Happy International Women’s Day, Minority Leaders!

Our mission is to celebrate and amplify the voices of diverse women leaders, and of course help inspire the next generation.

The theme of International Women's Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion, and that is what we do every day around here. As you can imagine, International Women's Day is our favorite holiday!

I am happy to be back with a new episode featuring my good friend, the inspirational Jamila Thompson, acting Chief of Staff for the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

In this episode Jamila shares her journey to the White House, where she is helping to shape more inclusive trade policies. During our conversation Jamila honors her former bosses, congressional giants Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the late Congressman John Lewis, whose guidance framed her principles in policymaking. We discuss how to glean insight and wisdom from every stage of our careers-- from Hill internships to high-stakes management roles in the executive branch. We explore how such experiences forge not only effective policymakers, but also compassionate leaders. We even take some lessons in leadership from the tennis court, where Jamila learned the secret to long term success is perseverance.

We discuss how to glean insight and wisdom from every stage of our careers-- from Hill internships to high-stakes management roles in the executive branch. We explore how such experiences forge not only effective policymakers but also compassionate leaders. We also take some lessons in leadership from the tennis court, where Jamila learned the secret to long term success is perseverance.

As proud former congressional staffers, we spotlight the ascent of influential women of color like USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai and OMB Director Shalanda Young, who rose from the negotiating tables of Congress to powerhouse positions in President Biden's administration. We also delve into the significance of the US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership, reflecting on the Biden-Harris administration's engagement with African nations.

I hope you enjoy this enlightening discussion as much as we did.

Correction: Yes, even brilliant Minority Leaders sometimes experience a slip of the tongue. At round the 32 minute mark, Secretary Xavier Becerra is referred to as the Secretary of Homeland Security . He is the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
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A note of thanks:

Sadly, this is likely my last episode for a while. My firm, Catalyst Global Strategies is growing rapidly this year, and I have less free time to bring you high quality episodes of this podcast. Don't fret, however, as I will continue to bring you special episodes and collaborations featuring dynamic women of color leaders in the furture. .. So stay subscribed and continue to follo

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The Minority Leaders Podcast is a women of color leadership initiative sponsored by Catalyst Global Strategies, LLC, a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. As #Catalysts4Good we have partnered with the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) chapters of The Links, Incorporated to bring you a special episode of the Minority Leaders in support of the 16th Annual DMV Links Red Dress Weekend!

In this episode, I am joined by Suzanne Walker—President Arlington (VA) Chapter of the Links Incorporated and Dr. Kelly Epps-Anderson, MD, MSHP— a Link member and Director of Interventional Cardiology Clinical Trials at the Inova Schar Heart and Vascular Institute to get to the heart of the matter.

Heart health isn't just a personal concern; it's a community triumph—or tragedy. That's the hard-hitting reality we unpack during this episode. Together, we unravel the startling statistics of cardiovascular disease in Black women and the life-saving measures being implemented through the Red Dress Weekend. This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of race, health, and community, as we shine a spotlight on this silent killer that affects 59% of Black women over 20.

If you're looking to empower yourself and your loved ones with the tools to take charge of your heart health, make sure to catch the 16th Annual DMV Links Red Dress Weekend kickoff event on event on #NationalWearRedDay Friday, February 02, 2024 from 7:00pm-9:00pm ET on Facebook Live, coming to you “Straight From The Heart”, with expert speakers + panelists + curated content on #hearthealth #totalwellness.
Register for the event here.

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Please join us on this leadership journey by subscribing, supporting, rating, reviewing and sharing this episode! Also follow us here:

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Dear Minority Leaders,

Its been a few weeks, but we are back in full force!

In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Yleem D.S. Poblete, former Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Trump Administration and Co-Founder of Poblete Analysis Group, LLC.

I first met Yleem when she was Republican Staff Director of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and have watched her career flourish in the decade and a half since. During our conversation, Yleem details her Cuban American roots and journey to the highest levels of power in Washington. There's something inspiring about how her personal narrative intertwines with her professional accomplishments, revealing the undeniable impact of her diasporan experience on her journey in public service Yleem provides a candid look at the reality of navigating government as a political appointee. We discuss her support for Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, and the contrast between public personas and the actual work of politics. While we clearly disagree on political matters, we navigate our disagreement with grace and mutual respect, with Yleem noting the relevance of the recent Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire primary on political discourse.

Our conversation is a powerful reminder of the need to foster relationships across political divides, and it underscores the significance of nuanced governance in an era often void of such subtleties.

