Lakisha Adams, MPA

I attribute my success to my keen ability to make people feel comfortable and to meet them where they are. Whether I'm working with C-suite executives or people directly in the community, I am able to get in the mud with people, and they appreciate my authenticity. I show up fully myself and make people feel comfortable in being themselves. My secret sauce is that I am a bridge builder and a connector. I connect people, ideas, and communities. I have this professional acumen, but I'm also from the community, so I am able to make those connections and serve as the bridge between different worlds. People feel seen when they work with me, and that ability to create authentic connections across all levels has been the foundation of my success over more than 20 years in this work.

The best career advice I have ever received was to lead with integrity. When you are working in social justice and you come in and see that things are not okay, you work every day to make it a better place. But when you no longer feel and see the issues being addressed in the environment, then maybe it's time to go. You need to have a level of integrity where you are always willing to do the right thing for the people and not compromise because of the systems. I was taught that this work takes a level of bravery and being willing to put skin in the game. So to do this work with a sense of bravery and willingness to take risks has been the most important advice I have received and followed throughout my career.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to listen more than you speak. Listening helps you understand where the gaps are, and identifying where the gaps are is your superpower because now you can develop and create space for yourself by solving a problem. Be inquisitive and always be willing to learn new skills. Most importantly, recognize that your voice has power and that you belong. You are there because you belong there, and you have value to add. We all deal with imposter syndrome and wonder if we can get a seat at the table, but you don't need to ask for permission. If you listen, you will identify where the challenges and gaps are, and you can create a plan of action so that your work will speak when you don't even have to.

One of the biggest challenges in her field is that women in social justice and leadership development continue to face persistent gender bias and structural inequalities that limit advancement opportunities. Many women also struggle with a lack of mentorship and support while navigating double standards around leadership and assertiveness. In many cases, they are placed in high-pressure “glass cliff” leadership roles while also balancing disproportionate family and caregiving responsibilities. At the same time, she sees a growing opportunity to create more inclusive leadership spaces, strengthen mentorship networks, and empower women to lead authentically and boldly.

The values most important to me in my work and personal life are social justice, equality, empowerment, and empathy. I am also deeply committed to cultivating work environments that are conducive to work-life balance. I believe in creating restorative team approaches where we can actually see one another as individuals, because that minimizes conflict. When you create a work environment where people feel seen as individuals, you can then empower them to cultivate a space where they are able to create and make space for others. I am passionate about building that bridge between leadership and the human part of us, because we are all human beings leading organizations and companies. When we are able to translate those basic values into workspaces, we create a higher impact industry. At the end of the day, when people feel good and feel well, they do well, and that impacts all of our bottom lines. I also value community building and being in community, which is why I cultivate experiences and bring people together. I am a person of faith and participate in a very social justice-centered church community where I serve.