Who's taking care of you?

As leaders, we're often the people everyone depends on. We solve problems. We support our teams. We pour into students, colleagues, friends, and family.

But who pours into us?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kevina Brown and Samantha Hernandez, two leaders I've known and admired for years. We talk about the people who saw something in us before we could see it ourselves, how those moments shaped the leaders we've become, and why even experienced leaders need spaces where they can be honest, supported, and reminded of their worth.

What I found most fascinating was how different our stories were, yet they all led us to the same place.

Kevina shared how, as one of only a handful of Black students in her elementary school, her second-grade teacher cast her—a little Black girl—as the king in the school play.

She said, "In that single action, she gave me wings."

Sam talked about the mentors who saw potential in her long before she believed it herself and how those experiences shaped the way she now leads and serves students.

Listening to both of them reminded me that leadership doesn't begin with a title. It begins with someone believing in us. And sometimes, years later, we still need someone to remind us of who we are.

I also realized we weren't just talking about leadership. We were talking about the people everyone else depends on.

Who's taking care of them?

I hope this conversation reminds you that leadership was never meant to be a solo journey.

Dr. Kevina Brown has more than 20 years of experience in higher education and currently serves as Community Relations Specialist and a part-time lecturer at San José State University. Throughout her career, she has been committed to student success, educational leadership, and creating spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. A proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., she believes leadership begins with helping people feel seen, heard, and valued.

Samantha F. Hernandez serves as Director of Student Engagement, Director of Student Needs, Undocumented Student Liaison, and Advisor to Student Government at a California community college. A Latina and first-generation college graduate, Samantha has dedicated her career to ensuring students have the support they need to thrive. Since 2019, she has led the growth of her college's basic needs program, expanding resources for food security, housing, financial stability, and wellness. She believes education changes lives when students feel safe, seen, and empowered.

Dr. Debra Griffith is the founder of Do Better Coaching & Consulting, where she coaches senior leaders, develops executive teams, and partners with organizations to build stronger leadership and healthier workplace cultures. With nearly three decades of leadership experience across higher education and 6–12 education, she has dedicated her career to helping leaders navigate complexity, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change.

Through her podcast, coaching, consulting, and speaking, Debra creates conversations that help people make sense of the experiences that shape who they become. She believes leadership is deeply personal, our greatest lessons often come through one another, and we are all still becoming.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debragriffith

Learn more about executive coaching, consulting, speaking, and the ROOTS leadership community:
https://www.dobettercoachingandconsulting.com