True success isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about the collective rise of our communities.Analiza Quiroz Wolf, CEO of Women of Color Rise, coaches diverse leaders, including social entrepreneurs and C-suite executives. She recently published The Myths of Success: A Woman of Color's Guide to Leadership, drawing on research and stories from her podcast, Women of Color Rise. Analiza is a former non-profit CEO, U.S. Air Force Captain, Fulbright Scholar, and graduate of the Stakeholder Leadership Governance Institute. Analiza has experience serving on nonprofit boards and hopes to serve on a corporate board.As a daughter of Filipino immigrants, she shares three major phases in her life: assimilation, self-discovery, and healing. Chasing the "American Dream" and facing cultural pressures to fit into a predominantly white society took a toll, causing her to hide her true self. Then, Analiza’s self-discovery led her to deep healing and specific experiences from which she now sees the world.Her analogy of babies in the river and the value placed on demographics highlights the flaws in our system’s thinking and approach. In K–12 education, Analiza advocates for a system that encourages critical thinking, empathy, and communication, allowing students to explore their identities and beliefs. That is why she is so focused on coaching leaders of color and creating supportive communities.Collective success, community, and empathy are fundamental for creating equitable and inclusive environments for all of us to thrive in, and Analiza is a great showcase of that.Show Notes🇵🇭 Analiza's story is a typical Filipino immigrant story: it was all about assimilation. 04:05🎭 It was also a traumatic story of hiding behind a mask: she lost herself. 06:18👧🏻 Growing up, it was all about being seen but not heard: following orders and achieving perfect grades. 09:56👧🏻 How Analiza got from the number one brand school in the world to working in education. 14:53🏫 She used her education to work on starting and scaling schools. 19:16👩🏻‍🏫 Analiza is a multi-sector leader: education systems need to get stronger. 22:26👉🏻 The system isn't broken; it's designed to be this way: the K-12 ed system is about exploiting poverty. 27:12🏷️ When the system sees a person, based on demographics, there's automatically a value placed on them. 30:45⚠️ When we are enough, it provides critical thinking, communication, and creativity to solve whatever issue we're facing in our community. 34:03😇 It's much easier to survive when you're in a community. 38:26🤓 Today, Analiza is in coaching: she approaches it with a cultural lens, as a woman of color and minority. 41:52📙 She named her book, The Myth of Success: A Woman of Color's Guide to Leadership. 45:04🌺 Her faith has opened up so much for her, personally, but also as a leader: it allows her to take risks and really go for what she believes. 46:31💎 Analiza's RONdering: no matter what challenges you face in life, come back to yourself. 52:25Links:• Myths of Success Book: bit.ly/mythsbook• Podcast: analizawolf.com/womenofcolorrise• Website: analizawolf.com• LinkedIn (Analiza): www.linkedin.com/in/analizawolf• LinkedIn (Women of Color Rise): www.linkedin.com/company/bossmamasRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo

Summary: Language has the power to connect people, to move hearts, and to do good in the world.David Nungaray is a co-founder of Gente Empowerment Network but is actually a forever dual language teacher and principal at heart no matter what his current work title is. The children and families he worked with as an educator are one of his guiding forces in the work he continues to do in education. As a son of Mexican immigrants, a native Spanish speaker, a gay educator, and a first-generation college graduate, he felt on his skin the lack of the system.David’s story begins with his family’s immigration from Tijuana, Mexico, to the U.S., where they faced challenges due to being undocumented. After a car accident at a young age that left David in a coma, his family’s struggles continued. Despite these obstacles, David excelled in school, thanks to the support of key teachers. He is very passionate about the importance of bilingualism as an asset, not just for students like him who grew up speaking Spanish and struggled during Proposition 227. It is very sad to see that nothing changed for generations in the USA and that  92% of our students are still experiencing programs that are not going to help them. David hopes to continue making an impact on multilingual education policy and practice, advocating for increased access to bilingual education programs and helping students like him thrive.Language brings cultural exchange, understanding, and power to the community. We should all respect different cultures and the enrichment they are brining to our lives. Show notes: 🪄 David is a magician of LinkedIn: he is destined for big things. 1:11🧒🏻 He is the first child of an immigrant family from Tijuana, Mexico: a car accident completely changed his life. 03:45🗣️ Learning English was hard for him: he grew up during Proposition 227. 05:34😎 Teachers who poured faith, learning, and patience into David. 08:52⭐ The value of bilingualism and languages other than English: 12:13🤯 Political nature of language: some people were punished for speaking other languages besides English. 15:41🏆 Circle of champions around David: his parents, his husband, and various mentors and friends who have supported him throughout his career. 19:27😇 Learn to be direct with people: help from his amazing family and leveraging direct talk from them. 21:33🏡 Moving from San Antonio to California: harnessing time with his parents and family. 27:01👔 David’s coaching work around navigating job searches, interviews, and salary negotiations: Latiné often underestimate themselves. 31:07⚡ Power in asking for what you need: understanding advocacy for yourself. 35:36🆚 Job hopping and the negative attitude towards it: blaming the individual rather than looking at the system. 37:36🤓 Shifted to a leader role at 17, becoming a principal at 25: David took all opportunities given to him. 40:37🌈 Take that leap: being a queer man in Texas without protection. 46:06💎 David’s RONdering: You can’t pour from an empty cup – take care of yourself and find balance. 54:48LinksConnect: www.linkedin.com/in/david-nungaray-a4a47115Gente Website: www.genteempowerment.com Gente Instagram: www.instagram.com/genteempowermentGente TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@genteempowerment Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapatalo

