Season 1 Episode 7: From Grenadian Roots to Global Leadership Impact: Lessons in Behavior, Education, Justice, and Agriculture

What does leadership really look like when it’s grounded in values, culture, behavior, and impact, not just titles and charisma? In this powerful episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers, Dr. Esther C. Bubb is joined by Dr. Tessa Barry and Dr. Donnell Thomas for a rich, reflective conversation on behaviorally informed leadership in education and beyond. Drawing from their shared Grenadian roots and diverse professional journeys, including education, agriculture, justice, and policy, the guests explore how early life experiences, cultural values, and intentional behaviors shape effective, sustainable leadership. Together, they explore leadership through a behaviorally informed and culturally grounded lens, examining how leadership is shaped by lived experience, education, community, and systems. They discuss leadership as influence rather than position, the importance of humility and flexibility, and why creating safe, supportive environments is essential for learning and growth. From classrooms to communities to systems-level change, this episode highlights how consistent values, collaboration, and everyday leadership behaviors—listening, modeling, reinforcing, and adapting—create meaningful impact and drive sustainable change. In this episode, you’ll learn: How leadership shows up in everyday behaviors—not just formal roles • Why transformative leadership outlasts charisma • How culture and upbringing shape leadership identity and values • The role of behavior in education, agriculture, and social systems • How leaders can build hope, capacity, and equity through action • Why showing up—and staying engaged—matters in creating change Whether you are an educator, administrator, emerging leader, policymaker, behavior analyst, or change-maker committed to ethical and human-centered leadership, this episode offers powerful insights you can apply immediately, challenge how you think about leadership, and inspire you to lead with intention and purpose. 🎧 Tune in to explore how leadership behaviors—not just authority—drive lasting change. Dr. Tessa Barry’s Bio Grenadian from the community of Birch Grove, St. Andrew. Educator for over 20 years at both primary and secondary level in Grenada. BSc: Management Studies MSc: Development Studies: Economics and Rural Development PhD: Agricultural Extension: Food Security, Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Gender Current: Part time lecturer UWI St Augustine Consultant for a number of organizations including: FAO, World University Services of Canada. Research Fellow with the University of Liverpool England Serves on the board of the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council Managing Director of consultancy firm: JRI consultancy. Publisher: number of reputable journals Mother to one daughter Zadie Barry…Wife to Mr. Learrie Barry Engaged in community development work and youth development in church Lover of sports and culture Dr. Donnell Thomas’s Bio Educator for 7 years in Grenada High School Teacher in the US for the last 18 years.  Former head of the Language Other Than English (LOTE) at Hirschi High School and Legacy High school.  Current International Baccalaureate Spanish teacher for the last 12 years at Hirschi High School and Legacy High School.  Undergrad in Spanish and Psychology at Midwestern State University (2005).  Masters in Human Resource Development (Specializing in Training and Development) from Midwestern State University (2011). D at Western Illinois University in Educational Leadership concentrating in Organizational Leadership Equity and Inclusion (2025).  Former Teacher of the Year nominee at Wichita Falls ISD in 2023.  Father of 3 (Jelani, Jrue, and Jovani Thomas). Husband of one to Dr. Renisha Thomas.