Brittany A. Holloman, Ph.D.

I attribute my success to a combination of faith, self-belief, and a strong support system. My faith has been the foundation that has carried me through some of the most challenging seasons of my life and career. There have been moments when I didn't have all the answers, but I trusted that God was ordering my steps and preparing me for what was next.

I also believe in trusting myself. My mind and my gut have not failed me yet. I often remind young people that you got to this point because you are smart, capable, and resilient. Trust yourself. Too often we second-guess ourselves when we're stepping into new opportunities, but the same instincts, determination, and work ethic that got you here will continue to carry you forward.

I've also been blessed with a strong support system of family, friends, mentors, colleagues, and champions who have encouraged me, challenged me, and reminded me of who I am when I needed it most. Success is rarely a solo journey. Having people in your corner who believe in you, pray for you, and push you to be your best is invaluable.

I believe that your network is a reflection of your net worth. Building meaningful relationships has been one of the most important lessons of my career. Networking didn't always come naturally to me, but I've learned the value of being intentional about building connections, showing up in the right spaces, and surrounding myself with people who inspire growth and opportunity.

Another key to my success has been building strong teams. No vision becomes reality alone. I've been fortunate to work with talented people who bought into the mission early and were willing to help build something from the ground up. Having a team that believes in the vision and is committed to the work makes all the difference.

It's never easy when you're creating something from scratch or operating without unlimited resources. There are challenges, setbacks, and moments of uncertainty. But when your faith is strong, your support system is solid, and you're clear about your purpose, you find a way to keep moving forward. The impact you create, the lives you touch, and the opportunities you help build make every challenge worth it.

One of the best pieces of career advice I've received is to be intentional about finding mentors and learning from women in every season of leadership. Having access to different perspectives, experiences, and leadership styles has been instrumental in my growth. It's reminded me that there is no one path to success and that we can learn something valuable from every person willing to share their journey.

I would tell young women to believe in themselves. You got to this point because you are smart, capable, and resilient. Trust yourself. Your instincts, your work ethic, and your determination have carried you this far, and there's no reason to believe they won't continue to carry you forward.

I also think it's incredibly important for young women and girls to see other women doing amazing things in every phase and stage of life. Representation matters. When you can see someone who looks like you leading, building, creating, and succeeding, it helps you believe that those opportunities are possible for you too. That's one of the reasons mentorship is so important to me. Throughout my career, I had a lot of male mentors who poured into me, and I am incredibly grateful for their guidance and support. But I often wished I had more women mentors who could share their experiences and help me navigate certain challenges from a perspective I could directly relate to. Because of that, I've always tried to be what I didn't have a lot of—a visible example and accessible mentor for the next generation.

I recently completed a women's leadership program here in Birmingham, and one of the common themes that emerged was how important it is for women to see other women in leadership. We simply don't see it enough. Young women need representation. They need examples. They need people who can show them what's possible and remind them that they belong in every room they aspire to enter.

One of the biggest challenges is that it's never easy when you're building something from the ground up, especially when you don't have large buckets of money behind you. As a startup organization, you're often creating systems, processes, and opportunities from scratch while trying to maximize limited resources. That can be challenging, but it also forces you to be creative, strategic, and resilient. Another challenge is helping people understand who you are and what you actually do. Sometimes people decide what they think HBCU C.A.R.E.S. does instead of taking the time to learn about our mission and model. When that happens, they tend to put us in a box and expect us to provide something that may not align with our purpose. We spend a lot of time educating people about our work and helping them understand where we can add value. It's a constant balance of staying mission-focused while remaining flexible enough to meet emerging needs. At the same time, the opportunities ahead are tremendous. Today, our primary focus is Alabama, with some work extending into Louisiana, but I believe that within the next five years HBCU C.A.R.E.S. will be working with at least half of the nation's HBCUs. The opportunity to expand our reach, deepen our research efforts, grow our team from four employees to fifteen or more, and eventually establish a dedicated HBCU C.A.R.E.S. headquarters is incredibly exciting.

We're also exploring ways to evolve our service model. Currently, institutions do not pay to work with us, which has allowed us to build strong relationships and demonstrate value. As we continue to grow, I anticipate implementing a fee-based structure for certain services and programs. Our mission will remain the same, but creating diversified revenue streams will help ensure long-term sustainability and allow us to increase our impact for the institutions and communities we serve.

The values that matter most to me are believing in yourself, persevering through challenges, and staying true to your purpose.

One of the biggest turning points in my life was leaving a career with the U.S. Forest Service. It was a good job with great benefits and a clear career path, but deep down I knew it wasn't where I was supposed to be. It wasn't fulfilling, it wasn't my purpose, and it wasn't where I felt called to make an impact. At some point, I realized I didn't want to spend my life talking about problems—I wanted to do something about them. That decision changed everything for me and continues to shape how I approach my work today.

I also deeply value mentorship and representation. Young girls need to see women leading, building, creating, and thriving in every season of life. I want to be what I didn't always have enough of growing up—a visible example that success can look different and that there is room for them at every table. Working with young people has always been a passion of mine. I love helping them see possibilities for themselves that they may not have considered before and encouraging them to dream bigger. Another value that guides me is collaboration. I've learned that the best work happens when talented people come together around a shared vision. Building strong teams, creating meaningful partnerships, and bringing people to the table has been a hallmark of my career and something I genuinely enjoy. Outside of work, I value balance and making time for the things that bring me joy. I love reading, hiking with my Shih Tzu, Chyna, cooking, shopping, traveling, and going to the movies.