Raj Thakkar is the author, Founder & CEO of Charter School Business Management (CSBM) as well as FOREsight Financial Services for Good. He is an expert on nonprofit and charter school finance and has presented countless financial best practices workshops across the country. He poured all his knowledge into the book Fiscally Secure: Prepare, Protect & Propel Your CHARTER SCHOOL with Responsible Financial Management to help people learn all the steps in handling finances properly.Raj is sharing his story from a helper in a family convenience store to a finance pro and how he transformed his career as an Indian immigrant into something he is passionate about. He is passionate about responsible financial management, both personal and professional, and Raj highlights the importance of surviving audits in the charter school finance landscape. His book is a detailed guide to fixing all the ‘symptoms,’ and he shares some of those in the episode.Like every entrepreneur with experience through hardships, Raj realized that having your circle of champions, surrounding yourself with smart people, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is the key. He loves yoga, Orangetheory, running, and being active. The power of great people and his community groups helped him during the most difficult times. Raj says that responsible financial management is possible for everyone and is eager to teach these principles to children from an early age.Show notes:👨🏽‍💼 Raj runs the finance and operations for many charter schools across the country: realizing he is a money guy and he landed in finance. 04:11👦🏽 He got interested in finance as a kid by helping his father run a convenience store. 05:58👂🏽 In his journey, he did a lot of listening: his first contract was with the New York City Charter School Center. 08:41💸 Finances in charter schools: you have to survive your audit. 14:44📘 Raj wrote a book called "Fiscally Secure: Prepare, Protect, and Propel Your Charter School with Responsible Financial Management." 17:28⚠️ Merging OPS and Finance departments in charter schools is the #1 symptom of a bad finance organization: Raj’s book is the solution for all symptoms in simple terms. 18:27⭐ Vision is nothing without execution; Raj has a fantastic leadership team and groups that are helping him. 27:39💪🏽 Advice Raj would give to young Raj: just keep learning and have huge dreams. 33:41🏃🏽‍♂️ Entrepreneurs have to take care of their bodies: Raj ran the NYC marathon four times and goes to Orangetheory regularly. 37:43💎 Raj's RONdering: responsible financial management is possible in your life if you know the components. 42:39LinksConnect: www.linkedin.com/in/raj-thakkar-135b172Get a Book: www.a.co/d/9RkcI4bWebsite:  www.csbm.comFiscally Secure: www.csbm.com/fiscally-secureRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

We know who we are, but we get away from it.Kendrick Harris is an NYU alumnus, retired Air Force officer, and former business leader with experience in real estate law, construction, and a former lawyer. He is a business owner of the Distinguished Chef and a top-notch chef.Kendrick is sharing with us his powerful testament to resilience, self-discovery, and transformation. After time spent at NYU, where Kendrick was deeply involved in student leadership and community service with Ron, he took an unexpected path, joining the Air Force as an officer. His military experience, earning a master's degree at Harvard, brought him to leadership positions. Still, his life took a dramatic turn when a series of poor decisions led to his disbarment and criminal charges. He realized that the only path was forward by confronting his mistakes and rebuilding his life from the ground up by pursuing his long-forgotten passion—cooking.His story of redemption, perseverance, letting go, and centering shows us that one's mistakes do not define them. During his difficult times, Kendrick found motivation in the stories of others who had faced and overcome their own challenges and hardships while becoming the best versions of themselves. His passion for bringing equity to culinary arts, learning the history of amazing Black chefs of America, and bringing the elegance of the cooking experience to everyone is just amazing.The recipe for finding the way out of the darkness or despair is waiting for you in this amazing episode.Notes🍎 NYU Alumni and CPS: helping kids, students, and serving the community. 02:17✈️ Starting active duty with the Air Force: Kendrick was sent to Harvard to get a master's degree even though he planned to go to law school.  05:15😇 We hold onto things we think we want: moments where you need to go in yourself and let go.11:07⚖️ After the military, he went to law school: rebuilding life after getting disbarred.  12:53⚡ Getting back to himself through serving others: his love of culinary arts. 16:41⭐ Clashing with your parents but pursuing their respect: working in Michelin-starred restaurants and being the only Black man in it. 21:29☯️ Virtual coaches that affected Kendrick’s change: inspiring stories from people who went through a lot. 25:33👨🏾‍🍳 Kendrick created The Distinguished Chef Lifestyle Brand: Hercules Posey and James Hemings were amazing Black chefs in the 1700s.  32:50☯️ His mission is to capture the elegance of the cooking experience: wanting amazing food to be tasted by minorities as well. 39:54💎 Kendrick’s RONdering: your identity is not defined by your mistakes or your flaws. 42:53Links:Connect with Kendrick: www.linkedin.com/in/kendrickharrisAbout Kendrick: https://about.me/kendrickharris Instagram: www.instagram.com/thedistinguishedchefFacebook www.facebook.com/distinguished.chef.9Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Why are we resting on proficiency in education?Tanji Reed Marshall CEO and Principal Consultant of Liaison Educational Partners. With more than 2 decades of experience in the classroom, district, and organization level, she has a lot of gems to share. The problem of educational inequities, and how certain groups of students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have historically been underserved and misinformed by ineffective teaching methods.The system has too many pockets and gaps - it has to change so it can serve all students suitably.  Dr. Tanji advocates for classroom leaders to have skills and tools, but also a mindset to provide the best possible education for all students. Dr Tanji provides a framework for transformative change in education, emphasizing learning, critical thinking about roles in education, planning, applying, evaluating, and integrating practices.The importance of literacy and the need for proficiency and mastery in education is a must and if all other industry has it, education should have it too because every student has the potential to achieve high results. Notes:📖 RONdering as a word in Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 01:54👩🏾‍🏫 Starting in retail and switching to education:  03:02😃🙍🏾 Why do we get so upset when we talk about numbers and education? 09:49🤯 Moving to North Carolina: changing the standards that are set so low.  13:23🏆 Going to a Catholic high school and having amazing teachers - Tanji’s circle of champions. 17:22😍 Literacy and power of reading is important for advanced math: becoming district literacy coach.   23:51🆚 Proficiency vs Mastery - proficiency is not enough and we need to put more effort into all kids. 25:00⭐ The three-queuing system is banned in some countries and literacy has to become a right in Massachusetts. 33:39⚠️ Tanji’s five strategies and four environmental types: integrating practices and changing the system. 39:37🤔 We are ok with kids being failed: a value disparity in education. 