges future generations to pursue work that fuels their passion and commitment to justice.

Resources:
Louisville Urban League
Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center
Perception Institute

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Sadiqa:

But I'll tell you what I ran into some challenges that men probably would never have to deal with. I did not meet with the approval of some of the guys of any of both races, of all races. You know I found myself excluded sometimes, but I was so tough in that role really and to be honest I mean to be very honest I was so damn good they could not ignore me. So they had to deal with me and people who were not allies in the beginning became allies because they knew that I knew how to get things done.

Amy:

Welcome to Voices of Leadership, the podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women of the International Women's Forum. I'm your host, amy, and I'm inviting you on a journey through the minds of trailblazers. Today, we are joined by Sadiqa Reynolds, from Louisville, kentucky, a remarkable civil rights leader, attorney and former judge, who has dedicated her career to champion mental health and advocating for access for all. As a pioneer in various leadership roles, she has consistently broken barriers, becoming the first woman to hold significant positions throughout her career. In our conversation, we explore her experiences of being first and how those moments have influenced her approach to leadership and advocacy. One of my favorite stories is how Sadiqa was the driving force behind the track that Louisville built, which today is a $53 million state-of-the-art sports and learning center. Please enjoy Sadiqa Reynolds. Welcome, sadiqa, it's so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for being on the podcast.

Sadiqa:

It is so nice to meet you.

Amy:

Thank you for having me so much, for being on the podcast. It is so nice to meet you. Thank you for having me. You are such an accomplished woman. You are an attorney, a former judge, a CEO, a member of IWF and so much more. But before we get to all of that, I have a question. As I prepared for this interview and in the course of my research.

Sadiqa:

Did I see correctly that you attended the Democratic National Convention? I did. I did. Wow. What was that experience like? It was amazing. The energy was absolutely fabulous. The place was sold out. It was really standing room. Only Upstairs you could not find a seat. In fact, there was a little tension around seats in the space just because there were so many people there. I think they give out a number of passes and they expect some folks not to show up and in this case, everybody showed up. The lines were long, had to be there hours and hours beforehand to be able to get in. I mean, it was absolutely beautiful, it was amazing. It reminded you of just how strong our democracy is and how diverse our country is.

Amy:

It's amazing. I mean, I'm from Canada and we don't have political events at that scale, so to watch from afar is always so fascinating.

Sadiqa:

Yeah, understood, Understood. It was great. You would have loved the energy. I'm telling you.

Amy:

I would have it's fantastic.

Sadiqa:

Anybody who loves America would have loved the energy.

Amy:

All right, let's talk a little bit about you. Can you tell me how you got involved in IWF and can you tell us a little bit about your chapter?

Sadiqa:

Oh, absolutely. So. I'm in Louisville, kentucky, and I have been involved with IWF for I don't know, I'm going to say maybe four years. I think. I was recruited by one of the members and I thought yeah, this is an opportunity to engage with some other wonderful, smart businesswomen in my community and beyond. Why wouldn't I take it? And so we've got it. We've got a really strong chapter. In fact, right now we are organizing an event called Meeting the Women Leading in Bourbon, an event called Meeting the Women Leading in Bourbon. So we have this event coming up in November for IWF members only and their guests. So it's pretty exciting. I'm co-chairing that event with one of my colleagues in the organization, so it's really exciting.

Amy:

It does look like a fantastic event. It came across my email. Our chapter was invited and that's how we connected, but I just wish I could come. I can't, but it looks fantastic. It's going to be great.

Sadiqa:

Absolutely. We'll have to have something else to get you here.

Amy:

That's right.

Sadiqa:

I would love to visit, absolutely Please come to Horse Country, come taste our bourbon, come enjoy all the things we have here in Louisville, kentucky.

Amy:

I can do that. That'd be great. So you, like many women, have had many firsts. You were the first woman to serve as president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, the first African-American woman to clerk for the Kentucky Supreme Court and the first African-American to serve Kentucky as its inspector general. What were your experiences like of being first?

Sadiqa:

of being first Great question. In the case it's been different each time. Honestly, in the case of the Supreme Court, you know I had the opportunity to intern first for Chief Justice Stevens. That's the way he did it. He had an internship first and then if he liked you, if he felt like you were capable, then he'd hire you for his as a clerk and it was a wonderful experience. And also, you are very much aware, if you look at all the other clerks I mean the year I clerked there was no person of color anywhere to be found.