Its a good listen. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as we did and share it with someone with differing political viewpoints than yours. Then let me know what you think!

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Happy New Year, Minority Leaders!

In this first episode of 2024, we are joined by Larisa Hovannisian, Founder and CEO of Teach For Armenia. I love this conversation because it is deep, inspirational, and highlights the power of diasporans to impact the communities where they or parents once fled.

I am proud to say that is our first international episode because Larisa speaks with us from Armenia. She moved back to her birth country just over a decade ago with just two suitcases. Larisa explains how a college course on social impact business inspired her to abandon plans for a career in fashion merchandizing to eventually launch Teach for Armenia. As a diasporan, her motivation to abandon life in the U.S. to help bring quality education to underserved children of Armenia is nothing short of inspirational.

Larisa discusses the challenges of launching a national non profit, especially after many of her personnel and the children she serves were impacted by the renewed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh ( Artsakh). As Larisa describes, and CNN and others have reported, Nagorno-Karabakh has been "under blockade since December 2022, when Azerbaijan-backed activists established a military checkpoint on the Lachin corridor. The blockade prevented the import of food, fuel and medicine to Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting fears that residents were being left to starve" (CNN). In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces rapidly seized the region after 24 hours of fighting and the ethnic Armenians fled to Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh's government has said the self-declared republic will cease to exist by this month- January 2024 (BBC). Larisa and her team at Teach for Armenia are now dealing with the impact of the conflict on its students, two of whom were killed in the conflict according to her.

You don't want to miss this powerful episode. We look forward to bringing you more compelling stories of power women leaders serving their communities here in the United States and across the globe in 2024.

***Special thanks to my good friend, Jirair Ratevosian for helping me find Larisa. Jirair is a champion for human rights and the Armenian people, and I am proud to help support his work to help shed light on the crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.


Read more on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh :
Council on Foreign Relations
Eurasianet.org
New York Times
Foreign Affairs

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Please join us on this leadership journey by subscribing, supporting, rating, reviewing and sharing this episode! Also follow us here:

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Happy Holidays, Minority Leaders!

This time of the year many of us are taking stock of all the blessings in our lives. One thing I am blessed with is a village of smart, supportive, and inspiring women leaders. Today I am excited to speak with one of my closest friends, Crystal Lander, Chief Strategic Engagement Officer at Pathfinder International.

Crystal is a high profile and internationally recognized senior leader with 20 years of experience in global health and development, project and program management, and professional training and development. She manages Pathfinder's global advocacy, communications and engagement teams and sits on the management team. Crystal has experience working in more than 15 countries with extensive travel to more than 53 countries. She has proven expertise in civil society development, influence policy and advocacy, communications campaigns, and coalition building. She is multilingual advocate with a passion for promoting awareness and conducting international speeches on women’s health issues and leadership including HIV, reproductive and maternal health, and cancer. She has given hundreds of speeches, trainings and workshops worldwide on advocacy, policy, global health and policy development. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Economics and a Master of Public Health from Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with a degree in International Health Policy.

When I think about someone who gives back to her community, I think of Crystal. To me, she is super woman. She is truly the busiest woman I know. She is an active member of the Jack and Jill of America, Inc., president of the Alexandria (VA) West Rotary Club and president of her local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to name a few. Indeed, Crystal is a super volunteer-- someone you can count on to activate and inspire others to drive impact in their communities both here at home and globally. I honestly don't know how she does it all!

We discuss her esteemed career; the influence of her parents on her drive to give back to her community; her decision to become a 'single mom by choice' at 40 years old; how her son Caleb keeps her grounded; and the huge role her parents and family- through blood as well as friendship- play in helping her thrive as a working single mom and community leader. She also offers sage advice to the net generation of Minority Leaders.

Crystal is truly a gift to everyone in her circle and I am happy to share her with you in this holiday episode. Enjoy!

Have a blessed holiday!
Algene & The Minority Leaders Podcast

*PS- Check out our Holiday Travel Playlist featuring some of my favorite episodes celebrating friendship and community!

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Dear Minority Leaders,

Today I'm joined by Bassima Alghussein, Executive Director of Middle East Policy Council. Bassima is a proud Palestinian American woman whose background spans the legislative and executive branches of government, prominent global think tanks, the media and consulting. She has served on Capitol Hill; as a White House appointed advisor in the Obama Administration; and led Congressional Affairs for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. As founder of Alghussein Global Strategies, Bassima is a sought after thought leader who frequently appears on international news outlets reaching audiences in over 40 countries worldwide. She is a board member for Women of Color Advancing Peace & Security (WCAPS), among other volunteer positions. Read her full bio here.

