Dondi Black

I attribute my success to curiosity, resilience, and a genuine investment in people. I’ve learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room.Iit’s about listening well, building trust, and creating clarity during moments of change.

I’ve also been intentional about practicing self-advocacy and encouraging others to do the same. Many of the opportunities that shaped my career came from being willing to step forward before I felt completely ready.

Most importantly, I believe lasting success is built through strong relationships, healthy debate, adaptability, and leading with both empathy and accountability.

“Don’t confuse being busy with being valuable.”

Early in my career, I thought success meant proving myself in every meeting, responding to every issue, and carrying as much as possible on my shoulders. Over time, I learned that the leaders who create the greatest impact are the ones who bring clarity, judgment, and perspective- not just activity.

That advice changed how I lead. It taught me to focus less on being visible in every moment and more on where I can create meaningful outcomes, develop strong teams, and help organizations move forward with purpose.

It also reinforced something I now strongly believe: your voice carries more weight when people know you speak with intention.

Don’t sit quietly in the corner waiting for someone to discover how talented, capable, or hardworking you are. Visibility matters. Self-advocacy matters. And learning how to do it well is truly an art.

For many women, that can feel uncomfortable because we are often taught to equate self-advocacy with boasting. There is a balance to strike, and learning how to walk that line with confidence and authenticity is incredibly important.

I encourage people to speak up. Share your ideas. Talk about the work you’ve done and, more importantly, connect that work to outcomes and impact. Help people understand not just what you contributed, but why it mattered.

Some of the most talented people I’ve worked with remained overlooked simply because they assumed great work would naturally speak for itself. Sometimes it does, but often, leadership and opportunity follow those who can clearly articulate their value.

It’s a topic I care deeply about. I’ve written and spoken about the art of self-advocacy with women’s leadership groups because I believe it is one of the most important professional skills people can develop- not to demand attention, but to ensure their contributions are seen, understood, and valued.

One of the biggest opportunities I see right now is at the intersection of AI innovation and governance — especially as businesses accelerate adoption of Agentic AI and embedded AI experiences.

It’s been exciting to see so many more women step into technology leadership over the last decade, but I still don’t see enough voices helping connect the technology strategy to governance, business outcomes, and long-term accountability.

Right now, many organizations are focused on what AI can do, but not enough are focused on what decisions should be delegated, how outcomes are monitored, and how trust and transparency are maintained.

There is tremendous opportunity for leaders- particularly women with deep technology expertise, to help businesses design practical, responsible governance models that translate innovation into real, sustainable business value.

It comes down to: integrity, empathy, curiosity, and accountability.

I believe trust is the foundation of every strong relationship, team, and business, and trust is built through honesty, transparency, and consistency in how you lead. I also believe deeply in treating people with empathy and respect, especially during moments of change or uncertainty.

Curiosity has been a driving force throughout my career. It keeps you learning, evolving, and open to new perspectives. And accountability matters because leadership is not just about vision. It’s also about follow-through, ownership, and creating outcomes that positively impact people and businesses alike.