The Becoming Table Talk

In this episode of The Becoming Table, we’re talking about what it means to make room for your next level by releasing what no longer fits the woman you are becoming.So many women are trying to grow while still carrying old expectations, outdated roles, guilt, over-functioning, people-pleasing, and the pressure to be everything for everybody. But your next level may not require you to do more. It may require you to release more.This episode is for the woman who feels called to lead, grow, expand, or step into a new season but knows there are patterns, responsibilities, and emotional weights she cannot keep carrying forward.Together, we explore how to recognize what no longer fits, why release can feel uncomfortable, and how making room creates space for clarity, confidence, rest, visibility, and aligned leadership.Core question:What am I still carrying that cannot come with me into my next level?Keywords: women in leadership, Black women leaders, personal growth, leadership development, emotional wellness, women helping professionals, over-functioning, people pleasing, boundaries, next level leadership, becoming, Sisters In Healing, The Becoming Table.

In this episode of Becoming Table Talk, Dr. Laryssa Creswell, Shawn, and Crystal talk about one of the most difficult skills for many leaders setting boundaries.For many women in leadership, the pressure to always show up, help others, and keep things running smoothly can make it difficult to say no. Over time, that constant giving can lead to burnout, resentment, and emotional exhaustion.They discuss the guilt and fear that often appear when women begin to prioritize their own needs, as well as the reactions leaders may encounter when they start communicating boundaries more clearly.Dr. Creswell, Shawn, and Crystal also share practical strategies and simple phrases that help leaders communicate boundaries with confidence and clarity.This episode is a reminder that boundaries are not rejection—they provide direction.If you’ve ever struggled to say no, protect your time, or advocate for your needs as a leader, this conversation is for you.#WomenInLeadership#LeadershipBoundaries#SelfAdvocacy#AuthenticLeadership#EmotionalIntelligence#LeadershipDevelopment#PersonalGrowth#MentalHealthMatters#WomenEmpowerment#BecomingTableTalk

In this episode of Becoming Table Talk, Dr. Laryssa Creswell, Shawn, and Crystal explore the critical role of community in leadership, especially for BIPOC women navigating spaces that can often feel isolating.Together, they talk about the emotional weight of leadership, the pressure of being the one others rely on, and how isolation can quietly lead to burnout, exhaustion, and disconnection. This conversation highlights why leadership is not meant to be carried alone and why community is essential for clarity, support, and sustainability.The episode also unpacks the difference between networking and true community. While networking often focuses on access and opportunity, community offers something deeper: safety, reciprocity, honesty, and genuine connection. Dr. Creswell, Shawn, and Crystal discuss the importance of building intentional spaces where leaders can be supported, seen, and strengthened.This episode is a reminder that real leadership is rooted in connection, care, and community.TakeawaysMany BIPOC women feel isolated in leadership roles.Isolation can contribute to burnout and emotional exhaustion.Community creates safety, clarity, and support.Networking is not the same as genuine community.Intentional spaces matter for authentic leadership connection.Support can come through peers, mentors, and sponsors.Sometimes leaders must create the spaces they need.Leadership is not meant to be lonely.#WomenInLeadership #BIPOCLeadership#BlackWomenLead #LeadershipMatters#AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipCommunity#WomenSupportingWomen #StrongerTogether#LeadershipPodcast #BecomingTableTalk

BIPOC women are often underpaid and promoted more slowly while carrying high-impact work. In this episode, we break down how to identify your true market value, prepare for negotiation conversations, and manage the emotional weight that can show up when you advocate for yourself.We also cover how to negotiate beyond base salary, title, scope, flexibility, bonuses, professional development, and clear growth pathways, so you leave with more than a number.Chapters:00:00 Understanding Your Market Value & Negotiation Preparation08:14 Compensation Beyond Salary & Positioning13:17 The Nature of Negotiation, Rejection, and ResilienceKeywords / Tags:market value, salary negotiation, total compensation, promotion strategy, underpayment, BIPOC women, women of color leadership, career advancement, workplace equity, negotiation preparation, leadership development, pay raise, compensation package, professional growth