44:27⚖️ A nationwide misalignment between values and practices in education. 49:58💎 Tanji’s RONdering: naming the truth on where we are so we can go the way wa want to be. 51:22📙 Tanji’s book, free course and newsletter. 😇 Too many pockets in education and we don’t want that. 54:30Links:Newsletter: POWERfully Curious (newsletter)Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1416631453/ Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Jacquelyn Davis is a nonprofit leader and transformative advisor to philanthropies who dedicated her life to the education sector and social impact. Her life and career are led by constant learning and curiosity. She has launched many organizations and initiatives. EDVolution, a boutique consulting she founded has worked with many national foundations – including the Gates Foundation, the Overdeck Foundation, New Schools Venture Fund, the Wallace Foundation, the Walton Foundation, the Rainwater Foundation, the Alice B and James A Clark Foundation, and the Kern Foundation, among others – and numerous education social impact organizations – including Teach For America, New Leaders, and many more.Growing up in the South in a segregated community with socially conscious parents who taught her that not every family has the same opportunities, Jacquelyn learned from an early age to stand up for what she believes in and bear the cost of it. She witnessed systemic differences and inequalities, and while the changes her family wanted, began at home, Jacquelyn continued to carry the same passion for diversity in her life and work, moving forward.Today we are facing a national crisis because 70% of kids can’t read by third grade and over 60% of schools in America are not using curriculum based on science-based research on how the brain learns. Sadly, prison beds in this country are based on reading levels, and still, things are not changing. A new entrepreneurial journey for Jac started when her dyslexic son learned to read using a board game she created. Clever Noodle as an additional tool, can help kids around the country fix their reading issues. The public education system must provide education for all kids so they can become high-quality readers and open up the doors to their lives and possibilities for their future. We all have a call in this. Notes:🎙️ Being curious about people: learning from many experienced interviewers like Jacquelyn how to talk to people, helped Ron become a podcast host.  01:43⭐ Born and raised in Texas: her dad was a lighthouse of integrity.  02:45😍 No strangers - all were welcome in their house: nurturing acceptance, desegregation, and having very progressive parents.  05:00👎🏾 Growing up in the South: a difference and an inequality that was systemic being created. 11:22⚡ Don’t complain about it - do something about it: The family volunteered for homelessness and food insecurity. 18:06👧🏾 Jac’s educational path started with school rehabilitation and college for scholarships: when a girl plans her funeral. 20:11🤓 Startup is a very ambiguous space: you need to know if you are wired to learn everything about everything. 24:17🏆 Jac’s circle of champions: parents, English teacher, health teacher, and amazing friends who influenced her. 27:54🧠 Clever Noodle creation: her son was struggling with learning how to read during COVID so Jacquelyn learned how the sequential process in the brain works and created a board game for reading. 35:26🔥 National crisis on literacy: finding the sweet spot with supplemental products but also science-based reading curriculums in schools - we need multifaceted solutions. 40:07😇 “Mama, I know you are teaching me how to read but it is ok, because it is fun.” 46:20✍️ Summarizing and synthesizing complex brain functions are getting developed when we write. 50:38 🤯 Our prisons are full of people who were not taught to read: they are capable but the system is not interested. 55:11💎 Jac’s RONdering: Stay clever and stay curious to grow opportunities. 57:54⚠️ Spread literacy by donating games to families and schools. 58:40Links:Website: www.clevernoodle.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/CleverNoodleGamesInsta: https://www.instagram.com/clever_noodle/Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Our belief systems are often perpetuated by the members of our community.A 1991 Vassar graduate, Diane Robinson is a filmmaker and recognized education leader with over 25 years of experience working in the US and globally, helping start and grow social enterprises. Beginning her career through Teach for America, Diane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, a Master of Arts in multicultural education from California State University, and a Doctor of Education Leadership from Harvard University.Diane made her first film, The Young Vote, which follows a group of students and activists through the 2020 election, unprecedented social unrest, and a global pandemic, which is now used for the civic development of young people at schools and colleges. Diane believes that films are a great way to change narratives that come out of beliefs and stories and that there is much power in films being used to cultivate new sets of beliefs.Everything we want in life - the things we want to achieve, our environment, and our beliefs - they all start with us!🇯🇲 Diane grew up in Jamaica in the 70's, in a very tumultuous time. 3:52👧🏽 She went to public school in NY and racial and socioeconomic justice became a part of her DNA. 8:12👩🏽‍🏫 Teach For America spoke more to her than the law she was studying. 10:19🍎 Growing up in NY means you have a very diverse group of friends. 15:56👉🏽 How important it is to believe in yourself: Diane's school counselor experience. 20:29⚠️ If you want to learn about America, you should teach in a low-income classroom. 27:12🤔 Belief is a huge part of change: our belief system is stuck. 30:55😥 Cultural competence: the available data is very intellectual, and it doesn't feel right. 33:43💲 Low-income kids oftentimes have to work twice as hard because their parents can't pay for them. 38:42🙃 Our belief systems are sometimes perpetuated by members of our own community. 40:02🧠 Diane went to Harvard in her late 30's: the importance of understanding the education systems, business, and government. 45:30🇨🇳 Her experience in China: the strength of their culture benefits education. 48:17🎥 Turning to film: creating a documentary about young people and voting. 50:32🎬 Her film made a big impact in schools and communities: we need engagement, voting is not enough. 55:51💎 Diane's RONdering: everything starts with us. 58:48🎯 Anything you want to create in the world, first you have to create it within yourself. 