88. Running for Change: A Woman of Color’s NYC Mayoral Bid with Dianne Morales, Founder of StillRising
Release Date: 10/17/2024
110. Be a Mentor with Fernande (Nan) Duffly, First Asian American Judge to Massachusett’s Supreme Court
Women of Color Rise
Do you mentor others? In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Fernande (Nan) Duffly, the first Asian American Judge appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court. Nan shares how mentorship played a critical role in her journey. Her mentor, Sam Adams, encouraged her to consider becoming a judge—something she hadn’t envisioned for herself. At the time, there were very few people who looked like her in those roles. Now, Nan pays it forward. She actively mentors young lawyers and students, especially those from diverse backgrounds. For Nan, mentoring isn’t...
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109. Stay and Lead in Your Home Community with Dr. Nancy B. Gutiérrez, President & Lead Executive Officer, The Leadership Academy
Women of Color Rise
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Nancy B. Gutiérrez, President & Lead Executive Officer of The Leadership Academy, a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to developing transformational leadership for educators at all levels. Nancy also serves on the boards of The Hunt Institute, brightbeam, and The Neurodiversity Alliance, and is the Board Chair of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC). Nancy is the co-author of Stay and Prevail: Students of Color Don’t Need to Leave Their Communities to Succeed (2023), which shares powerful stories of leaders who choose...
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108. Accelerate Your Liberation Journey with Jillian Juman, CEO, Envision Education
Women of Color Rise
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Jillian Juman, CEO of Envision Education—a network of high-performing middle and high school charter schools in Oakland, CA. Jillian shares her powerful journey toward liberation and what it means to lead as a Black woman who embraces curiosity, intuition, and spiritual connection. Lean into curiosity and play: Jillian follows what sparks her interest—even if most things don’t lead anywhere—and trusts that the few that do are exactly where she’s meant to be. Notice when you don’t fit: She’s learned to...
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107. Embrace Being the Face of an Organization as an Introvert with Angira Sceusi, Executive Director of redefinED atlanta
Women of Color Rise
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Angira Sceusi, Executive Director of redefinED atlanta, a nonprofit committed to ensuring every student in Atlanta can attend an excellent K-12 public school. Angira was named to the 2025 Atlanta 500, a list of the city’s most powerful leaders, and selected for the 2026 class of Leadership Atlanta. Angira shares her journey from being a behind-the-scenes introvert to stepping into the spotlight and embracing her role as the face of the organization. Here’s what helped her: Name the self-doubt. Even with advanced degrees...
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106. How to Find a Mentor with Veronica Conforme, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Greenhouse E3
Women of Color Rise
How can you find a mentor? For this Women of Color Rise episode, I speak with Veronica Conforme, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Greenhouse E3, a national nonprofit developing diverse pipelines of future education leaders. Veronica describes herself as a rebel—she turned down her father’s advice to become an accountant and instead set out to change the world. Her career includes serving as COO of the NYC Department of Education, leading UP Education Network in Massachusetts, and serving as Chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan. Veronica credits...
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105. Lead Like an Olympian with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Health Equity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System
Women of Color Rise
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System. A 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist and former collegiate champion, Dr. Clarke now leads transformational change in health equity and inclusive excellence. Dr. Clarke shares how an Olympic mindset strengthens leadership: Focus on execution, not outcomes. In high-pressure moments—whether on the Olympic track or in a policy meeting—Dr. Clarke emphasizes executing core strategies...
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105. Lead Like an Olympian with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Health Equity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System
Women of Color Rise
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Judith Brown Clarke, VP for Equity & Inclusion, Chief Health Equity Officer, and Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Health System. A 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist and former collegiate champion, Dr. Clarke now leads transformational change in health equity and inclusive excellence. Dr. Clarke shares how an Olympic mindset strengthens leadership: Focus on execution, not outcomes. In high-pressure moments—whether on the Olympic track or in a policy meeting—Dr. Clarke emphasizes executing core strategies...
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104. Faith and Leadership with Yordanos Eyoel, Founder and CEO, Keseb
Women of Color Rise
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Yordanos Eyoel, Founder and CEO of Keseb, a nonpartisan organization advancing inclusive and resilient democracies through transnational civil society. An Ethiopian-American democracy entrepreneur, Yordanos is an Ashoka and Aspen Institute Fellow and has received awards from the Elevate Prize Foundation and Unorthodox Philanthropy. Previously, she was a Managing Partner at New Profit, where she rose from Portfolio Analyst—the first to do so in the organization's history. Her work has been featured in TED, NPR, and Harvard Business Review....
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103. Multi-Racial Coalition Building - Equity Week with Christian Green, Zainab Abbas, Ian Esquibel, Derek Burtch
Women of Color Rise
How can you make your voice heard? We’ve all heard the saying: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This episode of Women of Color Rise is an example of that. I’m joined by fellow leaders Christian Green, Zainab Abbas, Ian Esquibel, and Derek Burtch—all part of the Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing. Together, with Cecily Relucio, we’re supporting Equity Week 2025, a national movement grounded in collective action for justice. Each of my guests brings a powerful perspective: Derek Burtch, a high school...
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102. Strength in Blindness and Faith with Alia Abbas, Chief of Staff, New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
Women of Color Rise
How can leaders turn perceived limitations into strengths? On Women of Color Rise, I speak with Alia Abbas, Chief of Staff at New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. With a career spanning Estee Lauder, Warner Bros. Discovery, Prudential, and Citi, Alia has led in strategy, operations, and innovation—proving that disability and faith are not barriers but strengths. Alia didn’t realize she was blind until she was diagnosed in college, thanks to parents who instilled confidence and adaptability. She also made a pivotal choice in her career—to wear a hijab,...
info_outlineWhat can we learn from the incredible journeys of women of color running for major leadership roles?
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I had the honor of speaking with Dianne Morales, Founder of StillRising, who is dedicated to helping organizations drive real impact for marginalized communities. Named a "Latina of Influence” by Hispanic Lifestyle, Dianne brings over 20 years of leadership in education, social justice, and equity—and was formerly CEO of Phipps Neighborhood.
Dianne shared her powerful experience running for NYC Mayor in 2021 and the key lessons she learned:
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Representation matters: Though initially hesitant to run, Dianne knew that having someone from her community in a seat of power was critical.
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Claim your power: You don’t have to wait to be chosen. We can decide to step up and go for those top roles ourselves.
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Political power is key to real change: If we want to shift systems and advance equity and justice, gaining political power is part of the journey.
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Use the system while challenging it: There's a tension in working within existing structures while also trying to transform them.
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Speak your truth: Dianne wishes she had been more vocal during the campaign when her identity was under attack. She now recognizes the importance of standing firm in who you are.
Thank you, Dianne, for sharing your story and for your courage in standing up for your community. Your journey is a powerful reminder of what it means to step out, speak up, and lead with purpose.
#Leadership #Equity #WomenOfColorRise #Education #Inspiration
Get full show notes and more information here: https://analizawolf.com/ep-88-running-for-change-a-woman-of-colors-nyc-mayoral-bid-with-dianne-morales-founder-of-stillrising