Be Resilient: Interview with Malika Redmond, Co-Founder and CEO of Women Engaged
I recently went one on one with Malika Redmond. Malika is the co-founder and CEO of Women Engaged, a human rights and political power-building initiative that engages, organizes, and develops the leadership of Black women and young adults through voter engagement on justice issues dear to their lives.
Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here?
Malika: I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, known as the Steel City, and watching the Steelers play football was my family's favorite pastime. My grandparents, my heroes, moved to Pittsburgh from the South to escape from Jim Crow and racist domestic terrorism, and my grandfather worked in the city’s steel mills and as a contractor building residential properties. My grandparents built their own home from the ground up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, and raised a family of 5. My mother and her brothers were among a very small number of Black children who attended an all-white school system in the 50’s and 60’s dealing with daily bullying because of the color of their skin. Yet through it all, my grandparents were able to create a very good quality of life for themselves and their family.
But, by the time I was born and growing up, the steel mills that once had lifted families into the middle class through blue-collar work were closed and the city was reeling from the economic loss. This experience shaped my worldview, as I watched my community contend with both the lack of jobs and racism.
Throughout my youth, my passion for social justice was shaped by my lived experience and family, especially the Black women. My mother was a local activist for housing justice and voter registration, and took me with her to everything. For every election, my grandmother never missed a chance to put on her Sunday best to cast her vote and volunteer at the polls. From a very young age, my mother and grandmother showed me that having political opinions and fighting for justice is important. They also valued my opinion, so I always felt comfortable using my voice even when I was only 7 or 8 years old.
With their support and everything they taught me, I founded my first organization, International Black Youth Summit, when I was just 14 years old. After these experiences, I attended Spelman College, one of only two Historically Black Colleges and Universities for women. There, I studied the intellectual work of Black women and Black feminist and Womanist theories through the lens of intersectionality to understand how vulnerable communities are invisibilized, scapegoated, politicized, and disempowered-- and, yet how our communities continue to influence public policy and culture, stand in our truth and power and lift our voices for justice. In other words, it was at Spelman College that I learned how to incorporate my scholarship into making a difference in the world on the issues close to my heart.
Adam: What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?
Malika: Later on in my career, I had a challenging occurrence where I became the executive director of an organization after its founders. I knew the environment wasn’t the right place for me, and there were enough early signs that confirmed my concerns about working there. However, I just kept telling myself I can make it work and make a difference. I desired to be liked by everyone, incorporate everyone else's opinion, and troubleshoot every single need instead of standing in my own vision and leadership experience. I tried to make everyone happy; and even though I was able to raise significant dollars and increase community outreach, I still failed because I didn’t honor my inner voice and resounding truth. My eventual transition from that organization was very public, and I had to weather retaliation and attacks on my character. To handle this, I had to develop tunnel vision and go back to what I knew worked for me: being a visionary builder. I ignored the rumor mills and refused to get caught in the cycle of reacting to them. Through this experience, I learned to trust in myself and my vision and not get lost in the expectations and negativity of others. With these lessons, I built Women Engaged into the near decade old successful organization it is today.
I didn’t know then, but those lessons prepared me for the unprecedented year of tragedy and heartbreak that was 2020. Over the past year, Women Engaged’s work has been transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the pandemic’s early days, I made the decision to move 100% of our operations remote before most offices and organizations shut down. At the time, political leaders were denying the severity of the COVID threat and the media had only just begun to report on COVID’s deadly nature, but I trusted my instincts. This quickly became a prudent decision, and gave us more time to pivot our organization to meet voters’ needs and take care of our staff. From day one, we integrated COVID relief into our work by adapting canvas scripts to include questions to identify community members in need of help. Through this effort, my team directly connected nearly 1,000 families with resources on food, housing, transportation and more during those dark days. In the 14 months since, I have continued to make safety and resiliency my top priority by standing up to pressure to return to in-person activities prematurely. Instead I’ve been able to direct resources to provide technical assistance, technology, and training to my entire team, both full-time and part-time, to remain virtual, while investing in mental health care for our entire staff. Throughout the pandemic, I have had to trust myself in new ways in order to adapt our organization in the ways necessary to meet this moment.