In this episode of Becoming Table Talk, we dive into the often-unspoken challenges faced by BIPOC women in the helping professions and especially the reality of being overlooked, undervalued, and expected to over-function without recognition.We explore how to make invisible work visible, build strategic relationships for advancement, clarify and strengthen your leadership brand, and advocate for yourself with confidence. The conversation also names the emotional weight that comes with asking for more—and offers grounded, practical strategies to move through it.This episode is a call to action for women who are ready to stop waiting to be seen and start showing up as unmistakable leaders.Key Takeaways:Visibility requires intentional and strategic effortSelf-advocacy is a leadership skill—not a flawAdvancement often begins with clarity, not permission

In this episode of Becoming Table Talk, the hosts discuss the challenges BIPOC women face in leadership roles, particularly around being heard and recognized. They explore the importance of speaking with authority, reclaiming one's voice, and navigating tone policing and double standards in communication. The conversation emphasizes the need for structure in professional settings to ensure that all voices are heard and valued, and encourages women to embrace their confidence without feeling the need to apologize for their contributions.TakeawaysBIPOC women often feel unheard in professional settings.Speaking with authority requires confidence and clarity.Reclaiming your voice is essential in leadership.Tone policing affects how women's voices are perceived.Creating structure in meetings can help amplify voices.Your voice is part of your professional brand.Confidence is different from arrogance; both are necessary.Documenting contributions helps in reclaiming ownership.Your nervous system reacts to speaking up; be gentle with it.Small shifts in language can lead to significant changes in perception.

The conversation explores the profound impact of the nervous system on leadership, emphasizing the importance of regulation for stability and clarity. It delves into the chaos caused by dysregulation, the role of the nervous system in shaping a leadership brand, and the intentional regulation required for leadership stability. The impact of dysregulation on leadership and the transformative effect of regulation on the external structure are also highlighted.TakeawaysNervous system as a leadership systemRegulation and leadershipImpact of dysregulation on leadershipLeadership brand and nervous systemIntentional regulation for leadership stabilityChapters00:00 Regulation and Leadership Impact

Are you a Black woman leader feeling overwhelmed by constant decision-making, burnout, or the pressure to hold everything together?In this episode, we explore why leadership fatigue isn’t a confidence problem — it’s a systems problem.You’ll learn how intentional systems create clarity, reduce decision fatigue, and protect your energy so you can lead without overworking or sacrificing your mental health. This conversation breaks down how structure can liberate your leadership and help you stay aligned with your purpose — without hustle, guilt, or burnout.If you’re tired of being the go-to person while feeling stretched thin, this episode offers grounded insight and practical reframes designed specifically for Black women in leadership.In this episode, we cover:• Why decision fatigue impacts Black women leaders at higher rates• How leadership systems reduce burnout and increase clarity• The role structure plays in confidence, boundaries, and sustainability• How to lead effectively without carrying everything alone✨ A strong leader doesn’t need more hustle — she needs systems that hold her.What systems are supporting your leadership right now? Share your thoughts and reflections after listening.

Leadership is not about hustle.It’s about alignment.In this episode of The Becoming Table Talk, Dr. Laryssa Creswell, Shawn, LaTrise, and Crystal explore how leadership identity, boundaries, emotional wellness, and energy patterns must guide your workflow in order to prevent burnout and support sustainable success.This episode covers:Women in leadership and burnoutLeadership identity vs. performanceAlignment in daily work structuresEmotional labor at workBoundaries and leadership clarityNervous system leadershipDesigning a workflow that fits your lifeMoving from hustle culture to intentional leadershipIf your work no longer matches who you are becoming, this episode helps you restructure with purpose.

Leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about understanding what you can hold.In this episode of The Becoming Table Talk, Dr. Laryssa, Shawn, LaTrise and Crystal explore capacity. The emotional, mental, and nervous-system foundation of sustainable leadership.This conversation addresses:Emotional burnout in women leadersWhy productivity culture harms BIPOC womenEmotional labor in the workplaceCapacity leaks like over-functioning and boundary erosionNervous system leadershipSustainable leadership for helping professionalsMoving from survival mode into clarityIf you’re a woman in leadership feeling exhausted, unseen, or emotionally overloaded well then this episode gives you language, clarity, and permission to lead differently.

