The Courageous Personal Leadership Podcast Corey and Sharma Graham

In this episode, Corey and Sharma talk with an accomplished comics illustrator Sanford Greene. Sanford has worked professionally in comic illustration and related industries for over 15 years, including work for mainline publishers such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics. Recent work includes the hit Marvel series Power Man and Iron Fist as well as covers for Black Panther and Luke Cage. He currently works on his creator-owned online comic series for Line Webtoon, 1000, and the anticipated Bitter Root, a dark fantasy/action ongoing series published by Image Comics and set during the Harlem Renaissance, which is soon to be a film directed by Regina King. During this conversation, Sanford speaks candidly about his journey as a comics illustrator, the lessons he has learned, the role patience has played, and how he continues to stay grounded as his level of celebrity grows. 

"There are going to be things that come up. You can't predict everything. The test is being able to persevere through those things." - Attorney Nicole Theodore


In this episode, Corey and Sharma talk with Attorney Nicole Theodore, founding and managing partner of The Theodore Firm (founded in 2018), with offices in Atlanta and Nashville. She is a 2004 graduate of The Florida State University and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in 2010. Attorney Theodore has had the pleasure of representing professional athletes across multiple sports, talent both in front of and behind the camera, recording artists, producers and songwriters from all genres, as well as many successful business entrepreneurs.  During this conversation, Attorney Theodore shares how she has bounced back and overcome challenges in her career, including not passing the bar her first time around. She shares candidly about having to work through self-doubt, learn how to negotiate, lean on her faith, and why she is so passionate about ensuring her clients are represented well.  

"If you don't have equal opportunity to be at the table, and access to all the things that are at the table, there is no way you are going to be able to navigate anything." - Dr. Antonio Boyd

In this episode, Corey and Sharma talk with Dr. Antonio Boyd, President and CEO of the Think Tank Consulting Group, LLC, which is a national management, development, and public affairs company specializing in the education, non-profit, government, and public health sectors. Antonio received his Doctor of Education in Curriculum, Teaching, Learning, and Leadership from the Northeastern University Graduate School of Education in the College of Professional Studies. His work and research focus on experiential learning, equity and access, afterschool programming, diversity and inclusion, social justice education, college and career pathways, and the future workforce. During this conversation, Dr. Boyd talks candidly about his career as a nonprofit executive, how and why he has made courageous pivots in his career, his work in ​diversity, equity and inclusiveness, and what he calls "Solid Self Leadership." Tune in to hear all the gems he shares!

"Even if it's not present doesn't mean it's not possible." - Jada Grandy-Mock

In this episode, Corey and Sharma talk with Jada Grandy-Mock, a senior executive in the financial services industry. Jada has over 20 years of banking experience, including commercial and small business lending, credit risk management, client relationship management, regulatory compliance risk management and community development banking. Her guidance has empowered others to lead with courage, authenticity, and influence to get results.  During this conversation, Jada explains why and how she is on a mission to be a bridge to create economic opportunities for others and inspire them to do the same. Along her journey, she tried to talk herself out of her gift, learned how to negotiate, took a risk that changed her life, and all the while, has been anchored in her values. Listen in as she drops these gems!

"If you can find your purpose, your passion will follow." - Dr. Sharica Brookins

To kick off season four, Corey and Sharma talk with Dr. Sharica Brookins, who is a double board-certified Nephrologist & Internist licensed in Georgia. Dr. Brookins is the Founder & CEO of Remote Renal Care, a telehealth kidney practice and the first of its kind providing care all over Georgia. She is a published author in medical scientific journals and digital media; a member of leading medical societies; and a board member of local organizations. During this conversation, Dr. Brookins shares her journey toward becoming what we are calling, "The Multi-Purpose Leader." Her purpose has allowed her to live and lead courageously, and carve out a path for herself where less than 5% of nephrologists are African American. At the same time, while African-Americans make up about 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 35% of the people with kidney failure in the United States. These are statistics that Dr. Brookins is simply not okay with, and she has decided to dedicate her life's work to bringing kidney education and resources to the African American community. She vulnerably shares her journey of from questioning whether she should be in the room to creating new rooms altogether in the medical field! Trust us, you do not want to miss this conversation!

Corey and Sharma are back to continue to the Courageous Personal Leadership conversation! In season four, they will continue bringing the Four Principles of Courageous Personal Leadership to life through the very real and vulnerable stories of their guests. The Four Principles are: Manage your internal environment, Ask for what you need, Decide to take risks, and Embody your personal mission, vision and values. Show guests will be sharing how the Four Principles of Courageous Personal Leadership have played a role in their leadership, career and life journeys. 

Rooted in science and real-world experiences, the Four Principles of Courageous Personal Leadership offer a practical framework for those desiring to increase their influence and impact, but do not fit the mold of traditional leadership archetypes and are looking for a new perspective on what it means to demonstrate leadership. Our world is changing fast, and many of the old leadership paradigms are no longer working. The Courageous Personal Leadership Podcast is part of the community that is shifting the conversation toward new leadership paradigms and models that are more inclusive and representative of our beautifully diverse world.