Sadiqa:

There was so much honor in being the first woman to hold that position, being the first woman to hold that position. Gary Payne, actually, who was a judge and who later became a judge, was the first person to actually clerk for the Kentucky Supreme Court, first Black person. But I was the first Black woman and you feel some pressure. You want to do a great job and I think that I did. I love my colleagues, they love me and we had just a wonderful experience. But you recognize every day, all day long, you are not just the first but you are the only. In that moment there was a Black man who cleaned the building. That was it. So it's interesting, I hadn't even thought about that for a long time. Being the first woman to run a civil rights organization here in Louisville, it was to me like not remarkable, but everyone else felt like it was remarkable. So you know, I owned it and I leaned into it. But really, because of the work, I think it was just such an important role and I was so proud to have it again.

Sadiqa:

But I'll tell you what I ran into some challenges that men probably would never have to deal with. I did not meet with the approval of some of the guys of both races, of all races. I found myself excluded sometimes, but I was so tough in that role really and to be honest I mean to be very honest I was so damn good. They could not ignore me, so they had to deal with me. I love it, so they had to deal with me. I love it. And people who were not allies in the beginning became allies because they knew that I knew how to get things done and people you have to respect that. You have to respect any person who can get things done.

Sadiqa:

And even you know, being Inspector General it was interesting because as Inspector General, you are law enforcement. I mean, I had a badge. People who work for me have badges. We had authority and yet they had not seen a black person in that role in Kentucky. And so I walked into a position where my two deputies were white, a white male and a white female, and the office did not have a lot of diversity and it was almost like my presence said to people no, we're open for business for everybody. And so we were really able to see people Black people and people of color be promoted, women be promoted, step up and lean into some of the work. So I really feel good about the work that I did.

Sadiqa:

I did not fire all the people who were there before me, like some people go into government and do. Actually, the same deputies who were in place when I got there remained in place even after I left. So, yes, it was a political appointment, but not always say this about state employees. I have to say this government employees in general have such a political appointment. And I always say this about state employees. I have to say this Government employees in general have such a bad reputation. Let me tell you something those folks worked so hard to get it right. They worked as hard as any human beings I've ever worked with. I have nothing but respect for my time as Inspector General in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the people I connected with.

Amy:

Wow, I'm so grateful that you shared that story, because I ask a lot of women on this podcast about firsts and it sounds like you navigated firsts extremely well and you're such a great example and it's great to get that story out there that it can be navigated with grace and toughness and success. So thank you, because it's not always the case.

Sadiqa:

No, thank you, and listen. Thank you for talking about the toughness, because I think sometimes that's the hard part for us is being known as tough. And you know, I don't know if anybody really wants that reputation and it isn't helpful. You know I don't know if anybody really wants that reputation and it isn't helpful. You know, for women men can be tough, but for women it's it's. It's a very different situation and I've had to embrace that. I've had to say, yeah, you know what I'm tough, I do not suffer fools and I told my kids now, when I die, don't let anybody get up at my funeral and say that, like they don't need to point out the obvious. People who know me know that Say something original, say something different. So, yeah, in order to be a leader, you have to be tough, particularly where you are the first or in places where, even though you have the title, people don't want you in the role and don't want to. You know, follow your vision.

Amy:

And so many of us have been through that and I've been called many of those things and other things. So you know, I'm glad we get to do it together and share our stories, because for me it's always nice to hear you're not alone too. Oh, absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, for sure. Now, you've spent most of your life advocating for access to all which you talked about a little bit. What does that phrase mean to you?

