Where Power Rests Gently: A New Vision of Leadership Rooted in Love, Legacy, and Resistance

We are standing at a crossroads—again.

As the world watches Donald Trump’s first 100 days back in office, we are reminded just how easily power can be distorted into something that dominates, excludes, and divides.

This isn't just about politics. This is about leadership on every level—how we lead in our homes, in our communities, in our businesses, and in our world. It’s time to shift our focus from the outdated, harmful concepts of power.

Real power, the kind I believe in and the kind the world desperately needs right now, is rooted in love. It’s anchored in solutions that uplift us all.

It is shaped in the quiet spaces of prayer, the steady rhythm of intentional movement, and the fierce clarity that only comes when we know our worth. 

A Lesson from Black Women: The True Stewards of Power

This is not a new philosophy. This is an ancient knowing. Black women have always carried a spiritual technology that the world is just beginning to understand.

Our power has always been both practical and sacred—wrapped in compassion, expressed in care, multiplied through charity, strengthened by meditation, and guided by our faith.

For generations, Black women have carried the burden and brilliance of leadership. They’ve led families through oppression, driven social change, and maintained communities despite facing systemic erasure.

I am declaring what we’ve always known:

It’s time to redefine power.

It’s time to remember who we are.

It’s time to reclaim the image of leadership.

There are levels to this, so breathe… and take this in:

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As we redefine power for the future, we must honor this legacy and expand it beyond a singular community. The resistance practiced by Black women in leadership—against injustice, against oppression, and against the tired notion of power that feeds on fear and division—is a model for all of us. It is a practice of leadership that says, "We will not comply with the systems that divide us. We will lead differently."

The word P.O.W.E.R. in the POWER Tribe is more than an acronym. It stands as both a tribute and a guide—a tribute to the transformational leadership of Black women of the African diaspora, and a guide for anyone seeking to lead differently.

This acronym offers a new lens–it serves as a blueprint for any leader who is ready to embrace a power that is grounded in love, guided by solutions that create mutual benefit, and rooted in an unshakable sense of self-worth.

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A Woman of P.O.W.E.R. is…(a POWER Tribe philosophy)

P — Poised and living in her Purpose

Poise is a superpower. Poise isn’t just about how we carry ourselves; it’s about how we remain steady in moments of challenge and crisis. A woman who is poised is able to stay calm, think clearly, and lead with conviction, even under fire. Purpose is what grounds your presence. A woman of P.O.W.E.R. is driven by a higher purpose that goes beyond her personal success—she is here to transform the world around her.

O — Observant and Open-minded

True leadership starts with paying attention. You can’t shift what you don’t see. A woman who is observant sees the world as it is, not just how she wants it to be. She knows that true leadership is about understanding the needs of others and recognizing opportunities for growth and change. Open-mindedness means recognizing that we do not know everything, and that we must always be open to learning and evolving. It’s the humility to know that the best solutions often come from the most unexpected places.

W — Wise and Whole

Wisdom is the ability to see beyond the immediate moment. It’s the foresight to understand the long-term implications of our actions, and the adaptability to navigate a changing world. A wise leader also understands the power of vulnerability. To bring your whole self to every assignment means showing up authentically—not just with your strengths, but with your fears, your quirks, and your lived experiences. It’s about honoring your cultural identity and using those experiences to inform your leadership decisions.

E — Empathic and Eminent

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. A woman of P.O.W.E.R. leads with empathy because she knows that true leadership is about connection. It’s about seeing others and making them feel heard, seen, and valued. Eminence is the result of creating value at the highest levels. It’s about using your leadership to make a profound impact on the world and creating legacies that outlive your time in any given role. True eminence comes not from titles, but from the change you leave behind.

R — Responsible and Resourceful

Responsibility is about taking ownership of both people and outcomes. A responsible leader is ethical, values-driven, and committed to delivering results without compromising the well-being of others. Resourcefulness is the ability to find solutions when there seems to be no easy way forward. A woman of P.O.W.E.R. uses every tool at her disposal—relationships, resources, and resilience—to overcome challenges and create sustainable change.

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Not Matching Energy, But Leading with Purpose

There’s a popular narrative circulating that says we should “match the energy” of those who come against us. It’s tempting, I know. When we’re faced with opposition, it can feel like a natural instinct to mirror the behavior of those who seek to tear us down. But here’s the thing: matching energy in this way only perpetuates the same toxic cycles that have been in place for centuries.

The leadership we need isn’t reactive. It’s not about getting caught in the whirlwind of negativity or fear that others may try to impose upon us. It’s about responding with intention, with wisdom, and with a clear sense of purpose. We must lead not from a place of retaliation, but from a place of strength, self-worth, and vision.

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Resistance as a Practice of Leadership

Let’s talk about resistance for a moment. Resistance isn’t just about opposing something—it’s about choosing a different path, one that is aligned with values of justice, equity, and collective growth. Resistance is action. It’s the refusal to accept the status quo and the commitment to build something better. And in that resistance, we practice leadership.

As my own journey of leadership has evolved, I have come to believe that true leadership is, at its core, about resisting anything that diminishes the collective.

Three Questions to Help You Step Up and Redefine Power

1. How can I lead with empathy and compassion, even in the face of adversity?

2. What does my purpose call me to do, and how can I stay true to that purpose, even when I am faced with pressures to conform to outdated ideas of power?

3. Where can I practice resistance in my leadership, and how can I turn that resistance into a force for positive change?

Now is the time. Let’s stop chasing power as something to wield over others—and start cultivating it within ourselves. Use it with others. For the collective good. For something greater than ego or control.

The leadership of Black women has shown us the way.

Let us now take up the mantle and lead in a way that lifts us all. 

Let’s redefine power, together.

In POWER,

Kenya