Adam: What are the best leadership lessons you have learned from leading a non-profit organization?
Malika: First, I have learned to trust my gut, expertise, experience, and inner voice. This does not negate the importance of listening to others because leadership requires active listening and compassion. And as a Black woman leader, I know this well. I have had to navigate sexist and racist stereotypes in workspaces where I’ve dedicated my time and talent for those efforts to be outright dismissed. Therefore I prioritize honoring what I know and the lessons I’ve learned over the years because they are valuable and my perspective matters.
Secondly, I’ve learned that accountability is extremely important. I try to build it into my work planning by having accountability partners who I trust to hold me to what I say I am going to do. And, knowing who you are accountable to is an important check on your work. For me and for those who work for the greater good, that looks like visualizing the community and the people I work with and advocate on behalf of daily. It keeps me focused on my goals.
I put this wisdom to the test when I ran and won the election to be the first board chair of the ProGeorgia Civic Engagement Table in 2017. ProGeorgia is a coalition organization that is made up of over 30 member organizations providing non-partisan voter engagement education and community activities to the diverse citizenry of the state of Georgia. During my first two years term, I drew from my knowledge to effectively guide the board of ProGeorgia that had a commitment to increase diverse talent through a national leadership search for a new executive director. We hired the organization’s first woman of color executive leader who brought a courageous vision and innovative ideas to the established work of the coalition. Due to the well-executed hiring process and smooth transition of leadership, I earned the trust of my board colleagues and was reelected in 2019. And since my reelection I have provided steadfast management and thought partnership to the executive director resulting in record-breaking fundraising campaigns, expansion of the programmatic outreach into new communities across the state, and dramatically increasing resources to women of color led organizations that are too often underfunded for doing the same work as led by their white and, or male peers.
This breakthrough in my leadership development is due to listening to my inner voice and taking a bit of time to reflect on my vision and goals, daily decisions, and acknowledging what I did well and what I will improve upon the next time.
Adam: What are your best tips for fellow leaders of non-profit organizations?
Malika: Non-profit leaders must know how to be resilient. To me, this means understanding and communicating the relationship between ourselves and our advocacy. We go into our work with a lot of passion and heart, but resilience means knowing that this is a marathon. Our work is heavy, and it’s okay to take time to focus on other things that we enjoy. We have to take the time to care for ourselves, and communicate that we cannot be everything for everyone, particularly when society expects that kind of sacrifice from us as Black women leaders.
One of the most successful ways I have built my resilience is by keeping a daily self-care checklist. It is an agenda of small items, like “go get some fresh air,” “drink a fruit and veggie smoothie,” or “take a few minutes with my dog, Cowboy” that make me feel better. When I have a meeting that may include a difficult conversation or decision, I look at the checklist first and do two tasks before going into the meeting. This makes me feel accomplished, and puts me in a place where I feel ready to fully engage in the conversation. It is very easy to get caught up in constantly talking to people and working, but sometimes we need a few minutes to assess whether we feel well enough to be present. I can’t be present in a conversation if I am really thirsty, or need to use the bathroom, or anything else. My body gives me cues, and every time I honor them, it is a small win.
Adam: What are your best tips for leaders on how to effectively organize at the grassroots levels?
Malika: Organizing with people and communities on the frontline requires listening, compassion, and mutual trust and benefit. Personally, I do not use language like “grassroots” and “grasstops,” as though there is one way to talk to a community member and another way to talk to a CEO. When I take the time to speak to or engage with another person, no matter who they are, my intention is that the conversation will be fruitful for both of us. In every conversation, there is something for me to learn and reflect on, and I have to make sure that I bring my best and don’t waste their time.