Sadiqa:

I really do want to live in a country where we all have access to the same things, where everyone really is in a position to live out the potential that God created them, for I think we don't always understand. You know, even as a Black woman, my experience is different than yours, right, as a white woman, but I still do have a level of privilege because I am Sadiqa Reynolds comma CEO, former judge, former inspector, general, former, all these other things and so I have a level of privilege. And the question for us is what do we do with the privilege that we have? Do we take it and benefit ourselves, or do we really use it in ways that help to improve our country, that help to improve our world? And for me, my life has been about helping everyone people who will never be invited into rooms that I have been able to enter to be able to speak for them, to be able to fight for them, to be able to raise issues that concern them, and understand that sometimes those issues aren't aligned with what is in my best interest, but that's not what it's about. I didn't get here to just do more for me. My goal is really to make the world a better place for my daughters and for their friends, and for young people that I don't even know, and for senior citizens that I don't know, because I think children and seniors are just forgotten all over this world. We don't honor them in the way that we should, and so, to me, justice should be equal. Access to health care should be available. You know all of the things, every little thing. My garbage issue costs me the same amount as it does someone in a poor zip code.

Sadiqa:

I don't understand why, when fair, I think our country needs to respond to things like redlining. If we know we have created situations where, you know we have laws and rules and policies that keep people from living in certain areas, we have to be intentional about correcting those things. That's why, you know, to be honest with you, this current attack in the US on DEI, you know, diversity, equity and inclusion. It concerns me deeply because there are so many wrongs that haven't been made right and we have people saying well, you know, I'm a white woman and I went on a campus, I went to a college campus and I see a black studies department, I see a gay rights center, but I don't see anything for white people, and you know our response has to be you went on a campus that's 84, 85, 90% white.

Sadiqa:

Everything about this campus is about whiteness. This is just a little space that people have carved out to help them have support so that they can be successful in this space that wasn't built for them. So Access for all to me really does mean you, it means me and everybody between us.

Amy:

Well, it's so admirable, and what little I've read about you. It seems like you've worked hard your entire life for this and that you've actually had some success, because during your tenure as president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, you dramatically increased both the company's budget and its assets. So what was your strategy in accomplishing that, and how did it affect the organization's ability to help people?

Sadiqa:

Oh, first of all, thank you for the question. The way it impacted the organization is we were able to hire more people, to do more work to touch more lives. The Urban League when I started, we had about a $2.6 million budget and when I left, I think it was around 17 million. We did that because we proved ourselves to be an organization that would stand and deliver. We proved ourselves not to be a divisive organization but to really be very, very good about speaking truth and being powerful and getting things done and serving people wherever they were saying to my team.

Sadiqa:

I don't really know exactly how this is going to impact us. I don't know if we can work. I don't know if we have to be around people. I don't know what's going to happen, but I knew we had to do something and we saw other nonprofit organizations closing their doors and kind of everybody going home and because of our status and stature in the community, instead of being allowed to go home, we had hospital officials calling to say we need you to open your doors to allow for COVID testing, we need you to go on the news and to take your vaccine because your community doesn't have a lot of trust and so we need you to do it, you know so people will trust us. I was like, okay, okay. First of all, I don't like needles in the first place, so this is a really huge ask. But I think what we were able to do was serve. People saw us serving. They knew, no matter the barrier, the Urban League was going to get it done, and that was in large part because of the team that we had there.

Sadiqa:

I had a wonderful, wonderful group of talented people who were so committed, and so when you do good work, people give because they trust that the work is happening, they trust that the people are being taken care of. So we focused on jobs, justice, education, health and housing, and so the budget just grew. But also, under my leadership, we built a $53 million sports and learning center, and we built that on land that had previously been contaminated by, you know, old runoff. There was an old tobacco plant there, and that tobacco manufacturing company has never donated any money yet, by the way, which is so frustrating to me, but anyway. So the land was contaminated for years. It just sat there more than 10 years and we won the right to develop the land, and to do that we had to raise a lot of money and there was an amazing outpouring of community support and love. There was an amazing outpouring of community support and love.

Sadiqa:

What I love most about that project is we crossed political lines. So we had Democrats and Republicans who said we support this and we're going to help, and so we. First, the first ten million dollars invested in the project came from government and we had a Democratic mayor, republican council members and Democratic council members. So I love that. And even in donating to the facility, we had people who were in the hospital, who lived in the community, and we have one woman who donated five dollars a month. And then we have people who could give three million, people who could give three million. So I always say that space that we built is where hope lives, like that's where hope always will be. And our community has suffered through COVID, like every other community in this world. Right, we suffered through Breonna Taylor, you know, and we continued to go on. And even where we really disagreed and we really had some really tough times, we still had one place where we were able to find agreement and we got that project done. So I'm really, really proud of that.

