In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Nikki Groom, CEO and founder of Raised Voices, a personal brand strategy firm dedicated to helping leaders articulate their expertise and amplify their impact.

Nikki shares her journey from growing up in a working-class town in England to building a business that helps speakers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders step into their authority. Together, they explore how personal branding, speaking, and community play a critical role in leadership development and career advancement.

This conversation is especially relevant for leaders navigating visibility, identity, and influence in today’s workplace.

Key Themes:
• Personal brand strategy and positioning
• Speaking as a leadership growth tool
• Building community in leadership
• Overcoming self-doubt and owning your voice
• Creating visibility and authority

Timestamps:
Timestamps:
00:00 – Why Your Voice Matters in Leadership
01:20 – Meet Nikki Groom
05:00 – From England to Entrepreneurial Leadership
09:00 – The Power of Community in Career Growth
13:30 – Speaking as a Leadership Strategy
16:30 – Personal Brand & Positioning Framework
19:45 – Overcoming Self-Doubt & Owning Your Voice
22:00 – Fear, Growth, and Leadership Identity
24:00 – How to Connect with Nikki

Guest Links:
Website: https://raised-voices.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkigroom/

https://nsaspeaker.org
https://.talkadot.com

What does it take to rebuild your life, career, and leadership identity from scratch?

In this episode of the Building Leadership Community Podcast, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Anisha Jennings, a systems administrator, entrepreneur, and founder of Jennings Tech Corner, to explore what it means to lead through transition and uncertainty.

After moving from India to the United States to pursue her second master’s degree, Anisha rebuilt her life step by step, launching multiple ventures while balancing career, motherhood, and community.

This conversation explores leadership through lived experience, the power of taking imperfect action, and how to scale with systems and support.

• Leadership through transition and reinvention
• Building systems for sustainable growth
• Community as a leadership strategy
• Imperfect action vs perfection
• Visibility and digital presence for entrepreneurs

00:00 – Introduction: Rebuilding, reimagining, rising
01:52 – Why leadership should be accessible
06:55 – Anisha’s origin story and move to the U.S.
09:25 – Building Jennings Tech Corner
10:56 – Why visibility matters in business
11:18 – Launching a podcast for women of color
12:05 – Scaling through team and collaboration
13:22 – What community really means
16:05 – Advice to her younger self
17:33 – Leadership advice for the next generation
18:58 – Imperfect action vs perfection
21:04 – Websites as digital leadership tools
24:54 – Final message: take the leap

Website: https://jenningstechcorner.com/
Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@AnishaJennings
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jennings-tech-corner/

In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez speaks with Jean Westrick, CEO of the Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG), about leading at the intersection of technology and equity.

Jean shares her journey in philanthropy, her approach to mission-driven leadership, and why community is essential for navigating uncertainty. Together, they explore how leaders can build authentic executive presence while leveraging technology for social impact.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
03:54 – Guest Introduction
07:51 – Career Journey
12:14 – Community & Leadership
15:04 – Community as Antidote
17:30 – Leadership Advice
18:25 – “Be Cool. Be Sweet. Be Yourself.”
21:07 – Authenticity in Leadership
24:30 – Where to Connect

Key Themes:

• Authentic leadership
• Community-driven leadership
• Technology and equity
• Career growth and purpose
• Executive presence through authenticity

Connect with our guest:
Jean Westrick
President & CEO, Technology Association of Grantmakers (TAG)
Leader in philanthropy, technology, and equity-driven innovation

🔗 Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/JeahWestrick
https://tagtech.org
TAG Tech on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/technologyassociationofgrantmakers

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