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 have hard accountability conversations with care, and people appreciate my authenticity. I show up fully myself and which attributes to people feeling comfortable in being themselves. My secret sauce is that I have a keen ability to identify gaps and then create innovative solutions which have a direct impact on the bottom line. I connect people, ideas, and communities. My combined professional acumen, with being from the community, allows me the strategic ability to make those connections and serve as the bridge between different worlds. People feel seen and supported when they work with me, and that enables me to create authentic connections across all levels and sectors 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 leading change, you can only take an organization as far as it is willing to grow. But when you no longer feel and see the issues being addressed in the environment, there is an ethical decision to be made. You need to have a level of integrity where you are always willing to do the right thing for the people and not lose sight because of the system pressures. 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 you can then position yourself and create space for others to design solutions. 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. Women often deal with imposter syndrome and question their worthiness of 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 exist, 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. Additionally, outdated approaches to measuring performance is a challenge. 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 approaches where teams can actually relate to one another in a way recognizing their individual roles as part of a larger ecosystem, as this minimizes conflict. When you create a work environment where people feel seen, you empower them to communicate productively, and take ownership over the shared mission. I am passionate about building that bridge between leadership and the human part of us. 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 heard, they do well, and that impacts all of our bottom lines. As a person of faith, I consider it a responsibility to serve and am a proud member of a social justice-centered church community.