Amy:

You should be. I mean, that's pretty much the first thing I read about you when I saw you Really. I mean the Norton Sports and Learning thing. I read about you when I saw you Really. I mean the Norton Sports and Learning Center. It's such a heartwarming story. It was so inspiring just to read about it and it's such an accomplishment what you were able to do locally, not only raising the money but building the facility that you've built for everybody. Can you tell us? I know that it was vacant land and that you saw an opportunity, but really what motivated you to do it?

Sadiqa:

Yeah, so I took over as CEO of the Urban League and I'm in this role and I'm so excited about it and my my office was located at between 15th and 16th on Broadway, and two blocks down. There was going to be this big development at 18th and Broadway. That project fell apart and it went away. Okay, that happened. Then this project at 30th and Muhammad Ali that's where the sports complex is now but there was supposed to be another development, and so I was doing everything I could to support that development. I'm at dinner one night and I get this call that that project isn't going to happen.

Sadiqa:

I cannot explain to you what it feels like to work in a community that has had so many promises not delivered on. To work in a community that has had so many promises not delivered on. I felt anger, I felt shame, I felt frustration and I felt motivated and I thought what are we going to do? What are we going to do? And I left my dinner, I went home and laid on my bed and I just prayed. I said, God, you know, give me something Like what can we have here? What can we do? And when I opened my eyes, Usain Bolt was on the news with all these gold medals.

Sadiqa:

Yeah, and I was reminded that I had been in so many meetings, so many places where track coaches wanted to build an indoor facility. Like for years, people wanted an indoor track facility.

Sadiqa:

In fact, louisville used to have an indoor track facility, but for whatever reason for all those years, nothing had been done, whether it didn't have the money, didn't have enough land, didn't have this, didn't have that. And so here we had the perfect storm and we got it done. And so here we had the perfect storm and we got it done. And I think what actually motivated me, for me, I could have built a track. I could have built something, anything to keep that land from sitting vacant for another 10 years, another five years, and I felt that this is I don't know if I can.

Sadiqa:

It is shameful to me to lead a civil rights organization to be 15 blocks from contaminated land and not be trying to figure out how to develop it. The people I serve deserve better than that. I deserve better than that. And so that's how I saw it. And, to be honest with you, when I said, okay, let's build a track, I was saying that, and by let's, I mean let me find somebody else to do this and I will follow them and I will help. Because actually, I called the sports commission because at the time I misunderstood their role, so I thought it was their job to build sports things. I did not understand that when I opened my big mouth, that people would say oh yeah, let's do it, go right ahead, and you go right ahead and we'll be here.

Sadiqa:

And then some cases they said we think it's absolutely ridiculous and we're not going to help you, we won't be here and we think you're going to fail. And people said that very much to my face. I cried a lot. This is the thing about leadership that we never really we never get to talk about our own vulnerabilities and how hard it is to when people say no and you know you've got a good idea. When you can't get everybody lined up with you, the hits that you take. We do a lot of public celebrating but we don't do enough of publicly telling the stories of the valleys. We post pictures and photographers are usually present for the mountaintop experiences, but people do not see the valleys. And so it's almost like I feel about leadership how I feel about marriage. Right, you only hear the good parts. So if you have a marriage and then you get into this huge fight, you think, well, this isn't supposed to be this way, nobody. Well, they don't advertise the pain of it, just advertise the good parts.

Amy:

That's right. I agree with your leadership analogy, because everybody says, oh, it's okay to fail and everybody fails. We don't ever actually articulate what those are and we're not comfortable saying them out loud. So it's always nice to hear that you did go through struggles. And I mean I'd like to also call out obviously I haven't been to the facility but it's not just a track, it's like a whole complex and my understanding is that US track is trained there and things like that. Is that correct?

Sadiqa:

Oh, we've had.

Sadiqa:

Olympians there. It is a state-of-the-art facility. It's one of nine facilities in the country that have a bank track, so we have a hydraulic floor. It's the same material that the Tokyo Olympics were run on. We've got an indoor and outdoor. We've been on ESPN three times already and we've only been open for not even four years yet. I mean, we've got a highway. We've got to sign off the highway. We're impacting, you know, the economics of our community and our city, our state. Like we are bringing tourists here. You know Tyreek Hill, who is known as the cheetah, the fastest guy in football. He ran, set a record there. Some of the Olympians actually who just competed, they have competed and run in our facility. One of the women set a record in our facility. Like we are tough, we are great and it is beautiful. It is beautiful. I want you to come.