1:00:56 Links:The Young Vote: www.videoproject.org/the-young-vote.htmlConnect with Diane: www.linkedin.com/in/diane-robinson-6417255 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Being able to step back and observe what is going on around us is often an undervalued skill!Surabhi Lai is rooted in the belief that we can create a better future of work that is rooted in our humanity and collective belonging. Multi-passionate with a strong sense of curiosity, Surabhi uses empathy and strategy when she coaches job-seekers, entrepreneurs, and organizations to help them create a better work future. Surabhi is pursuing a PhD in Leadership and Change, where her research is focused on understanding the ecosystem of belonging in the workplace.Fascinated by large group settings, Surabhi seeks out people who are not in a conversation with anyone and looks to introduce them to someone she knows. Surabhi will look to strike up a conversation at the bar or by the food table, becoming the connector at events, pursuing her goal of making people’s lives better, predominantly in the workplace.We spend so much time in workplaces - how can we make them better, for us to be able to give our best?Notes: 🍎 You can't navigate a big place like New York City without building your micro-communities. 3:04😇 Surabhi's connection with New York City: different people and languages. 5:29🗽 New Yorkers will move you out of their way, but also they will stop and help. 8:56👧🏽 Surabhi grew up in D.C. in a pretty diverse school. 13:13🍀 Surabhi was bridging spaces, doing some translation: being curious, and observing. 18:09🤓 Surabhi loves to be the connector at events: she is fascinated by large group settings. 23:35⚠️ Different social roles: the importance of name pronunciation. 27:55🤗 Her work is all about making people's work lives better. 31:54👉🏽 That laws and policies are written to incentivize businesses and organizations. 35:09🤯 If you don't feel good at work, then, you are not giving your best at work. 37:55📣 Efforts to diversify neighborhoods: we should all have a megaphone. 40:20💎 Surabhi's RONdering: how do we take all those megaphones to make it a movement? 44:12Links:Website: www.surabhilal.comIG: @slcollabventuresLI: www.linkedin.com/in/surabhilalSIPS & Leadership: www.surabhilal.com/sips-leadershipRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Good leadership requires you to always be a student!From humble beginnings in golf caddying to becoming New Mexico’s Deputy Secretary and Secretary of Education under Gov. Susana Martinez (R) from 2016-2019, Christopher Ruszkowski is a social studies teacher by trade, recently appointed Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institution.Having spent a year in South Africa, Christopher trained as a teacher, spending his first years first in and last out in the school, taking his responsibilities seriously, especially as a rookie. In his 20 years of working within education and education reform, Christopher has a wealth of experience in school systems, as well as figuring out how to develop expertise in all the moving pieces of the system. Believing that you must always remain a student, Christopher has worked under a mentor, working on being informed and gaining an understanding of why things are moving in the way that they are.The early bird catches the worm - there is value in a hard day’s work!Notes:🇺🇸 Christopher's family origin: first-generation American working-class story. 4:16🤓 The story of how Christopher got into golf caddying. 9:02🍀 His evolution from a caddy beginner to a trusted confidant and advisor. 13:43🧑‍🏫 The beginning journey with Teach For America: a transformative year in South Africa. 18:46🌍 Making the world a better place: he couldn't do it without some form of frontline service. 21:29🏫 Middle school experience: what went on in his classroom, was a microcosm of what was happening in the education sector. 25:41🎓 All the different education contexts Christopher was involved in. 29:15🎯 Always be a student to be good in a leadership position. 36:19🤯 There is such a dramatic difference in education in different cities today. 40:30👀 It often takes an outsider to see what's going on, but you need an insider to implement it. 46:31 💎 Christopher's RONdering:  it's still about the blue-collar day. 51:45Links:Connect: christophernicholasruszkowski@gmail.com Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Sharing our stories and spending time with each other can prolong our lives!Bryan Setser is a seasoned executive edupreneur with three decades of results in K-12, higher education, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. His expertise equips leaders, teams, and organizations with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be ready for any future. Having worked as a teacher, principal, and even as the inaugural Chief Quality Officer at the Baldrige Award-winning Iredell-Statesville district, Bryan has lent his expertise as a leader of solutions practices, operating as a partner and principal at 2Revolutions and RPK Group, collaborating with numerous higher education clients.Bryan believes strongly in creating a culture of belonging, which can come through sports, music and movies, but also through social experiences and diversity. Bryan focuses on helping men build more empathy and compassion to themselves first and foremost. There is evidence that suggests being on athletic teams can help one’s body and mind; working as a team and looking out for each other allows for connections to build.Today is the first day for whatever your purpose is - let’s reignite our purpose!Notes:🤔 Reflecting on the different identities we have as men of different generations. 4:20😇 Bryan is a Wayfinder: he helps leaders, teams, and organizations navigate their paths. 9:11🎓 He had many different roles in education: curiosity drove him in all the roles. 13:35👉 One of Bryan's drivers is a fundamental distrust of the status quo. 16:51🎦 Finding out people's core values through music and movies. 20:23🥘 How food connects people and creates the social experience. 24:13🌸 All the successful people believe that we have a chance to turn things around. 31:09🎯 Creating a culture of belonging through diversity. 35:52💪 Thoughts on the future of masculinity. 42:42🥋 Sports can also help create leaders and understand team relationships. 47:19🍀 Bryan has been using new technologies since 1995: amplifying tech with humanity. 50:05🤖 The value of AI: how to make it meaningful. 53:39🥅 In our lives, AI will be mostly applicable in biomedicine. 1:01:17💎 Bryan’s RONdering: we're going to have to reignite around purpose. 1:04:10Links:Website: www.setsergroup.comLI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryansetser/FB:https://www.facebook.com/SetserGroupTW: https://twitter.com/setsergroupIG: https://www.instagram.com/setsergroup/?hl=enRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

