This Is What The Future Of Black Women Leadership Looks Like

When it comes to leadership, Black women always understand the assignment.

During times of great change, we step up to the plate. Against impossible circumstances, we shatter expectations. And when it comes time to pass the baton, organizations like the Leading Women Defined Foundation are there to uplift the next generation of Black women leaders who will be this country’s next guiding light.

Such was the case at this year’s Rising Leaders Summit, hosted by the nonprofit this weekend at a hotel in the Los Angeles area. The intimate second anniversary gathering was an immersive experience designed for the women of the Rising Leaders Program — a cohort of 25 young professionals who excel in passions and pursuits across the world’s top industries, from early-stage founders and emerging executives to fierce advocates, artists and academic figures.

“The Rising Leaders Program showcases the transformative power of intentional leadership. These women are not just leaders in their fields — they are architects of spaces where authenticity, innovation and joy flourish,” Gabrielle Glore, executive director of the Leading Women Defined Foundation, tells HuffPost. “For young Black women, this kind of leadership is vital — it demonstrates what’s possible and inspires them to envision even greater futures.”

The Rising Leaders Summit seeks to lay the groundwork for Black women’s futures. On day one of three, I watched the participants listen keenly to guest speakers who urged them to lead with purpose, power, self-awareness and care, discussing pillars that ranged from being the founder of their lives to making leadership their superpower. The conference went beyond the surface, digging deep into the kinship and sisterhood that Leading Women Defined is built upon.

“That’s the secret sauce,” Glore quips to me.

The women in this year’s cohort agreed, too. “This summit feels like a revival,” says Carissa Joy Smith, a member of the Rising Leaders Program and vice president of government relations at Fox Corp., “in which we’re gathering, healing, being delivered and reinvigorating our faith. Having space like this is so needed, especially for women in leadership positions.”

The Rising Leaders Summit is a prime example of what safe spaces can look like for young Black women when nurtured and elevated by peers and mentors who see what they bring to the table. Debra Lee, founder and board chair of the Leading Women Defined Foundation, sees the summit as the basis for her organization: “a space where young Black women could be supported, celebrated and inspired to claim their rightful place at every table.”

“Too often, these women are excluded from the rooms where decisions are made, despite being some of the most impactful and innovative contributors to culture and society,” Lee says. “This program is about shifting that narrative. It’s about equipping these brilliant women with the resources, mentorship and community they need to not only lead but to lead with intention and purpose.”

She adds: “The importance of this work cannot be overstated. By investing in their growth and amplifying their voices, we are shaping the future and creating a ripple effect that will empower generations to come.”

So, what does that future look like for Black women?

HuffPost attended this year’s Rising Leaders Summit to find answers. We asked members to reflect on their leadership styles, the importance of mentorship and their vision of Black women taking their space. Here’s how these exceptional women are making their mark.

“When I think about leadership, [it’s about] being able to form strong bonds and build relationships, getting to know people, their heart and what they’re passionate about,” Price says. “We can all come together to transform and create something that’s much bigger than ourselves. For me, that is grounded in the transformation of not knowing what is possible but being able to move together as one.”

“I’ve been lucky to have really solid, good mentorship by fellow Black women along my journey at every step of the way… and these are all women who have honestly shaped me but held me accountable,” Joy Smith notes. “That, to me, makes the best mentorship to where you have people that you can field ideas and people who can also give you honest feedback so you can excel and grow.”

“In general, there are a lot of Black women who are in very powerful rooms, and yet we don’t all know each other, and we don’t always have the right support for one another,” Windham says. “I think a lot of Black women are sometimes more quiet about their leadership as they’re trying to learn, because you always have to be the best in the room. But there’s something about being able to provide collaborative opportunities with one another that ends up being a good path to make all of us successful.”

“I’m building a future for Black women leaders by showing up authentically as myself,” Nisbett proclaims. “It’s not just about being the person in the room who knows all the answers. It’s about being the person who’s curious, being warm and showing Black women that you can always show up as yourself and be taken seriously.”

“We cannot exist without one another,” Loewe says. “Oftentimes, we still sit in rooms where there’s nobody who looks like us at the table, so my goal has always been to provide seats at the table for young girls who come behind me. Because if it ends with me, then what was the point? It was Vice President Kamala Harris who said, ‘It’s great to be the first, but make sure you’re not the last.’ So my goal has always been to build a pipeline for young Black girls in the environment in which I can influence.”

“The future for Black women like me looks like more of these kinds of events,” Ngala says of Leading Women Defined’s Rising Leaders Summit. “It looks like more women who have experience want to give back, start their own, create their own tables and reach out to their networks, and more people taking on the responsibility of creating space that they think people deserve.”

“What this election has taught me is that we have to stop asking for permission. We have to stop asking for people to give us a seat at the table,” Robbins declares. “There is no glass ceiling. Our biggest resource is ourselves. They’re threatened by us, and the reason why is because we’re the most educated demographic in this country, and when we get our minds set to do something, we do it, and in absolutely impossible circumstances.”