Amy:

I do have to come see it.

Sadiqa:

And now we even have a clinic, a senior health clinic, that was built next door. It's on our campus, but it's right next door to the building. So in so many wonderful ways Now we're we're starting to have soccer, so I want to develop soccer fields. It's it's like the gift that keeps on giving, and also it's the work that never ends, which is another thing about leadership, that's right.

Amy:

Sometimes you can be a prisoner of your own success? Yes, you can, but it sounds amazing. It sounds absolutely amazing. And so let's move from the physical more over to the mental. You're involved with, and advocate for, a variety of issues, one being addressing the stigma of mental health. So why is that issue important to you?

Sadiqa:

Thank you for the question. For so many reasons I think our community does not want to. I think there's so much shame in suffering from mental illness, from depression, which is a mental illness, and I think that stigma is not just in the Black community, it's in all communities. We talk about pipelines, educational pipelines, all the time. I think we really need to be working harder to attract more people into the mental health field, because our young people are suffering Everybody people are really suffering and more and more we're seeing it.

Sadiqa:

Personally, my mother suffered from depression and, as a result of that, ended her life. That's one of those things where and I just don't want anybody else to have to go through that I just want people to get help, and especially all of these phenomenal like super women out there, which my mom was. She was smart, she was funny, she was pretty, she was fun to be around. You know she was a fabulous mother. I mean she was fabulous in a million ways. Her friends loved her, her coworkers admired her. I mean she was great and because she was seen as all of these wonderful things and especially known as being a strong woman, I think that she could not say I'm drowning right now, and I think she told her story to a few people here and there. Like she, you know, she had close friends who knew this piece and some friend who knew this, and afterwards, you know, you kind of put it all together, but in the moment of the pain, she did not feel like she could say help, you know, and and I think it costs it costs her, it costs me everything, everything I love, and so I try to make sure I'm being an advocate to help others speak about the pain they're in, to speak about these valleys that we have right there. You don't have to stay there, but if you have those valleys and you can't find a way to climb out, you need to know you're not the only person who's been there.

Sadiqa:

You can get out of this, and here are ways to do it, and I think we need more resources, you know, for prevention in our community, and so, and honestly, I've had my own anxiety in the last few years. It's crazy, like if you've never suffered from anxiety. It changes everything. It is unbelievable. And so I just want people to be honest about what they're dealing with, what they're going through, and to be able to help save other lives. I want us to fight for again all access, all, because mental health is health, and if you don't have your mind, if you don't have peace, you can't really be successful at anything else. And so, really, I'm more and more starting to think that the suicide prevention work and mental health work is probably going to be way more important to me in the long run for my career. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Amy:

I think we all are. Yeah, I get it.

Sadiqa:

So yeah, and so listen. I think people, wherever you are, should find a walk in November and participate in the suicide prevention walks. Join somebody, go and raise a dollar, $5, $100, whatever, but participate. Thank you for that question. Thank you so much for that. Oh well, I didn Thank you for that question.

Amy:

Thank you so much for that. Oh well, I didn't know about your mom. I'm so sorry to hear that.

Sadiqa:

Thank you.

Amy:

Unfortunately. I've heard, I mean strong women especially, do suffer in silence a lot, and so it's nice. It's wonderful to hear that you're actively working and doing something about it and now I'm not sure if I have this question right or not, but you're CEO of the Perception Institute and how are they contributing to the normalization of mental health and how are they involved in mental health?

Sadiqa:

So Perception Institute is involved in everything. Perception Institute is an action oriented think tank. Yeah, we do narrative change. So, whether it's about mental health or race or diversity, equity, whatever the thing is gender power framing, we are in on it. We are talking about. We try to help people think about how to talk about the things they care about and also how to deal with their own internal biases. How do I, if I recognize the thing that I am doing, that is automatic, right, if I some, because we all have these things that we do automatically, and some of those are good, they save our lives. And then there are some of those things that we do in a way that excludes others, and so how do we get away from that? How do we create a world where everybody belongs, where there is no other, where I understand that Amy from Canada belongs here in the same way that Sadiqa from Kentucky belongs here, and so that's the work that we do. So I'm proud of the work we do.

