Unspeakable Leadership

Hosted by Rohene Bouajram

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Oct 2026

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Unspeakable Leadership is a global conversation diving deep into the vibrant and dynamic world of women of colour in leadership roles. Join us on a rollercoaster ride where the host, Rohene, and guests share stories of navigating challenges, turning a serious journey into a joyous exploration with laughter, cringe-worthy tales, and empowering moments. Let's take a break in our day and revel in the reminder that the world needs women of color leading authentically. Tune in, buckle up, and embark on this thrilling adventure with us! Rohene Bouajram is an international speaker and 20-year educator and leader in the higher education space. You can learn more of her work on www.rohenebouajram.com.

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October 15, 202645 min

Our Ancestors Answered Prayer: How to Reclaim the Power Women Have Always Had

What if the power to heal the world has been inside you all along? In this episode of Unspeakable Leadership Season 6, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Yeye Omitosin Cyrus, spiritual leader, third-generation guardian of the Kenny Cyrus Alkibidon Ilaiyappa (K C A I I), one of the oldest Orisha shrines in Trinidad and Tobago, and recipient of the chieftaincy title Iyalode de Awaa Bay (Mother Leader, Woman Leader of the World). Yeye brings a lifetime of spiritual grounding, corporate leadership experience, and ancestral wisdom to a conversation about what it truly means to lead as a woman in a world that has systematically erased our power. Drawing on the Osa Meji reading, the divine guidance for June 2026–June 2027, she reminds us that women are the first healers, creators, and leaders, and that when we put aside our fear, we blossom into our full capacity. We cover: How the Osa Meji reading reveals women's power to heal and transform the world The historical and systemic erasure of women's power through colonization and patriarchy Why fear is the loudest voice holding us back, and how to move beyond it The gifts women need to reclaim and the balance between spiritual and physical life Why nature connection is essential to leadership and healing The role of intuition, ancestral guidance, and discernment in navigating a constructed world Growth comes with discomfort: what her mother taught her about preparation Why we are our ancestors' answered prayers, and what that means for how we lead The festivals, initiations, and spiritual work Yeye is leading into the future This conversation is sacred, grounded, and deeply affirming for anyone who has felt the call to lead differently, who carries ancestral wisdom, or who is ready to step into their power despite the fear. Connect with Yeye Omitosin Cyrus: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeyeomicyrus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Pve3VuY3H/ Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ISiJgKB1vxg Resources mentioned in this episode: Work with Rohene: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/workwithrohene

October 8, 202645 min

What Nobody Taught Us About Building a Career on Our Own Terms

What if everything you were taught about building a successful career is actually keeping you stuck? In this episode of Unspeakable Leadership Season 6, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Alison Hemmings, career glow-up coach and founder of Nouveau Executive Solutions, for a refreshingly honest conversation about redefining career success, breaking free from traditional employment scripts, and building a life that actually fits. Drawing on over a decade of experience as an executive recruiter sitting in rooms where hiring decisions were made, Alison shares what she learned on the inside and how she now uses that knowledge to help senior women of colour get seen, promoted, and paid what they are worth. We cover: Why the traditional script of work hard and climb the ladder is keeping women of colour broke and burnt out The visibility gap and why the most talented person rarely gets the job How to advocate for yourself when you have been conditioned to stay invisible Why staying at the same company too long is actually costing you money What fractional leadership is and why it represents the future of work The importance of getting a life outside of your career How to stage your career like a house before you go to market The difference between being a generalist and being a multi-hyphenate Why doing everything by yourself is one of the biggest career limiters for women of colour How to shift from a struggle bus mindset to a private jet mindset What it truly means to decouple your identity from your career This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply affirming for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a career loop, burnt out from overgiving, or ready to reimagine what success looks like on their own terms. Connect with Alison Hemmings: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachalisonhemmings/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alisonhemmings Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nf-vNx6SKFM Resources mentioned in this episode: Work with Rohene: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/workwithrohene Subscribe to Rohene's Newsletter: https://www.rohenebouajram.com