You can be both a happy human and a strong one!Mike Montoya is the CEO and Founder of Stronger Consulting. A 30-year education sector veteran, Mike is an expert in helping organizations design, manage, and improve educational programs for young people. Mike’s identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a person of color has shaped his entrepreneurial journey, as he educates non-profit organizations to act strategically on behalf of children.Mike grew up feeling the stress in an ultra-conservative area, but found that he had adults in his life who would allow him to just be himself. Part of the reason Mike got into his career in education, was that he had people around him when he needed them; Mike’s goal is to support the successes of young people through similar things he experienced as a child.We need people’s wellness and their identities being included - this is the foundation of everything!Notes:👦 Mike grew up in conservative Colorado as a Catholic, gay kid. 2:34😇 His career choice was partly influenced by adults who helped him find safe spaces while growing up. 4:09✌🏾 The Youth Development space develops you as a whole human being. 8:17🥇 The Broad Center: a framework for what adults need to show up to lead inside school systems. 10:55🏫 K-12 education has shaped Mike's entrepreneurial journey of Stronger Consulting: the influence of his identity. 16:32🤯 People usually didn't believe that he is a person of color. 19:11🪅 Mike's parents helped him to assimilate: the importance of his connection to migrant workers from Mexico. 22:30🎯 Stronger Consulting’s approach is unique because of the diversity of its people. 26:32💎 Mike's RONdering: to achieve success for children, have we been skimming away a little bit of their humanity? 30:01💚 We need the foundation of love and wellness: people's well-being and their identities being included. 33:36Links:Website https://strongerconsulting.com/Connect with Mike:  www.linkedin.com/in/mmscRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

How you internalize racism can destroy your sense of self.Daniel Anello is a member of the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship Summer 2016 cohort and the Leadership Greater Chicago 2019 cohort. He was named to the inaugural class of Presidential Leadership Scholars and he is a Board member of Chicago Urban League and Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of Kids First Chicago since 2015, and he is supporting parent-led and data-informed change within Chicago’s public schools.Today he shared how he grew up in a rural community in a family of educators and how his experiences with a racial identity formed him as a person. Personal and family struggles formed his opinion about the equity work we need, the importance of deliberative democracy, and the importance of engaging impacted communities while creating policies.Daniel emphasizes the need for analytical and creative solutions in order to address the systemic issues in education that have lingered for decades. He thinks that empowering communities will provide strong pillars of change. There is a huge need for collective action to address systemic inequities and create a more just society.He strongly advocates that Black and brown low-income communities are capable enough to make decisions for themselves and their communities around policies that affect them and especially well-informed parents should be more involved in the decision-making.Notes:🧑🏾‍ MLK Jr.'s birthday: honoring his legacy and being a social justice warrior. 01:57🤩 Making sure that Black and brown communities in Chicago have the highest education at their fingertips. 02:54👩🏾‍🤝‍👨🏼 Brought up in an interracial family of teachers who moved to a rural area: family conversations about education and civil rights.04:04😓 His struggles with the schooling system and racial identities: getting a grip due to family issues. 07:20⚠️ The criminal justice system is not designed to rehabilitate, it's designed to destroy: his brother’s addiction story and legacy. 12:58👉🏾 Daniel struggled to fit in at investment banking internships and consulting gigs due to cultural differences. 19:01😇 He jumped into an entirely different environment: when Daniel’s life got more fulfilled with helping kids in the dorm than with business. 23:15🗣️ Kids for Chicago and getting focused on educational equity: giving voice to parents. 25:12✌🏾 Racial equity is essential for educational equity: paternalism is going to continue to hamper our ability to see the achievement gap eradicated. 31:25🎯 Community engagement and parental involvement in education and policy changes: engagement and projects for Chicago city. 36:56🥇 The golden rule of good servant leadership: being humble and finding answers through people who will be affected by policies. 🤓 Daniel wants to see a world where the utopia of racial equity allows us to see meritocracy. 45:14💎 RONdering: racial bias is very rooted: privilege doesn’t believe that Black and brown communities can take care of themselves. ⚡ Legacy of the Poor People's Campaign: “Power and privilege and racial inequity are the most dangerous work we do.” 51:57Links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsfirstchi/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidsfirstchi/X: https://twitter.com/kidsfirstchi?lang=enSubstack: Danielanello.Substack.comRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Be open to life and to things that come your way!The oldest child of a Philippine immigrant family to the USA, Grace Cruz graduated from NYU and began a career in teaching. Grace currently works in consulting with the Centre for Powerful Public Schools in LA, intending to improve teaching and learning.Grace’s Philippine values and culture have a massive impact on the way she lives life, including how she leads in education. With a focus on community as well as individual contributions, Grace believes that if you work as a team and value the contributions within it, you will not need to hire experts for practice, but you will have that expertise within the team.Be intentional in how you choose to feel - the goal is to respond not to react.Notes:👩🏻‍🏫 Grace went to NYU and teaching got her to many different roles. 2:48🤔 So much of the focus is going towards expecting students to collaborate in the classrooms. 8:41🇵🇭 Grace’s Philippine identity and values have a massive impact on the way she leads in education. 11:37🤩 Generosity is a big part of Philippine culture. 16:29👉🏻 What teaching looked like under the dictatorship in the Philippines. 18:08👨🏻‍🔬 Her parents were both chemical engineers which made coming to the US easy. 20:53😇 When Grace went back home, she realized that all her relatives knew so much about her. 27:09🤓 Ron learned about entrepreneurship from his parents who worked many jobs. 32:34🦸🏻‍♀️ Today, Grace is consulting with the Center for Powerful Public Schools in LA: trying to improve teaching and learning. 34:03🫥 It's really easy for Filipinos to be invisible: both Grace and Ron have last names that don’t point to their origin. 39:02💎 Grace’s RONdering: be open to life, be open to the things that come your way. 42:54🧠 ADHD is not necessarily a bad thing: kids with ADHD have their minds work so quickly. 47:25Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-cruz-3b254ab/AI for Education: https://www.aiforeducation.io/Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