Sadiqa:

Right now, we're focused on doing PSAs. We're a 501c3, so we don't tell anybody who to vote for, but we want people to vote. We want to make sure people are getting out and getting engaged and understand the power of their voices, regardless of their station in life. We do some work around goal framing and understanding that the way we talk about things, the way we talk about ourselves, the way we talk about each other, it matters. And so how do I inspire you, as opposed to scaring you to death and preventing you from actually doing the next thing that we need you to do, whatever that next thing is. And so that's some of the work We've just done some racial ideology mapping, where we're going out across the country and surveying people to understand their relationships and what those relationships mean, to how they might decide to vote or how they feel about people of other races because of their relationship.

Sadiqa:

So we do a lot of wonderful work. Our board chair is John Powell, who is the founder of the Othering and Belonging Institute, so he is a very courageous man who says things that you know. There are not a lot of people who have been able to find a way to speak out on some of the horrible things that are happening in the world right now, and he has found a way to do that. So it's very, very interesting work, good work. Oh, one more thing I have to say this so we have these amazing jury videos that just you know we're using across the country and allowing judges to use, and you know, just to talk about jury service and how important it is, and how important it is for us to leave our biases at home and to just come into the space A lot of good, good stuff.

Amy:

Sounds like a fascinating organization and, I have to say, often think tanks aren't able to disseminate their information to the community. You seem to have bridged that gap. That's very interesting.

Sadiqa:

Thank you for saying that. That is one of the things we're known for translating.

Amy:

So we don't just do the research?

Sadiqa:

but, we try really, really hard to translate the data, and what I love about it is, more than anything we are searching for ways to show the humanity of people who may disagree with my beliefs, but they're still human, they still have a right to their dignity and I absolutely think that is the right way for us to go. That's the right way to move.

Amy:

Wow, it sounds almost like a little bit of a dream job. You get to help people with all kinds of issues and not just focus on one of them.

Sadiqa:

Well, yeah, absolutely. And Amy, you know better, you know good and well, there really are no dream jobs.

Amy:

Well, there's that too. Yes, I agree, there's a job it can still be fun, but there's still a value, right, it is fun. No, that's exactly right.

Sadiqa:

There's always the tough part of leadership.

Sadiqa:

But no, it is. It's really, it's wonderful and it's a good progression for me. I never imagined that I would leave the Urban League. Honestly, I just it was. It was amazing, and all of a sudden I was like I can't. I cannot continue to lead in this way every day, all the time, in community like this. I need to pull back some, because I just had no boundaries and so I wanted to work more on policy. How do you change policy? How do you change minds? Why do I have to work so hard to fundraise for programs? Can I not help to change people's minds? And so that's the work that I'm really honored to be able to participate in with Perception Institute, and so that's the work that I'm really honored to be able to participate in with Perception Institute. And so I think you just go where you are called, you stay true to yourself, you do everything you can in the space you're in, and you, you know you just serve and you serve until you don't anymore.

Amy:

True, very true. So you know we've talked a little bit about your firsts and you know your advocacy and your time at the Urban League. I'd really love to know what is your inspiration and motivation to keep driving for change.

Sadiqa:

Three in the morning I was saying to myself why can't you just shut up? Why can't you just stop, like, stop making your life harder. Why do you always want to fix things? What is wrong with you? Why can't you just so? You see it that way, we have our perspective. Thank you for that narrative change.

Sadiqa:

I will try to work on seeing it the way you do, because right now, you know, I really do think, and there are people who disagree with me about this. It's funny. I just have this at my core I want fairness, I want, I want, I believe in it. I believe that people should be treated fairly and I think if you work, you know, for a day's wage, you ought to make a day's wage. I have always been the person that people have called to say this is wrong, and I have a lot of people around me who say why are you getting involved in that? That has nothing to do with you, and I know that, but I don't really. It does have something to do with me because I see their humanity and their suffering and I know, I believe, my voice can make a difference.

