It Takes a Village to Support a Leader

As the old African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” This is also true in developing impactful leaders; it requires an entire ecosystem of support. The WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership fellowship is constructed with this wisdom in mind.

As part of the program, fellows are paired with executive coaches who provide guidance, thought partnership and personal development support. The fellows meet with their executive coaches on a regular basis over the course of the 18-month fellowship to dig deeply into their leadership practice and identify strengths, as well as areas of growth.

At the class three gathering in New Mexico this May, fellows had the opportunity to interact with their executive coaches in person and reflect upon how this relationship has impacted their leadership journeys.

“It’s important to understand that you don’t know everything.” – Jarvis Dortch, Mississippi fellow

Jarvis Dortch is passionate about creating change in his home state of Mississippi. He currently serves as the executive director of the ACLU of Mississippi, and previously was in the Mississippi House of Representatives, representing the 66th District.

For Jarvis, the biggest impact of his executive coaching experience has been identifying inadvertent impact. “One thing my coach has helped me understand is that I can display actions or behaviors that have an unintentional impact on my team. My coach has helped me to assess that impact and given me actionable steps for ensuring that my intentions and desires are well understood by the people I lead.”

It is these action steps that Jarvis finds most useful. “I appreciate that my coach and I actively work together on challenges I am facing in my real life, in real time. At the gatherings, it is so helpful to take those learnings and have a space where I can talk with someone and explain how I am feeling, how things are landing, and dig deep into the implications on my life and leadership practice.”

“It’s about bridging the gaps in your journey and your self-perception.” – Bennetta Thomas, Michigan fellow

A community health advocate in Detroit, Michigan, Bennetta describes her work as bridging health inequities through education, advocacy, service and partnership. Like many leaders, Bennetta wears several hats, and she credits her executive coaching experience with helping her gain clarity around her journey and her work.

“I believe leaders need coaches because coaches help us bridge the gaps. Not only by helping us identify our blind spots, but by awakening the parts of us that we haven’t tapped into yet.”

Like Jarvis, Bennetta appreciates how her executive coach focuses on manageable action steps and encourages her to honor her progress. “My coach has helped me reframe my thinking. Before, I was missing opportunities to celebrate myself. Naturally, we tend to focus on our weaknesses, but I’ve learned how to elevate my strengths and not stand in my own way.”

“Leadership can be a very isolating experience.” – Jennifer Larino, New Orleans fellow

Jennifer Larino is the co-founder and executive director of Lede New Orleans, a community journalism nonprofit that prepares young people ages 18 to 25 for careers in media with a special focus on those from communities who have been historically underrepresented.

In Jennifer’s experience, so much of the work of leadership is personal growth that can often be a lonely process. “Being the co-founder and now executive director, I’m having to quickly adapt, change and learn new skills, and there isn’t always someone to walk that journey with me. My coaching experience has given me time and space to step back and get a third-party perspective. In leadership it is so crucial to find that intentional collaboration and space to hold a mirror up to what you’re doing and identify the specific skills needed to rise to the occasion.”

Jennifer also noted how the executive coaching experience compliments other aspects of the fellowship program, like the Benchmarks® by Design 360 leadership assessment where fellows gather quantitative feedback from people with whom they work. “This fellowship is unique because we are gifted with foundational data we can bring to our coaches and actively build on those learnings.”

“Even in the moments where I wanted to dismiss myself, I’m so grateful to have people that reach for me.” – Neema Pickett, New Mexico fellow

Neema Pickett is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she leads the City of Albuquerque’s Office of Black Community Engagement to create the infrastructure needed to support Black families.

Neema likens her experience in the fellowship program to chocolate cake, rich with layers of value and impact, and each component building on the last.

“It’s really powerful to have someone who can shine a light on the realities of the journey, even the difficult parts.”

Neema finds the balanced perspective that her coach brings to their relationship particularly helpful. “It’s invaluable to have someone with a mountaintop view. They can see where you’re coming from, and a clear path through potential pitfalls or land mines. They serve as an anchoring force in the strategic planning process. It is also amazing to have someone who is your cheerleader and can help condition and prepare you for the journey ahead.”