"Life is so much bigger than black and white - it's full of colors.”Dr. Rob Carpenter is a UCLA faculty member, author, speaker, and filmmaker who specializes in mass communication, rhetoric, and leadership. He has published many scholarly articles and books, including "The 48 Laws of Happiness."Rob shares how he saw life from multiple perspectives at an early age - ethnic, geographic, and social. His diverse career choices, from politics to film, television, startups, and education, have made him a Renaissance man with many unique skills. He uses these skills to explore important topics in our society and challenge the rules of industry gatekeepers.Dr. Rob emphasizes that he is a magnet, not a hustler. He believes that trust, vulnerability, and curiosity towards others are the best ways to build a better society. Fostering empathy in an increasingly divided world is crucial, but the journey starts within ourselves and with self-compassion. Our unique identities, passions, and values should be embraced, enjoyed, and fully lived. Surrender and enjoy the person you want to become. Notes⏳ Time accelerates as we age: how can we slow ourselves down to the speed of enjoying the time we have? 02:24😇 We need to be more aware of ourselves and other people: being fully present with life, moments, and others. 04:15👦🏾 Born in California and moved a lot around being a renaissance person as part Black, part white, and part Native American. 05:40✌🏾 Experiencing racism and colorism for the first time in Ohio: his journey from politics to startups to entertainment. 09:51▶️ Concept of starting all over again: parallels between different roles and Rob’s love for learning. 16:13🎯 Building trust by giving trust: reframing your disadvantages to advantages. 21:14🧪 My fate is tied to your fate: Ron’s formula for charisma. 26:35🤩 Looking at education as transformation: growing big people and creating more empathy. 30:10🥅 Changes start with teaching people to feel good about themselves: integrating self-compassion into K12 and the workforce will bring compassion for all. 39:21💎Rob’s RONderings: find what you're good at, what you like doing, what the world needs, surrender to that, and be satisfied with yourself. 45:25📙 Rob’s book 48 Laws of Happiness - fundamentals of resetting and reframing your perspective. 47:23Links:Connect with Dr. Rob:  www.linkedin.com/in/drrobcarpenterBook: www.amazon.com/dp/1736615505 Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Tomorrow is not promised!Akinwole Garrett (Aki) is an accomplished senior strategy and business development executive with over fifteen years of data driven corporate development, business development, strategy and management experience at the intersection of technology, media and telecommunications. He sits on the Fuqua Minority Alumni Advisory Board at Duke University, the Board of Trustees of The Shipley School and is a founding General Partner of Sankofa Family Ventures, a family office committed to investing in Black and Brown VC fund managers.Aki talks about his journey from growing up in South Philly to becoming a media executive at Revolt TV. He talks about the importance of maintaining this order: God, family, then work; this in turn will lead to success,Time on this planet is short - do things that give meaning to your life!🫂 Old friends who were in a fellowship program with Core Leadership New York 15 years ago. 01:09👦🏾 Aki was born and raised in a big family of educators in South Philadelphia: from public to private school and changes in his trajectory. 02:10🌟 Having 30 first cousins: growing up with role models and having accountability training by his brother. 06:14▶️ Soaking in all opportunities and figuring out who he is. 09:10🎓 College parties and having fun:  finance and accounting and undergrad who worked for Wall Street and Bear Stearns. 11:49👨🏾‍💼 Being on Wall Street during the financial crisis: getting back to business school, however, banking took a toll on his health. 13:59💍 Getting married and getting to media: changing life-style and moving from NY to North Carolina. 16:00✨ God, family, and work are Aki’s priorities: providence and the divine order when everything falls into place. 20:26😇 Children are God’s children: kids are blessings and spirits parents need to nurture in the specific relationship. 24:38🤩 “I'm so much more important to my children, and so much more important to God, than I am to any job.” 27:40🧸 Aki’s oldest daughter is just like him, the middle daughter is like his grandma, and the son is a confident ball of energy. 29:28🦸🏾‍♂️ Every superpower comes with edges and shadow: kids are a reflection of you. 35:56🏫 The Shipley School commencement speech: being a free and happy child with a safe place to fail and chase his dreams.  37:33🎯 Circles that help you during life: Core people Aki always can count on. 41:55💎 Aki’s RONdering: staying urgent - the time on this planet is short, so do stuff that gives meaning to your life. 48:00✌🏾 Revolt wants to change the narrative for Black and brown people globally: Mercy Street entertainment. 50:15LinksConnect with Akinwole: www.linkedin.com/in/akinwolegarrettIG / Threads: @akgeez215X: @akigarrettRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Don’t be boring!Taylor Delhagen started his early visits to the principal's office after being expelled from classes. Now he is a doctoral candidate at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education, where his studies are focused on leadership, equity, and the internationalization of higher education. He started his teaching journey in 2006 in NYC with Teach For America. After finishing his two-year commitment, Taylor was hooked and decided to stay in the classroom. He shares amazing and refreshing insights about equity and education. Taylor does not believe that “one size fits all” when it comes to children in education and believes that children should be engaged and entertained every day. Knowing content and pedagogy is not enough; design thinking is essential in creating a classroom that facilitates learning. Having gained experience in classrooms in the USA and abroad, Taylor has gained a wealth of knowledge and information about how a school and classroom should be run to apply academic success and community involvement.Being a person of your word and being trustworthy is important for effective teaching and learning, as well as relationships! Snow Notes: ✌️ Born in Michigan to a father who was a minister and worked with the anti-apartheid movement. 4:35👦🏻 In high school, Taylor often got himself into the principal's office and expelled from the class. 6:54🟣 After college, he felt passionate about Teach For America, where he worked with his wife. 11:07🇮🇳 Went from teaching in Brooklyn to research and teaching in India together with his wife. 13:49👨🏻‍🏫 His work in the Relay Graduate School of Education: teaching history teachers. 16:27😇 What we don’t know about the diversity of the Indian freedom movement. 22:44🎯 The importance of the art of critical thinking and the art of historical thinking. 26:09🤯 In India, the BJP party had come to power and immediately changed the history textbooks. 27:333️⃣ Three levels of operating within equity as equal outcomes: frameworks, charter schools, and new graduate schools of education. 32:01🤗 Taylor is inspired by the global organization - Teach for All. 32:53🎓 Ron reflects on his K-12 education experience and how it shaped his perspective on equity in education. 34:47💣 K-12 education in America was never meant to be built to teach all kids. 36:10💡 Charter schools were supposed to be places to innovate: but are they really? 38:57🔦 A teacher can't just go after the well-being - it has to be married to a deep learning experience. 42:02🇵🇪 How students in Peru applied student leadership, academic skills, and community involvement. 42:44🧠 Design thinking is essential for creating a classroom environment that facilitates learning; knowing content and pedagogy is not enough. 47:16💎 Taylor’s RONdering: Don’t be boring! Every single day, kids deserve to get engaged and entertained. 52:43 🤓 Taylor recommends Boston College's leadership in higher education program. 57:39Links:Connect with Taylor: www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-delhagen-2711a48Rapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