Sadiqa:

And so the last couple of years I've been a little bit more quiet. I've really sort of backed away because I needed to for my own mental health. Honestly, right, I just had to kind of gather myself after so much. I mean, raise that kind of money, you leave that kind of organization, you deal with the protests, the deaths, the pandemic, all of the things, like I needed a real step away and I continue to need that some. But there are issues that are burning that I feel like my voice must be added to and I don't know how to be any different to.

Sadiqa:

And I don't know how to be any different my mother, when she was alive. We would talk about some of the things I would end up fighting people, about powerful people, and she would say where do you get the nerve? And I would say from you, from you. My mother, I remember when she worked for the telephone company and they were having some challenges with the union and she was in management, and she came home one day and she said you know, there may be protests at our house.

Sadiqa:

These people may come to the house because they're upset and one of the tools they're using is to protest at the homes of managers upset, and one of the tools they're using is to protest at the homes of managers, and I'm in management and they're right, so when they come here you need to give them food and let them have something to drink and let them use the bathroom. And I was just like, okay, all right, and it didn't happen. It didn't happen. But the point is that was her response Like how could I have turned out to be anything other than what I am with a mother like that?

Amy:

Yeah, what a great lesson. I mean, not all daughters get that, and so I think it's great, and I think your question about why do I always get involved I think that's a huge component of inspirational women leaders. So you are what you are and I think all the issues you serve are lucky to have you.

Sadiqa:

Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.

Amy:

So now I'd like you to impart some wisdom. So what? Well, first your opinion, then some wisdom. So first, what do you believe? What do you believe is a significant barrier to women leaders today?

Sadiqa:

Discrimination and lack of alignment. I think I really do think women leaders need to align better across lines of race. I think we don't do a good enough job at that and so we kind of get turned on each other and we don't understand that all of that is being used to do harm, and so we need to do a better job of reaching across into different demographics and understanding the value of women really leaders. The value of women leaders it's huge, and if we could only better align ourselves we would get more done.

Amy:

Yes, alignment, I agree. I mean, it's race age, there's lots of things and also attitude. Sometimes women don't help women and it's unfortunate, and I think the opposite needs to happen in order to collectively move the issues we need to move forward.

Sadiqa:

So that's exactly right. You said it exactly right. The attitude, absolutely. What is your commitment to seeing other people who look like you be in the position or near the position? Whatever you know? Absolutely right.

Amy:

So then, what advice do you have for the next generation of women leaders?

Sadiqa:

I always like to tell this story. It'll take me like a few, like a minute, okay, so here's my thing. I once watched an episode of Oprah and here's my translation of the episode. Oprah is talking to Maya Angelou. Miss Angelou says I was at home in my bed one night and I heard all of a sudden I heard this door and she hears footsteps coming in her house, towards her bedroom, and she leans over and reaches into her nightstand and she pulls out a gun and she says out loud, in that powerful voice of hers is this what you are willing to die doing? Then there's a pause and she hears the footsteps going the other way, and then the door. And then the door. And I think we all, on a regular basis, have to ask ourselves if we are engaged in the work that we are willing to die doing, and when the answer is no, we need to find new work.

Amy:

Wow, that is very powerful. I've never heard that story. It's such a, honestly, I can't even relate to it, but it's very inspiring and it's very obviously, as always. Everything I've read about Maya Angelou words of wisdom, right.

Sadiqa:

Yeah, absolutely, and I hate the gun part. But you know what it makes it that more poignant though. Exactly.

Amy:

If you can do it, then then you should be able to do it in your daily life without too much trouble.

Sadiqa:

There you go. That's the lesson. That's the lesson Oprah wanted us to have. That's the lesson Miss Maya wanted for us.

Amy:

You figured it out. Good for us. We figured it out Absolutely Well, sadiqa. Thank you for taking the time today. Well, sadiqa, thank you for taking the time today. I have enjoyed getting to know you, hearing your stories and your journey. You are truly an inspirational leader and I am thrilled that you are continuing your work in all aspects of life.

Sadiqa:

Thank you so much. What a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for having me. It's really been an honor. Thank you.

Amy:

Thank you for listening today. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and subscribe to our podcast. When you do this, it raises our podcast profile so more leaders can find us and be inspired by the stories our Voices of Leadership have to share. If you would like to connect with us, please visit the Voices of Leadership website. It can be found in our show notes.

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Amy Schlueter

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