Too often, leaders approach communities in need thinking that they have a lot to give, but don’t take enough time to listen to people to find out what is important to them and what they say they need help with. This ends up becoming a burden to those communities, because these leaders who think they are helping end up taking up space, people’s time, resources, and stories. But with listening, compassion, and mutual trust and benefit, I can be a better advocate and community members can get the support they need.
Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?
Malika: The most effective leaders come from a compassionate, generous place. They can expect respect because they give respect to others. They value everyone’s role on their team and don’t degrade anyone. Anyone looking to be a better leader should prioritize creating an environment where team members are comfortable expressing themselves, asking for help, and taking time for self-care. To create this environment, I try to model these things for my team. I don’t hide behind being the CEO-- I express my true self and am open about the ways in which I am still learning, the fact I have mentors and coaches of my own, and the times when I need to take care of myself. We do not want work environments where people feel that they need to hide important parts of who they are, instead we want people who feel confident and know they can seek support from leaders and colleagues.
Both seasoned and aspiring leaders need to remain curious about the world around them, be life-long learners, and courageously speak truth to power and stand up for justice in the face of inequality.
Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?
Malika:
To make your vision happen, make it tangible. When you know your vision, make sure to speak it and write it too. Repeating it inwardly and outwardly to whoever is your accountability partner. When you tell people you trust, they will hold you accountable to making it a reality.
Learn how to create by yourself, but also know that no one does anything in a vacuum. Sometimes, the work will feel lonely, so you have to know how to be comfortable with your inner voice, both trusting your creativity and compartmentalizing negativity. But, while you have to be comfortable with being alone at times, you must recognize that your work is seen and impacted by other people.
Be present to those who are championing you onwards. They’re excited about you and they’re ready to catapult you forward, but you have to invest in them and not take their support for granted. Take the time to give back to the person making your sandwich while you burn the midnight oil.
Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading and managing teams?
Malika: The foundation of building a team is having a thoughtful, measured, and planned process where you can trust that you will make the right decisions. Your process should check your preconceived ideas and biases by including clear metrics for who would be a good fit for any role. Those metrics should include what characteristics and kind of disposition you think will be best for certain roles and the team in general, and should account for the culture and tone of your organization. At every point in the process, you should have outside support that can listen and give feedback on your thinking. With this process and support, any decisions you make will be backed up.
In the best teams, people are invested in so they can see themselves as a vital part to the organization. As a leader and manager, you should find what your team members are passionate about, and let them shine in it. At the same time, you must also challenge and push your team to try new things.
Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?
Malika: The best advice I ever received is from my grandmother anytime a major decision needed to be made which is to always pray first. This can mean anything from stepping back and pausing, to meditate, or to actually pray. In sum, stop and take a moment to reflect and think before reacting or making any key decision.
Adam: What should everyone do to pay it forward?
Malika: First and foremost, paying it forward should never come from an ego-centric place. If you have the ability to pay something forward, you have to respect those you are paying it forward to. You must be invested in and care about their success, and must give with compassion and have a genuine understanding of and respect for those who you decide to help. You are not all-knowing, and you are not the only person with something to give. No matter who you are working with, they have something to give as well.
Provide authentic mentorship that sets young people and, or people who haven't had access due to societal inequities with the skills and tools necessary to thrive in any environment. Next open doors to substantive opportunities for mentees to shine, be challenged and showcase their leadership skills.
Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Malika: This has been a pleasure to share my leadership experiences with you and your audience.
Adam Mendler is the CEO of The Veloz Group, where he co-founded and oversees ventures across a wide variety of industries. Adam is also the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, where he goes one on one with America's most successful people - Fortune 500 CEOs, founders of household name companies, Hall of Fame and Olympic gold medal winning athletes, political and military leaders - for intimate half-hour conversations each week. Adam has written extensively on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, marketing and sales, having authored over 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc. and HuffPost, and has conducted more than 500 one on one interviews with America’s top leaders through his collective media projects. A top leadership speaker, Adam draws upon his insights building and leading businesses and interviewing hundreds of America's top leaders as a top keynote speaker to businesses, universities and non-profit organizations.
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