How to be a misfit that could fit into a lot of different places?Brandon White is an educator, emcee, podcaster, and poet. He is a former middle school ELA and Restorative Practices educator for the Rochester City School District and has worked for seven years as a servant leader intern and site coordinator for Freedom Schools Summer Literacy Programs in Rochester, NY. For seven years he worked as an ELA Specialist for UnboundEd, and currently, he serves as a consultant and professional development provider for systems and educators who are implementing ELA and Literacy Curriculum.The influence of Brandon's parents who were also deeply involved in social justice, made him see and feel the differences between two classes, the two sides of his hometown, different approaches to life and his privileges in education made him a specific person who can understand deep differences but also common grounds.Brandon shares amazing insights about hip-hop music, and why it touched him emotionally and intellectually to explore it deeper while he was growing up.  Education has shaped his family’s life through generations, and he chose to help make it better through his educational role. Yes, the system still lacks many things and Brandon felt it on his skin many times: lack of Black and Brown teachers, hiring practices, bad curriculum, and exploring beyond typical forms of education might help tremendously to serve communities.Why Brandon thinks ethnic tribalism helps white supremacy and how to cure that. Where is home to all the people, why roots and DNA are important, how basketball is changing, and how to improve the world by being a misfit are just some of the subjects from this episode.Keep on fighting for social justice with honesty and integrity!Notes:🏀 End-season tournament between Lakers and the Pacers: LeBron James' leadership sets the tone and lever for the team and the NBA.  02:13⛹🏽‍♂️ Brandon’s biases and expectations prevented him from enjoying basketball: love-hate relationship with the Knicks. 05:19🤩 History of teams and players: Knicks, Blazers, Lakers, Pat, Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Wembanyama, Sabonis, Doncic, Drazen Petrovic, Stojakovic. 08:22🏆 Valuing players, especially younger ones: K-12 education standards are changing just like basketball. 11:55🤩 Being in a doctoral program at Rochester University and feeling like 21 Jump Street.14:42🗽 Frictions between upstate and downstate of New York: born and raised in Rochester, NY. 17:17👩🏽‍🤝‍👨🏾 Growing up in a family with strong roots in civil rights and social justice: seeing a lot of different worldviews and different cultures, 20:33👩🏽‍💼 Wedge, Rochester is home to Frederick Douglass and Susan B Anthony: split custody allowed even the influence of two parents on Brandon. 24:05🧲 Importance of getting to the Magnet High School: racial and education factors - Brandon’s privileges and amazing foundations he got. 26:41🤓 Being a hip-hop head and thinking about being in education. 30:12💪🏽 Wu-Tang Triumph video amazed Brandon: demonstration of the culture - a different kind of hip hop. 31:23🎶 What music does to your brain and body: music can make you feel and think, and Brandon went in the past to research more artists. 37:06🧬 Receiving things from your ancestors: the narration, knowledge, trauma, and habits are in the DNA of our family. 40:41🎓 Brandon is an educational consultant: not all people in education should teach - there are so many roles that are crucial and needed.  44:36🤯 Issues with getting a job in Rochester: lack of black English teachers and media sensationalized and misinterpreted reporting about Brandon’s job. 48:50⚠️ Counterintuitive hiring practices in school districts: system needs changes and stepping away from politics and power. 51:50😎 Learning about himself through teaching: ELA teacher and working with UnboundED. 55:56👉🏽 Systems are built to have certain incentives:  inequity and unfairness that exist in the system. 01:03:58💎 Brandon RONdering: how do we stop ethnic tribalism from serving white supremacy? 01:07:47🏡 Growing up with the level of proximity across different identities: home is telling our story.  01:11:05✌🏽 Brandon’s work and podcast: how can we emphasize grade-level engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction in education? 01:17:07Links:Instagram- @litinpracticepodTwitter- @classroomBemail- bwhite@mayaclaude.comPodcast- The LP- Literature in PracticeLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

Jen Chau Fontan, a certified somatic coach, works towards helping people recreate the spaciousness that they already have.Living in Westchester, NY, after working within NYC nonprofits in management and talent/HR positions, Jen Chau Fontan transitioned into full-time coaching as an executive coach to senior leaders of progressive sector organizations through The Management Center, where she serves as an adjunct coach today. Jen created her practice, JCF Coaching, in 2018. Jen shares how she had many responsibilities in her early life, which gave her amazing experience in creating a culture and spaces for people to be happy.  With a gift for feeling people in somatic coaching, Jen explains how getting back to our bodies and finding time to work on the thing that is most important to our core is the essence of us humans.Family and circumstances around us, including culture and community, shape us; we are always practicing something, and we have to be aware of what it is that we are practicing.Notes:🌺 Jen had many responsibilities while growing up: HR, culture, and creating spaces for people to be happy. 04:00🔝 Limitations in DEI work always come from the top: becoming a coach and helping CEOs grow their leadership. 05:10🤩 Nurture and nature of Jen’s family: being tuned in with all of her family, and dynamics that helped her in her new company. 07:26🪞 Ron’s mom had a specific gift: Jen’s gift for feeling people in somatic coaching. 11:15⚡ Feeling people through Zoom is possible: picking up so many things in front of us. 14:19☯️ Ron’s spiritual coach, Julie Chan: all dimensions of knowledge and wisdom around us. 16:23🤓 What is somatic coaching: personal training for the most important thing you want to be. 17:40🤖 Getting us back to our bodies: how capitalism and racism are making us robotic - there is wisdom in the body.  19:43🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 What is great about being White, Black, Latinx, or Asian: the embodiment explains so many human characteristics.  23:47😇 Shaping stories from family, institutions, and communities: gender, race, and culture shape us.  27:03😍 Jen and Ron worked six years together in New Leaders: passion, love, and respect for the cause. 29:01🎳 Bowling matches during New Leaders: competitive and fun team building and socializing. 32:31💎 Jen’s RONderings: What are you practicing right now - we are always practicing something, so be aware of what. 35:39Links:Connect with Jen: www.linkedin.com/in/jen-chau-font%C3%A1nSomatic practice with Jen - "Easy Mondays": www.forms.gle/6XiUst8CLCQSmq9W8Sign up for a coaching consult: www.calendly.com/jcf-coaching/free-30-minute-consultation Jen's Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenchaufontan

We need to think more about living with intention and growing old gracefully. Risa Morimoto is the Founder and CEO of Modern Aging and Dream Retirement in Mexico.  She focuses on holistic health practices and lifestyles to optimize longevity for people in midlife. She is also an award-winning TV and documentary producer/director.  She has directed over 200 episodes of House Hunters International and other programs for HGTV, Animal Planet, A&E, Hulu and others. In our society, we are not creating a safe space for conversations around aging and health. Risa discovered the importance of finding the root causes of health issues rather than just treating symptoms. Being a woman of color and having perspectives of multicultural living brought her to the conclusion of how Eastern and Western medicines, combined, can provide answers for healthier lives. Her personal story about taking care of her parents led her to her life purpose and to help others to be healthier. Living in gratitude, resilience, and understanding that only small actions can lead to a more fulfilling life are the gems Risa is sharing with the audience. Bio-individuality and not a cookie-cutter approach to health care and wellness is the future if we want to have healthy and happy people. Humans are living beings who need to be looked as a whole. Grinding systems are not a good place to create healthy habits and meaningful change around health care and aging. What is the point of living until 100 if you are going to be sick all the time? Joy, meaningful connections, air, food, genes, habits, work, stress, personal growth, and time for self-care all have an important role in our lives. In order to live your life without regret, don’t forget to focus energy on meaningful pursuits.Show notes: 🎬 Risa is a filmmaker, a podcaster, and a documentarian: helping the start of Asian/Pacific/American Studies at NYU. 01:07🌸 Art was not a realistic pathway for Risa back then: film school at NYU. 02:59❤️‍🩹 Heart attack that made a change: what is the impact she wanted to leave behind? 04:14⚠️ Stress is at the core of so many illnesses: all the things that bring us down. 07:58⚡ The power of joy and feeling safe: Modern Aging - healthier aging process. 09:37🧓🏻 Resilience and gratitude her mom had in sickness: documentary series on Asian-American families and caregiving. 15:44😇 Living up to 100, but being sick all the time: hustle and work can’t help you age gracefully. 22:40🎯 Western medicine vs Eastern medicine: marrying both and finding roots of the diseases -  holistic health. 27:17🤓 How identities get put into policies that are created: creating safe spaces for people of color and need for shifting things. 31:22🧠 Mindset changes and habits are making it work: wellness and a personalized approach to it. 34:05🏃🏻‍♀️ Working out after 14 hours of filming and Ron’s workout habits. 38:08😍 Producing House Hunters: filmmaking and traveling to many places. 41:26🙏 Risa’s hodgepodge projects: appreciating your life to move in it meaningfully.  47:58💎 Risa’s RONdering: Living without regret - we are not limitless, so beware of where you are focusing your energy. 49:44.🥅 Don’t let other people define you: do what makes you happy. 51:41Links:Modern Aging:  thisismodernaging.comGet Strong Over 40: getstrongover40.comDream Retirement in Mexico: www.dreamretirementinmexico.comRapatalo Group: rapataloconsulting@gmail.comLeverage Publishing: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comConnect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloTwitter: https://twitter.com/phenomeronInstagram: www.instagram.com/phenomeron

There is power in living life in community; no one is superhuman.Mary Rice-Boothe, Ed.D., currently serves as Executive Director, Curriculum Development and Equity at the NYC Leadership Academy. She has had the opportunity to partner withschool systems across the country to support them in implementing their equity policies, as well as supporting the development of equity-focused resources for district-levelleaders looking to name and dismantle the inequitable practices they are seeing at theschool and district levels. Mary holds a BA in Metropolitan Studies from New York University, an MA in English and English Education from the City College of New York, and a Doctorate Degree in Leadership and Organizational Change from the University of Southern California, and has written Leading Within Systems of Inequity in Education: A Liberation Guide for Leaders of Color.The challenge we are all faced with is the question of, how do we take care of ourselves, physically and spiritually, but also emotionally. This is not something that can be achieved alone, we have to look further into community, allowing ourselves to learn from those around us; correlation is key.Nurturing ourselves will only be possible with the help of others!Show notes:🌞 Ron and Mary have so much in common: concentric circles in New Leaders, K12 education, and NYU. 02:00🧔🏾‍♀️ The low expectations that were put on women in three generations: a story of the cotton fields of Arkansas. 03:28👩🏾‍🏫 Experiencing education in practice in college: after-school nonprofit world and becoming a teacher. 08:22📙 Mary wrote a book: practical advice and examples for those who want to dismantle the system and create a more equitable space. 11:27😇 Liberation guide: competencies that are a framework for the book, divided into three sections. 15:54⚡ Being a principal of a school is a lonely job: the power of being in a community. 19:12🏆 Mary’s circles of champions; she has multiple of those: nurturing yourself with the help of others. 22:54🏃🏾‍♀️ Running marathons: Mary’s first marathon and creating time for herself and her body.  25:10🌸 How do you take care of yourself physically, spiritually, and emotionally? 30:13😍 Building systems of wellness in K-12 education: creating space for your team to feel good. 34:36⚠️ Equity and leadership development: not all teams are working in witness times and hours. 38:11🤓 Her book as retention strategy: a framework for liberation to happen. 40:25💎 Mary’s RONdering: Power of doing things together - you are not a superhuman. 42:04🤔 Individual thinking and rise and grind culture is not a pathway to real, healthy success. 44:53Links:Purchase book: https://bookshop.org/a/85442/9781416631835 Sign-up for newsletter: https://maryriceboothe.substack.com/Connect: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mriceboothe/. Partner- website: www.leadershipacademy.org