This is one of the most important conversations I've had thus far on the podcast because it truly demonstrates why representation matters in the U.S. policymaking space. Diasporan voices matter in these conversations. Bassima’s perspective is even more important now due to the most recent war in Israel and Gaza that started after the horrific attacks Hamas perpetrated against the Israeli people on October 7th. This is not only due to her policy expertise, but also because she is in constant contact with relatives in Gaza. Tragically, 30 of those relatives have been killed during this conflict and she is desperately trying to help 18 other relatives escape the war. During our conversation, Bassima provides a brief history lesson about the creation of the state of Israel through the eyes of her father who was forced to seek refuge in Egypt in 1948. She breaks down how Hamas came into power and how they have been able to undemocratically hold on to that power even though- according to her- the U.S.- designated terrorist group is deeply disliked by many Palestinians.

This is a complex issue and thus a complex conversation. Throughout our discussion, we make many points that do not support what Zionist leaders in the Israeli government is doing in Gaza. Conversely, we make points that do not support what Hamas has done in Gaza and in Israel. I want you the listeners to hear all the points and not just one snippet or another. I do not want you to conflate anything said with antisemitism or take it as in any way unsupportive of the Israeli people. To be clear-- we stand in support of all the innocent civilians tragically impacted by this war. As a child of war myself, I can’t stress that enough. Nevertheless, some of you will not like what Bassima and I say in this episode. That is okay, but please listen with an open heart and an open mind.

In the coming weeks, I will be speaking with a pro- Israeli minority leader and former Republican staff director in the House of Representatives to bring you a different perspective on the conflict. So please listen, share, and review this episode, and don’t forget to subscribe to hear upcoming episodes. We need your support to keep bringing you these important convers

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Dear Minority Leaders,

Today I am excited and honored to speak with my good friend Hope E. Goins, Minority Staff Director of the House Committee on Homeland Security and bestselling children’s author.

Hope is the top advisor to Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson on all matters related to the oversight of the Department of Homeland Security and national security related matters throughout the Executive Branch, including counterterrorism, countering violent extremism, intelligence, cybersecurity, natural disasters and civil rights and civil liberties.

Hope has been recognized by Roll Call and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies for leading the most diverse staff in the United States Congress.

With over 15 years of Capitol Hill experience, Hope has supervised the negotiation of key homeland security legislation. In 2021, Hope was tapped to be a senior advisor on the Select Committee on the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.

During our conversation, Hope discusses her experience being named staff director of her committee shortly after former president Trump was inaugurated and implemented his infamous Muslim ban. We discuss the challenges of bringing together a diverse staff during such a challenging and divisive time, as well as how the recent Speaker race results may further impact Congress, and why representation matters in our national security landscape.

Hope is a powerful voice for people of color at the highest levels of U.S. policy making, always bringing our perspectives with her to the decision making table. As if that isn’t enough, Hope somehow found time to author a best selling children’s book, The Adventures of Chloe and Chris: The Three Branches of Government, that demystifies the United States Government for children. My son Asa has a copy, so I can attest first hand to the powerful teaching tool the book offers. It can even teach us adults a few things!

Hope is a board member of Our Village United, Black Women’s Congressional Alliance, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated.

I am honored to have Hope share her experience and wisdom with us today.

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Dear Minority Leaders,Today my guest is Ramona Oliver, senior director of the National Education Association’s Center for Communications. Prior to her senior director position, Oliver worked for Emily’s List, the Democratic Governors Association, the Service Employees International Union, MoveOn.org, and numerous political campaigns.Oliver’s career came to focus on communication and education after working with Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania. A seasoned political communications expert, Oliver’s work today is increasingly dedicated to advocating for children and students at the national level.Our conversation covers how Oliver discovered her passion for communications, and how her family history influenced her view of education. We also cover the current, difficult issues facing parents, teachers and schools in our charged political atmosphere. This is an illuminating interview for parents, educators, students, or anyone interested in communications or education policy.

To find out more about Ramona Oliver and her work with the National Education Association’s Center for Communications, please check out these links below:

National Education Association: www.nea.org
X(Twitter): twitter.com/RamonaOliver
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ramonaoliver

Support the show

Please join us on this leadership journey by subscribing, supporting, rating, reviewing and sharing this episode! Also follow us here:

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