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

Support the show

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

• Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913
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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.

Support the Show.

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

• Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery
• Facebook: @theminorityleaders

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!

Support the show

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

• Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery
• Facebook: @theminorityleaders