October 1, 202643 min

The Scarcity Trap: Why Self-Trust Changes Everything for Women of Colour Leaders

What if the very metaphors we use to talk about leadership are already rooted in scarcity? In this episode of Unspeakable Leadership Season 6, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Vanity Jenkins, founder of ShiftED Consulting, leadership coach, and human design facilitator, for a rich, honest, and deeply practical conversation about scarcity mindset, self-trust, and what it truly means to lead from a place of abundance. Vanity shares her personal journey through two layoffs, single motherhood, and the decision to finally bet on herself, and unpacks why so many women of colour find themselves trapped in fear-based leadership, even when they're trying to open doors for others. We cover: Why the metaphors we use ("climbing the ladder," "seat at the table") are already rooted in scarcity How women of colour can unconsciously become barriers to other women of colour and why The relationship between injustice and scarcity in organizational leadership What it takes to move from fear-based decision-making to abundance and possibility How to name and interrupt the inner voice that spirals toward worst-case scenarios Why stability isn't always what we think it is and what self-trust looks like instead Navigating the freedom and fear of entrepreneurship as a single mom Thinking in seasons: what African perspectives on time and nature teach us about leadership cycles The difference between mentorship that opens doors and mentorship that narrows possibility Why the crossroads metaphor is itself a form of scarcity and what to ask instead This conversation is grounding, generous, and deeply affirming for anyone navigating leadership transitions, scarcity mindset, or the courage it takes to bet on yourself. Connect with Vanity Jenkins: Website: www.shiftedconsulting.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiftedconsulting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanity-y-jenkins/ Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/vanity-jenkins-/discovery-call Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4anP01HHadw Resources mentioned in this episode: Join Our Newsletter: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/contact

September 24, 202627 min

Stop Shrinking Yourself: Redefine Your Leadership on Your Terms

What does it mean to lead truly, not because the system told you how, but because you decided who you want to become? In this Season 6 premiere of Unspeakable Leadership, Rohene Bouajram opens with one of the most important conversations of the season: her own. She invites you into her arena, a space where you stop performing and start choosing. Between Season 5 and now, Rohene has been reflecting deeply on the question that launched everything: What do you really want? But that question needed expansion. Because reaching success by someone else's definition doesn't mean you're free. And that's where this season begins. Drawing on conversations with fellow coaches, her doctoral research on how leadership has been defined far too narrowly, and her lived experience as a woman of colour in organizations, Rohene explores: Why we can be excellent at navigating a system without ever feeling truly free inside it The difference between success and freedom How leadership has been architected around assumptions that never accounted for women of colour What it means to hold multiplicity: to be ambitious and soft, strategic and spiritual, grateful and wanting more The concept of "braiding", how our lives don't have to happen in separate compartments Your arena: the space where you decide who you're becoming, what you're choosing, and what you're carrying because it's truly yours She also introduces the Circle of Braided Arenas , an intimate in-person gathering for women ready to be themselves, find community, and share what they're carrying, alongside an exclusive bracelet marking this new expression of Unspeakable Leadership beyond the podcast. This episode is an invitation to ask better questions, reclaim agency over your life, and remember that your courage opens doors for someone else. Your success expands what's possible, for everyone. Connect with Rohene LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Learn more about the Circle of Braided Arenas & the bracelet: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/circle-of-braided-arenas Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/-jHtPab5c2k

July 23, 202613 min

She Decided What's Good Enough

What does it really mean to build your own arena? In this Season 5 finale, Rohene Bouajram reflects on the powerful conversations that shaped She Built Her Own Arena and shares the deeper lesson that emerged throughout the season. Building your own arena is not simply about ambition. It is about honesty. It is about having the courage to admit that the life you've built has room to expand into something more aligned with who you truly are. Drawing from the wisdom of every guest this season, Rohene explores the threads that connect dreaming bigger, self-love, financial leadership, authenticity, and redefining success. Together, these conversations become an invitation to imagine differently and to build a life rooted in choice, purpose, and possibility. We cover: • Why building your own arena begins with honesty • The lessons each Season 5 guest brought to the conversation • Creating space for expansion instead of staying within limitation • Letting go of lives built around what feels attainable • Why leadership extends into every area of your life • The relationship between imagination, trust, and possibility • Asking yourself what you truly want and giving yourself permission to pursue it This episode is a heartfelt reflection and an invitation to continue building a life that feels deeply aligned with who you are becoming. Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPmsumVVSYE Resources mentioned in this episode: Subscribe to Rohene's newsletter: https://www.rohenebouajram.com

July 16, 202631 min

Being the CEO of Your Financial Life | Season 5 Ep 7

What if becoming the CEO of your financial life has less to do with how much you earn and more to do with the decisions you make? In this episode, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Chimaobim Udodi to explore how financial literacy, intentionality, and leadership intersect to create a life of freedom, confidence, and possibility. Together, they unpack the mindset shifts that help us move from reacting to our finances to leading them with purpose. Chima shares why financial leadership is about creating options, protecting your future, and making decisions today that support the life you want tomorrow. We cover: • What it means to become the CEO of your financial life • Why financial literacy is an essential leadership skill • Building confidence through intentional financial decisions • How money creates freedom, choice, and opportunity • The importance of emergency funds, debt management, and investing • Moving from financial fear to financial empowerment • Creating long-term wealth and generational impact This conversation is practical, empowering, and filled with actionable insights for anyone ready to take ownership of their finances and lead every area of their life with greater intention. Connect with Chimaobim Udodi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elektra.cutie?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Website: https://worldsystembuilder.com/mypage/chimaobimu/ Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hW-La5Ru8BE Resources mentioned in this episode: Free Resources to Download: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/resources

