Building the Table: Leadership, Power & The Climb

Leadership conversations love to talk about intention.This one talks about impact. In this episode of Talentless, Desiree Goldey and Ashley King sit down with Felicia Smith, founder of The Climb, to unpack what leadership development actually looks like when diversity moves beyond buzzwords and into real behavior, decision-making, and power structures. We get into: The moment representation stops being a “pipeline problem” Why mentorship without systems falls short How bias hides behind words like fit and readiness What leaders consistently miss when evaluating talent Why building better tables matters more than asking for a seat This conversation blends real leadership strategy with the deeper psychology behind access, opportunity, and advancement — and challenges leaders to move from performative support to meaningful action. Learn more about The Climb: the-climb.org Connect with Felicia Smith on LinkedIn