The Shared Power Podcast: Notes on Collective Leadership with Mia Henry Mia Henry

In this first episode, Mia is joined by one of the podcast producers, Alysia Tate, to explain the intention behind this season, how we chose episode topics and guests, and why justice and equity work matters in every area of life (no matter your career choice).
Alysia interviews Mia and also shares how she now applies the concept of shared power within the Montessori classroom. 
 
 
 

“There is no limit to power: The world is better when we ALL have power… and we have to recognize this, even if society doesn’t.” - Lisa Marie Pickens
Why do so many DEI initiatives fall short? What does shared power look like in organizations, even the homogenous ones? Can a shared power analysis reframe and expand DEI work? 
These are the questions Mia explores in this episode with Nonprofit Consultant, Lisa Marie Pickens. 
Mia and Lisa Marie discuss the problems with general DEI initiatives, the day-to-day practicing of shared power through collaborative learning and modeling, why Shared Power is for EVERYONE in your organization, and how to sustain this internal shift long-term.
Plus, Lisa Marie shares some inspirational examples of nonprofits that have completely transformed their understanding and practice of DEI work to embrace Shared Power.

“Starting with a relationship instead of starting with a project is foundational, because relationships will continue even as projects and organizations close or change.” -Yashna Padamsee
 
How do we fulfill our organization’s mission without sacrificing its people?  And how do we support our people without sacrificing our mission? 
 
For this episode, Mia is joined by Yashna Padamsee, a consultant with over 17 years serving social movements, to talk about the importance of sharing our origin stories when working together in organizations and collectives.
 
Yashna and Mia discuss what it means to share our origin stories, how sharing stories fosters trust within an organization, why it’s important to prioritize relationships (even given the urgency of crisis work), plus the real cost of not prioritizing stories and relationships.

“Things don’t have to last forever in order to be successful… Sometimes we get too caught up in ‘sustainability,’ which prevents us from experimenting.” - Deborah Harrington
In this episode, philanthropic trailblazer and seasoned strategist Deborah Harrington joins Mia to discuss how we can redefine leadership in ways that diversify group thought, create a culture of trust, and build mutual loyalty. 
Deborah (she/her) brings to the conversation decades of experience leading in the public sector and social change philanthropy. She talks eloquently about how to reorient an organization’s leadership toward shared power.
Deborah and Mia discuss what often prevents organizations from building relationships (particularly in times of challenge), how vulnerability invites connection (which actively builds trust), and why organizational change can happen more quickly than we think. 
Plus, they share the story of how they organized together in their Chicago neighborhood!
 

“My professor and others woke me up to [injustice], but I didn’t have enough of a toolkit to really articulate what I was doing within these structures. Now the tools we have to analyze structures and to work collectively are so much stronger.” - Brian Brady
This candid conversation with Brian Brady, a veteran nonprofit leader, is about his regular reflections on shared power within nonprofit leadership positions as a white man.  
In this episode Mia talks with Brian about the challenge of maintaining  relationships within large organizations, why vulnerability is a key component of sharing power, and what practices Brian recommends to people with privilege in leadership roles.
 

“None of this would matter if we were doing it alone. We’re actively resisting the dominant culture through collaboration… which comes with, perhaps, individual risks [that are worth it].” -Lewis Raven Wallace
In this episode, Mia is joined by independent journalist Lewis Raven Wallace for a conversation about accessing our Zone Of Genius and what it means for the practice of Shared Power in collaboration.
Zone Of Genius can be defined as a flow state that takes you “beyond the sum of its parts,” as Lewis says in this episode. 
When each of us resides within our Zone Of Genius, we’re better able to add value to the world, individually and collectively. That’s why we aspire to engage with justice & equity work from that place. 
Lewis joins me to discuss how we both engage from within our Zone Of Genius in regular collaboration together, why solidarity is both a skill and a "practice", and why shared power is a long-term commitment.