July 9, 202646 min

Activating Gifts and Aligning with Your Spiritual Essence

What happens when you stop surviving and start thriving? In this episode, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Emmerance Victoria for a raw, honest, and deeply moving conversation about intuition, self-love, healing, and the courage to put yourself first, even when the world tells you not to. Together, they explore what it means to reconnect with your spiritual essence, trust your intuition, and reclaim the gifts you've been conditioned to suppress. Through Emmerance Victoria's powerful story of near-death, burnout, and breakthrough, they unpack what it truly means to lead from the inside out. We cover: The danger of performing wellness while drowning privately Why intuition is your greatest leadership tool How near-death experiences can crack you open to your gifts The difference between surviving and thriving as a leader Ancestral practices and ancient wisdom as pathways to healing Why self first isn't selfish—it's a standard Metabolizing negativity without being consumed by it The age of Aquarius and what it means for women of colour reclaiming their truth How colonization disconnected us from our gifts and how we're returning to them The relationship between faith, spirituality, and authentic leadership This conversation is honest, layered, and deeply affirming for anyone navigating leadership, healing, burnout, or the journey of reconnecting with who they truly are. Connect with Emmerance Victoria: History Unveiled Live series on TikTok (Sunday 5PM PDT): https://www.tiktok.com/@theemmerance Website: emmerance.com The Emmerance Podcast: https://www.emmerance.com/podcast/ Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SuHTfB3lDzQ Resources mentioned in this episode: Work with Rohene: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/workwithrohene

July 2, 202647 min

Defining Leadership Beyond Titles, Expectations, and Imposed Roles

What happens when leadership is no longer defined by titles, achievement, or external validation? In this episode, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Donnette Burrows and June A. Muvunyi for an honest conversation about leadership, motherhood, identity, and the courage to define success on your own terms. Together, they explore the ways women are conditioned to perform, fit in, and seek approval, and what becomes possible when we choose alignment over expectation. Through stories of motherhood, personal growth, and professional leadership, they share how letting go of imposed roles opened the door to a more authentic and fulfilling life. We cover: • How motherhood reshapes the way we lead and see ourselves • Why leadership is about more than titles and positions • The courage required to build your own arena • Letting go of expectations, approval, and the need to fit in • Learning to love yourself and trust your own path • Detaching from identities that no longer serve you • Recognizing when you are in the wrong location and finding spaces where you belong • Defining success and leadership on your own terms • The importance of being true to yourself, even when it feels uncomfortable This conversation is thoughtful, vulnerable, and deeply affirming for anyone navigating leadership, motherhood, personal growth, or the journey of becoming more fully themselves. Connect with Donnette Burrows: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hersimplyalignedlife LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnette-burrows-1727b8b4/ Connect with June A. Muvunyi: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juneabahuje/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/june-abahuje-1b0a2485/?skipRedirect=true Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kthfgjS8-hk Resources mentioned in this episode: Downloading a free gift: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/resources

June 25, 202636 min

Breaking the Invisible Cage

What happens when you realize the space you worked so hard to enter was never built to see your worth? In this episode, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Arcadia Gijah Brown, an Independent Financial Planner, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate, to explore what it means to walk away from environments that diminish you and step boldly toward spaces that celebrate who you truly are. Together, they dive into the reality many immigrant women, Black women, and women of colour face in workplaces where their value is overlooked, their potential underestimated, and their leadership minimized. Gijah shares the powerful story of redefining her own worth, resigning from a role that caged her, and discovering what existed on the other side of fear, doubt, and scarcity. We cover: • The moment Gijah realized her “stepping stone” had become a cage • How immigrant women navigate proving their worth in systems not designed for them • The cost of staying where you are tolerated instead of celebrated • What walking in faith looks like when nothing feels certain • Rewriting your threshold for success • Choosing rooms that honour your value • Reclaiming power, identity, and self-worth This conversation is bold, honest, emotional, and full of truth for anyone ready to step out of the limitations placed on them and into the arena they are meant to lead. Connect with Arcadia Gijah Brown: Website: https://jacobwarrenfinancial.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacyfinancialjwf Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohenebouajram/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DSosVorrMFE Resources mentioned in this episode: Book with Rohene to Speak: https://www.rohenebouajram.com

June 18, 202634 min

The Counterintuitive Journey to Self-Love

What if self-love is not something you “achieve” but something you unlearn your way back to? In this episode, Rohene Bouajram sits down with nonprofit leader, educator, and executive coach Minnie Karanja to explore why true self-love often begins in the places we avoid the most. This conversation is grounding, reflective, and filled with insight for anyone ready to lead, work, and live from a place of truth rather than performance. Connect with Minnie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniekaranja/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachminniek Website: https://minniekaranja.com/ Connect with Rohene: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unspeakable-leadership Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unspeakableleadership/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rohenebouajram Website: https://www.rohenebouajram.com Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rG1Wx0ayicU Resources mentioned in this episode: Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.rohenebouajram.com/