Podcast

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. Tr...

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 ...

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...

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 expl...

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 p...

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...

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, intelli...

Dear Minority Leaders, Today I’m delighted to speak with fellow Howard University graduate and Delta Sigma Theta soror Charmion Kinder. Kinder has devoted her career to corporate responsibility and social impact, with over twenty years of communications experience. Her resume includes the Obama and Biden administrations, Disney, Apple, the Peace Corps, and others. We discuss her experiences working with former first lady Michelle Obama and vice president Kamala Harris, as well as how an individu...

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, Oliv...

Dear Minority Leaders, Today I’m joined by my Delta Sigma Theta Soror and former Capitol Hill colleague, Dr. Kwamme Anderson. Kwamme and I both worked for our soror Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), albeit at different times. She has worked as a congressional staffer to Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), all powerful black women policymakers. Kwamme also counts the late civil rights leader and famous (and some would say infamou...

Dear Minority Leaders,Today we are continuing our expansion of discussion topics and welcoming my new friend, and Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister, Rachel Lauren. Our conversation today focuses on Rachel’s work at the intersection of racial equity, criminal justice reform, climate advocacy, and most especially foster care and adoption. By profession Rachel is the Chief People Officer at Dream.Org and also a founding partner and Chief Programming Officer for Diversified, a boutique DEI consultin...

Dear Minority Leaders, Before we jump into this episode, let me thank you all for your positive feedback on the reboot of this podcast. I appreciate all your kind words of encouragement. Please take a few seconds to show your support for this incredible platform by giving us a 5 star rating, subscribing, writing a quick review, and by sharing this podcast with the future minority leaders in your life. I want to keep bringing this community wonderful words of wisdom and dynamic conversations, and...

Dear Minority Leaders,Today we wrap our three part series on diversity in the U.S. Department of State and diplomacy with the preeminent expert on the topic: Ambassador Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, State’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Amb. Abercrombie-Winstanley became the first woman to head a diplomatic mission to Saudi Arabia in 2002 and was the longest serving Ambassador to Malta. She speaks Arabic, Hebrew, and Maltese. Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley is a living legend and...

Asha Castleberry-Hernandez is a distinguished national security/foreign policy expert. She is a Biden-Harris Political Appointee, and served as a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, member of the Senior Executive Service at the Department of State. She is a former adjunct faculty professor at Fordham University, where she has taught U.S. Foreign Policy and U.N. Peacekeeping Operations. She is also a U.S. Army veteran, and since the 2014 ISIL incursion in Iraq, she has served as part of th...

Akunna Cook is an accomplished diplomat, strategist, visionary creator and executive producer. In 2022, Akunna founded Next Narrative Africa, a multi-media entertainment production company telling African Stories for global impact. She is also the founder and principal consultant at Drake Road Strategies and served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.Akunna joins us today to talk about her experiences navigating the internal politics of w...

Christina Hale is a successful author, former state legislator as well as the first Latina to run for statewide office in Indiana. She was appointed by the Biden-Harris Administration to head communications for the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and is a strong advocate for youth, democracy & equality.Christina joins us today to speak about using your traumas to inform where you’re going, practicing mindfulness, and the importance of mentorship and how it can change the traje...

Algene Sajery returns with her powerful podcast, "The Minority Leaders". In this highly anticipated episode, Algene takes us on a captivating journey through her own experiences of the past few years. She not only provides insightful answers to pressing questions but also imparts invaluable wisdom on conquering imposter syndrome, leveraging your unique abilities, and fostering a robust network to break through your own glass ceiling. Join Algene as she shines a spotlight on extraordinary women o...

Algene Sajery makes a powerful and highly anticipated return with her podcast, "The Minority Leaders". This engaging podcast features insightful conversations with women of color changemakers. Hosted by Algene Sajery, a seasoned political operative, foreign policy expert, and now the founder & CEO of Catalyst Global Strategies. The podcast explores the significance of diversity in leadership, politics, advocacy, and business. The Minority Leaders is a love letter to the next generation of women ...

In this episode, host Algene Sajery speaks with Fatema Z. Sumar, international development and author of The Development Diplomat: Working Across Borders, Boardrooms, and Bureaucracies to End Poverty. Fatema shares her experience as a first-generation Muslim American, woman, and mother working on foreign aid efforts in Capitol Hill and the developing world in the wake of 9-11. Fatema offers practical advise to women of color looking to advance their careers in this space .Learn more about yo...

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support the show Please remember to subscribe, rate, review and share this episode! Also follow us here: Instagram: @theminorityleaders and @algene_1913 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/algene-sajery Facebook: @theminorityleaders

The Minority Leaders Podcast is proud to partner with Women in Government Relations (WGR) and the Professional Women in Advocacy Conference on special episodes featuring 2021 recipients of the Excellence in Advocacy Awards. The theme of this year's virtual conference, which will take place October 18-20, is "Women Firsts – Leading the Way."In this episode, host Algene Sajery interviews 2021 Lifetime Achievement Awardee Jody Thomas, to learn about her work, discover what motivates her, and gl...

Dear Minority Leaders,It has been far too long since I published an episode. Life has been busy, to say the least. I've missed you all and am glad to come back like a lion with this episode, featuring the National Urban League's Joi Chaney, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President, Policy and Advocacy. Recorded on April 17, 2021, the conversation may be a few months old, but from COVID-19, to racial justice, to equal pay, to the value of women friendships, ...

Happy Women's History Month, listeners! March is also my birthday month and this episode was definitely the perfect gift. I’m joined by my girl Erika West, principal at The Raben Group. Erika and I have been friends since our days at Howard University. Ya'll already know the Real HU produces #BlackExcellence, and Erika is a shining example of that. A wise and humble social impact strategist, Erika drops serious knowledge on the roles and perspectives of black and brown people in the reproduct...

Dear listeners—Thanks for your patience. It has been over a month since our last episode aired, as life and career changes had me sidelined for a bit.I’m excited to return with an episode featuring one of the most authentic and accomplished leaders in Washington, who also happens to be one of my favorite people! In this episode of The Minority Leaders, I speak with incredibly wise and dynamic Kendra Brown. Kendra is Director of Public Policy for Mastercard. She is also Chair of the Marylan...