In Episode 4 of The Becoming Table Talk, the Sisters In Healing crew continues our two-part conversation on organizational leadership — shifting from planning into the real work: execution and adaptation.A strategic plan means nothing if it never leaves the page. This episode explores how leaders bring structure to life, communicate clearly, pivot when things change, and evolve systems so teams can thrive.Join Dr. Laryssa Creswell, Shawn Anderson, LaTrise Wilson, and Crystal Funderburk as they unpack how BIPOC women in the helping professions can build grounded, flexible leadership systems that support clarity, collaboration, and sustainability.In this episode, we explore:• Communication systems that build clarity and shared understanding• Documentation practices that preserve knowledge + protect alignment• Problem-solving frameworks that reduce panic and increase focus• Adaptability + stress management when plans shift• Continuous improvement as an ongoing leadership disciplineThis episode reminds us that strong organizational leadership isn’t rigid — it’s responsive. When we communicate well, document decisions, and stay flexible, challenges become puzzles instead of crises.And for BIPOC women who are often under heightened scrutiny, operational clarity is more than efficiency — it’s wellness, confidence, and legacy.Pull up a seat. Your systems deserve to evolve as you do.OrganizationalLeadership#LeadershipExecution#CommunicationSystems#ContinuousImprovement#ProblemSolvingSkills#AdaptiveLeadership#BIPOCWomenLeaders#HelpingProfessions#SistersInHealing#SustainableLeadership

In Episode 3 of The Becoming Table Talk, the Sisters In Healing team opens a two-part series on organizational leadership — starting with strategic planning.This conversation goes beyond color-coded calendars and productivity hacks. Dr. Laryssa Creswell, Shawn Anderson, LaTrise Wilson, and Crystal Funderburk break down the core organizational skills every leader needs to build credibility, support their team, and protect their peace — especially for BIPOC women in the helping professions.They explore how to move from daily task management to long-view planning that creates structure, clarity, and collective momentum. You’ll learn how to build systems that align everyday actions with long-term goals, design supportive time rhythms for your team, and make decisions with confidence instead of urgency.In this episode, we explore:• Strategic systems that connect daily actions to big goals• Team time architecture — beyond individual time management• Decision-making frameworks that reduce confusion and delay• Delegation and authority that grow people, not pressure• Why operational clarity builds trust — especially under scrutiny.This episode is your reminder that strategic planning isn’t about perfection — it’s the backbone of grounded, sustainable leadership. When your systems, time structure, and decision processes align, you create momentum that lasts.Pull up a seat — your leadership deserves structure that supports your vision.#BIPOC leadership #strategic planning #women in leadership #leadership development #helping professions #time architecture #decision making #delegation #sustainable leadership #Sisters In Healing #professional growth

If you’re tired of feeling like your schedule is leading you instead of the other way around, this conversation will help you Reclaim Your Time — and your power.In this episode of The Becoming Table Talk, the Sisters In Healing crew gets real about what it means to manage time as a leader — not from hustle culture or perfectionism, but from purpose, energy, and alignment.Dr. Laryssa Creswell, Shawn Anderson, LaTrise Wilson, and Crystal Funderburk break down the core principles of time stewardship for BIPOC women in the helping professions: protecting your peace, honoring your boundaries, and building structure that supports sustainable leadership.They explore how to prioritize with clarity (not crisis), plan with intention, delegate without guilt, honor deadlines as an act of trust, and manage energy as a critical leadership skill.This episode is your reminder that you don’t need more hours in the day, you need alignment. Because when your time reflects your purpose, leadership becomes strategic, grounded, and deeply authentic.

Your title doesn’t make you a leader — your Why does.Press play to reconnect with what fuels you and anchor into leadership that’s rooted, rested, and real.In the premiere episode of The Becoming Table Talk, Dr. Laryssa Creswell, joins co-hosts Shawn Anderson, LaTrise Wilson, and Crystal Funderburk to explore a foundational leadership question: Why do you show up?This episode offers practical guidance for BIPOC women in the helping professions who want to develop emotionally grounded leadership, build self-trust, prioritize well-being, cultivate sustainable growth, and lead without burnout.Listeners will learn:How to define and reconnect with your leadership purposeHow to build trust through alignment and consistencyHow to create a personalized leadership roadmapHow to grow through reflection, community, and restPerfect for therapists, social workers, educators, healthcare professionals, and emerging leaders who want to lead with intention — not survival mode.Keywords: BIPOC leadership, women in leadership, emotional resilience, purpose-driven leadership, sustainable leadership, burnout prevention, leadership growth, helping professions, self-trust, leadership coaching