Yasmine Arrington Brooks

Today, we’re featuring some of the most inspiring guests we’ve had on the show - and it just so happens they are all women. You’ll hear from Oscar winner turned Trevor Project Founder Peggy Rajski, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker,  CNN Hero Yasmine Arrington, White House Cyber Czar Camille Stewart Gloster, ad agency legend Cary Hatch, Points of Light CEO Jennifer Sirangelo, healthcare innovator Silvia Taylor, Science luminary Maya Ajmera, Substack influencer Lia Haberman, and Accenture diversity champion Nedra Dickson. This powerful episode dives into authentic leadership and the art of influencing both within large organizations and in the wider community. The conversation covers a range of impactful topics, from translating marketing and finance to engaging younger audiences, combating misinformation, and building personal brands. The guests share their personal journeys and invaluable insights on overcoming challenges, embracing failure, fostering inclusivity, and championing supplier diversity. Takeaways:Translate Across Disciplines: Understand different terminologies, such as finance and corporate speak. As a leader or influencer, being fluent in the languages relevant to your stakeholders is essential to gaining credibility and a seat at the table.Prioritize Listening and Learning: Authentic listening is key. Leaders should intentionally create opportunities to hear from their audience, staying connected and responsive to their needs.Address Misinformation Proactively: Focus on spreading credible, fact-based information rather than chasing down every piece of misinformation. Tailor your message to highlight benefits and facts that resonate with your audience.Commit to Solving Problems: Recognize critical moments and take decisive action when challenges arise. Whether it's creating new solutions or improving existing ones, proactive problem-solving is essential for leadership.Be a Good Listener: Effective influence begins with listening. Understanding your audience's needs and perspectives allows for more impactful communication and decision-making.Embrace Failure as a Learning Tool: Use setbacks as opportunities to learn. Embracing failure and applying those lessons can sharpen your approach and enhance your influence.Build and Maintain a Personal Brand: Actively define and promote your personal brand. Whether within an organization or externally, a strong personal brand helps you connect with your audience and drive impact.Links:Cary Hatch: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryhatch/ Jennifer SirangeloLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-sirangelo-62a8723/ Silvia Taylor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviabtaylor/ Peggy Rajski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyrajski/ Annise Parker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annise-parker-7956bb6/ Maya Ajmera LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayaajmera/ Yasmine Arrington Brooks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmine-arrington-brooks-66451220/ Camille Stewart GlosterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camillestewartesq/ Lia Haberman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liahaberman/ Nedra Dickson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedra-dickson-051b361/ 

Yasmine Arrington Brooks is the Founder of ScholarCHIPS, a D.C. nonprofit aiding youth with incarcerated parents. She is also a speaker, model, author, poet, and host of Millennial Minds. Yasmine has been honored as a 2023 CNN Hero, and 2021 Washington Business Journal Top 40 Under 40, among others in recognition of her community service and engagement.In today’s episode, she delves into her journey that began in high school at the age of 16, when she initiated ScholarCHIPS as a social venture within the LearnServe Fellows Program. Since then, she has overseen ScholarCHIPS' distribution of over $450,000 in scholarships to 88 scholars. Furthermore, Yasmine reflects on the remarkable milestones she has achieved in establishing and leading ScholarCHIPS and shares insights on leadership, the importance of authenticity, and maintaining personal and professional balance.Takeaways:Maintain authenticity in all aspects of leadership. Authenticity allows you to connect with your audience, team, or stakeholders at a deeper, more personal level, leading to greater trust and stronger relationships.Don’t limit yourself by your current resources or capabilities. Dream big and take bold action to reach your goals. This attitude can also inspire and motivate your team to do the same.Steward influence with care, as it is a delicate thing. As a leader with influence, you should be cautious about how your words and actions may impact others, especially those who look up to you.Do not shy away from using your personal brand to further your professional objectives. Sharing your stories and experiences can help you connect on a deeper level with your audience and stakeholders.Nurture a growth mindset, keen for learning and experimenting. A growth mindset encourages continuous learning, fuels creativity, and leads to innovation.Remember that as a leader, your actions and words have the power to impact many people. Thus, always strive to be a source of positivity and motivation.Seek out inspiration from diverse sources outside your immediate field. This can provide a refreshing perspective on your own work and keep creativity flowing.Quote of the Show:“You never know who's watching. So try your best to be who you really are, your authentic self. - Yasmine Arrington BrooksLinks:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmine-arrington-brooks-66451220  ScholarCHIPS (For Children of Incarcerated Parents): https://www.scholarchipsfund.org ScholarCHIPS Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/scholarCHIPS ScholarCHIPS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scholarchipsfunddc ScholarCHIPS TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@scholarchipsfund ScholarCHIPS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScholarCHIPS Yasmine Arrington's Blog: https://yasminearrington.blogspot.com CNN Heroes Tribute - Yasmine Arrington Brooks: https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/12/12/cnnheroes-tribute-yasmine-arrington-brooks.cnn Millennial Minds with YazzieSpeaks (Podcast): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/millennial-minds-with-yazziespeaks/id1439935422 YazzieSpeaks Vol II YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YazzieSpeaksVolII YazzieSPEAKS YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@YazzieSPEAKS YazzieSPEAKS Twitter: https://twitter.com/YazzieSpeaks YazzieSPEAKS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yazziespeaks3.0 YazzieSPEAKS TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yazziespeaks3.0 Shout Outs:LearnServe International: https://learn-serve.org LearnServe International Programs: https://learn-serve.org/programs Brené Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenebrown JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA): https://jlusa.org