Delayna K. Watkins, BSN, RN, BCPA

I attribute my success to a combination of passion, purpose, and servant-hearted leadership. I believe I’ve been called to this work, and because I genuinely love what I do, I’m able to approach it with creativity, intention, and authenticity. I lead from a place of care and service, and I believe that allows me to show up in a way that feels both meaningful and impactful. When your work is rooted in genuine passion and a true desire to serve others, it naturally shapes how you lead, how you connect, and ultimately how you make a difference.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to pursue my work with passion, but not at the expense of myself. When you care deeply about what you’re building, it’s easy to become so consumed by the vision, the goals, and the responsibility that you forget to create space to rest, reset, and be fully present. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that balance is necessary to avoid burnout and to sustain the work long term.

It’s interesting because, as a nurse, you would think that lesson would come naturally to me. But even in a helping profession, it’s possible to pour out so much that you begin to run on empty. I’ve learned that in order to truly show up well for the work, for the people I serve, and for the mission I care about, I have to be intentional about pulling back, regrouping, and protecting my own well-being too.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to give yourself permission not to have all the answers at the beginning. Clarity often comes through doing the work, staying curious, and being willing to research, learn, and grow along the way. What matters most early on is not knowing everything, but understanding your why.

Be clear about your purpose, the population you want to serve, and the impact you hope to make. That foundation will help guide your decisions even when there are things you still need to learn. I would also encourage young women to align themselves with mentors, collaborators, and other professionals who can provide insight, wisdom, and support in the areas that feel unfamiliar.

You do not have to know everything to get started. You just need to be grounded in your purpose, committed to learning, and willing to grow into the wor

One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is access to funding. For many nonprofits and community-based organizations, the need is great, but the resources often do not match the demand. We are constantly being asked to do more with less while still trying to deliver meaningful, high-quality impact.

At the same time, I believe that challenge has also created one of the greatest opportunities: partnership and collaboration. Over the last two years, we have become even more intentional about building relationships with other organizations, aligning our efforts, and pooling resources where it makes sense. Our mindset has been that if multiple organizations are facing similar funding barriers, there is real value in coming together rather than trying to solve everything in isolation.

So while funding remains a significant hurdle, collaboration has become a powerful strategy for sustainability, innovation, and broader community impact. It has allowed us to extend our reach, strengthen our programming, and create solutions that are more collective and effective.

The values that are most important to me right now are confidence and loyalty. Confidence helps me trust my voice, lead with intention, and continue moving forward in both life and work with clarity and purpose. Loyalty keeps me grounded in who I am. It shapes how I show up for my mission, my community, and the relationships I value most. Together, those two values guide me in how I lead, how I serve, and how I stay aligned with what matters most.