S6E3: Leading with Authenticity with Shayla Atkins

In this episode, Laura Knights interviews Shayla Atkins, Founder and CEO of Atkins Impact Consulting,  about leading with authenticity.  Shayla shares her personal journey of code-switching and conforming in the corporate world, and how she eventually found success by embracing her authentic self. They discuss the importance of alignment, clarity, and healing in leadership, and how authenticity is the new leadership currency. Shayla introduces the concept of SPICE (Savvy, Performance, Image, Communication, and Exposure) as the key skills for effective leadership. She also emphasizes the need for building networks, finding mentors, and creating environments that allow individuals to show up authentically.   About Shayla Shayla N. Atkins has a proven track record in the private sector earning her the coveted title of award-winning DE&I leader as her team was awarded "The Most Innovative DE&I Team". Her thought leadership, results, and commitment to community service earned her the 2022 Lifetime Presidential Achievement Award presented by President Joseph R. Biden and now as a CEO of a consulting firm, a certified Lean Six Sigma blackbelt, executive coach and organizational effectiveness strategist making a global impact, she challenges the norms, systems, and practices in the corporate landscape to "level the playing field" for every person and business to thrive. She is the Bestselling Author of "Black Women Lead With S.P.I.C.E." underscoring her belief that "Authenticity is the new leadership currency". Shayla strives to change the leadership landscape by advancing authentic and effective women into senior leadership through her talks, development programs, courses and books. Shayla N. Atkins not only boasts education in Organizational Effectiveness and a myriad of certifications (Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, DE&I Certified, Organizational Change Management, etc.), but she has also nearly two decades of real-world global senior HR leadership experience and emerged as an award-winning authority in leadership development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and workplace culture transformation in leading mid-size and large companies. Connect with Shayla Website: www.theatkinsimpact.com Connect with Shayla on LinkedIn Get her book on amazon: https://a.co/d/eyJd5In  Download her free guide: www.leadwithspice.com   Resources: Event: Join us for the Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference +Retreat, May 27-30, 2025 in Virginia Beach! Learn more at bwlretreat.com   Credits: Learn more about our consulting work with organizations at https://knightsconsultinggroup.com/ Email Laura: [email protected] Connect with Laura on LinkedIn Follow BWL on LinkedIn Instagram: @blackwomanleading Facebook: @blackwomanleading Podcast Music & Production: Marshall Knights  Graphics: Téa Campbell Listen and follow the podcast on all major platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher iHeartRadio Audible Podbay