How Two Black Women Broke Barriers & Led in the Military

In today’s fast-paced and challenging military environment, effective leadership is essential for success.On this episode of Rooted & Rising, I am joined by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Cheryl Bartly and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tabitha Williams to explore their personal journeys in the military, the challenges they faced as women leaders, and the importance of mentorship and mental health.In any organization, there are hierarchies, and the military is no different. Tabitha and Cheryl retired from their military careers as Chief Warrant Officers, which only makes up 3% of the military. Within that 3%, 93% of Chief Warrant Officers are men, and less than 1% are black women.“You’re a minority within a minority.” - Cheryl BartlyOne of the core themes of this podcast is the challenge of being perceived as an assertive leader, especially as a woman of color in a predominantly male environment. Cheryl opens up about her struggles with being labeled as aggressive when simply being decisive and following guidelines. This anecdote serves as a powerful reminder of the biases women leaders often confront and the need to balance assertiveness with professionalism.Tabitha echoes these sentiments, discussing her experience leading a team that was initially resistant to her leadership style because they were accustomed to disorganization, and frankly, laziness.Our conversation then delves into their decision-making processes for reenlisting and commissioning, the balance of decisive leadership without being perceived as aggressive, and the unspoken advice they would offer to young women entering the service today.While these two women are some of my closest friends, it is a privilege to see their perspectives, how our separate paths brought us together, and to share this conversation with you all.Tabitha and Cheryl will be back next week for part two of this conversation, to discuss life after retiring from the service.Don’t forget to subscribe! Grab your 2026 Wellness Powered By You digital planner HERE.Did you miss last week’s post? Get full access to Lamisa Wellness Collective at lamisawellnesscollective.substack.com/subscribe