A Conversation with Harper Bailey, a Powerful Storyteller Whose Memoir Charts a Path Towards Wholeness

Harper A. Bailey is the pen name of Dr. Tiosha Bailey, a Chicago native, public health leader and powerful storyteller who challenges the status quo. She manifests dreams through grief and creativity.She was the first Black woman to lead a prominent national women's healthcare nonprofit, where she prioritized health equity and amplified the voices of underserved communities. Her first book, It Was Her: A Memoir—featuring a foreword by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols—invites readers into a deeply personal story shaped by loss, resilience and transformation. Through honest and compelling storytelling, Harper explores identity, healing and the courage it takes to reclaim your narrative.It Was Her is more than a memoir about endurance; it is a testament to the human spirit’s remarkable capacity to heal when we dare to listen to what truly calls us. Bailey’s voice offers a compelling invitation to anyone who has ever felt broken by life’s demands to discover resilience, extend forgiveness, and pursue renewal. It invites readers to lean into the uncomfortable, to find grace in the ordinary and to believe that the darkest chapters can become the prologue to a brighter, more authentic life.As a speaker, Harper brings clarity, depth and humor to conversations about leadership, purpose and the lived experiences of Black women. She connects with audiences through truth-telling and a passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, heard and empowered.In this episode, we discuss:The dream that sparked the book and how grief became a surprising creative catalystWhat allowed Harper to finish the book quickly while processing deep emotional painThe decision to include personal journal entries and the intimacy they added to the storyHow reframing trauma opened space for forgiveness and deeper healingWhy Harper chose to write under her pen name and what that unlocked for herHarper's work is about creating spaces where people, especially women and Black communities, can embrace their healing, their strength and their purpose. She uses creativity, raw truth and humor to illuminate the fullness of the human experience.Ultimately, Harper’s memoir charts a path toward wholeness that reminds us that healing is not a destination but an ongoing process of choosing oneself over and over again. The book closes with the realization that the freedom and joy she sought were within her all along: It was her. It was YOU. It was all of us. Learn more and follow Harper: www.harperabailey.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/tiosha-goss-bailey-drph-mph-5149a552/https://www.instagram.com/harper_abaileyhttps://www.facebook.com/harperabailey