Breaking Glass, Building Belonging: Wanda Herndon on Leadership, Resilience, and the Power of Yes From Flint to Corporate Leadership Wanda Herndon reflects on growing up in a working-class family in Flint, Michigan, and on the influence of her father, who wanted his children to obtain “office jobs” and become decision-makers. She describes her father’s work at General Motors, his expectations for his family, and the ambition that pushed her to imagine a life beyond her neighborhood. She explains that hearing “no” became a source of motivation rather than defeat and that leaving Flint opened her to mentors, opportunities, and experiences that shaped her leadership path. Her story connects family sacrifice, personal discipline, and the willingness to pursue possibilities beyond familiar surroundings. The Great Migration and Family Legacy Herndon discusses her father’s move from the Jim Crow South to Flint as part of the Great Migration and explains how understanding that history changed the way she saw her family’s place in America. She presents his bus journey as a pivotal act that helped position the family for employment, home ownership, education, and greater opportunity. The conversation also explores the decline of Flint after General Motors reduced its presence and the emotional impact of watching a once-thriving community struggle. Both women connect their family histories to broader questions of Black community development, resilience, and the importance of building opportunities for future generations. Becoming the CEO of Yourself A recurring theme is self-leadership. Herndon describes herself as the “CEO of me,” meaning that she refuses to allow other people to define her or determine what choices are available to her. She recalls the financial stress she experienced at Michigan State University and explains how asking a roommate for help taught her resourcefulness and removed her fear of seeking assistance. The women discuss the importance of asking questions, learning from others, and moving through imposter syndrome without giving up. For Herndon, responsibility to her family and to those coming behind her became a powerful reason to continue even when she doubted herself. Communication, Authenticity, and Belonging Herndon explains how her journalism training became the foundation of her corporate communications career. She argues that businesses depend on clear communication with employees, customers, communities, and the wider world, and that poor communication often lies behind organizational problems. The discussion turns to authenticity, directness, and the challenge of speaking hard truths without diminishing other people. Herndon says she learned to be a straight-talking professional who could disagree respectfully, while Henderson emphasizes using lived experience to communicate honestly. Both women connect effective communication to belonging, confidence, and the ability to navigate difficult situations. Leadership, Culture, and the Power of Yes The interview contrasts bosses with leaders and explores what healthy organizational culture looks like. Herndon says leaders give people room to create, grow, contribute, and share in success, while command-and-control management can reduce people to simply following instructions. She describes the culture she experienced at Starbucks as one in which people cared for one another, shared in the company’s success, and knew that they belonged. The conversation also examines employee retention, customer service, workplace “vibe,” and the importance of listening to people and acting on their ideas. The phrase “just say yes” becomes a symbol of service, possibility, persistence, and moving around obstacles instead of being stopped by them. Breaking Glass and Giving Back Herndon discusses her memoir, Working Class to Breaking Glass, as a combination of personal story, family history, and leadership reflection. Rather than giving readers a formula for success, she shares how she navigated her own journey and hopes others will take what they need from it. She offers several “Wanda-isms,” including looking up instead of backward, being fearless but smart, helping others, remaining the CEO of yourself, and remembering that you are worthy. Henderson connects those ideas to her own foundation work, mentoring, trauma recovery, and writing. The episode closes with a shared emphasis on resilience, confidence, service, and Herndon’s word of the day: “Fight”—fight for what is yours, keep moving, and do not allow other people to stop you. SEO Keywords / Key Phrases women in leadership, corporate communications, workplace belonging, Black women executives, Great Migration history, authentic leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, organizational culture, trauma recovery and accountability, breaking the glass ceiling
