Motivational Moment

Once You See It… Arundhati Roy

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

"The trouble is that once you see it, you can't unsee it. And once you've seen it, keeping quiet, saying nothing, becomes as political an act as speaking out. There's no such thing as an innocent bystander."

— Arundhati Roy, Writer and New York Times Bestselling Author

Give Love...Katherine Hepburn

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get—only with what you are expecting to give—which is everything.”

--Katharine Hepburn, Me: Stories of My Life

Faith Will Not Disappoint, The Morning Comes…Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

"Wherever you are tonight, you can make it. Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes. Don't you surrender. Suffering breeds character, character breeds faith. In the end, faith will not disappoint."

—Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Minister, Civil Rights Leader, Economic Rights Advocate, Two-time Presidential Candidate, Coalition Builder (1941-2026)

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Do Not Wait To Start Working On Your Dream…Napoleon Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

“Do not wait: the time will never be 'just right'. Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.”

—Napoleon Hill

#LeadershipTuesdays: Speaking Truthfully Matters!…Adlai Stevenson

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

“Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public purse.”

—Adlai Stevenson

You Are Needed…Antonio Tijerino

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“You are not lucky to be here. The world needs your perspective. They are lucky to have you.”

– Antonio Tijerino

Looking For A Normal Life?…Fred Rogers

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.”

—Fred Rogers

#LeadershipTuesdays: We Have Potent Power!…Michelle Herrera Mulligan

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“As people of color, we have a potent power – and a responsibility – to change events around us, not just professionally, but spiritually and politically as well.”

—Michelle Herrera Mulligan, writer and editor, Publisher, Former Founding Editor-In-Chief for Cosmos For Latinas

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.

Your Path To Self Discovery…Debbie Ford

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

You are on a soulful path that asks you to step into the greatest version of yourself. It is a sacred gift to shine your brightest light, not just in your moments of glory, but each day.

--Debbie Ford

You Are One of One

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in one drop.”

—Rumi

Simone Manuel, is a two time Olympic winning swimmer and a six-time individual NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving champion

When God Pours Out The Holy Spirit…Loida Martell-Otero

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Read: Acts 16:25–40

“Salvation is the outpouring of God's Spirit, and therefore of abundant life that gives hope to those without hope, and frees those bound and made powerless by the powers and principalities of our day.”

—Loida I. Martell-Otero, Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs at the Lexington Theological Seminary; Professor of Constructive Theology

#LeadershipTuesdays: I Am A Treasure Producing Treasures In The Earth…Gabriela Mistral

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:10:00 +0000

“I have a day. If I know how to make the most of it, I have a treasure.”

– Gabriela Mistral, Nobel Prize-Winning Poet, Teacher and Educator, Diplomat & University Professor

San Francisco Museum, Santiago, Chile

Receiving the Nobel Prize

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders.
For more information on Leadership Tuesdays or WOMEN AT LIBERTY, click here.

Build Trust In Yourself…Miranda J. Barrett

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:48:00 +0000

As you build trust in yourself, your ability to expand your vision and fully live in your magnificence is amplified.

Miranda J. Barrett, A Woman's Truth: A Life Truly Worth Living

Photo Credit:

https://www.melaninbasecamp.com/trip-reports/2022/2/27/why-we-jump-an-interview-with-5-base-jumpers-of-color

Slavery: If It Happened To One, It Happened To All…Lupita Nyong'O

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:00:00 +0000

“Slavery is something that is all too often swept under the carpet. The shame doesn't even belong to us, but we still experience it because we're a part of the African race. If it happened to one, it happened to all. We carry that burden.”

--Lupita Nyong'O, Oscar Winning Actress

We Have Only Just Begun: Get Together Because It’s Possible...Andrew “Andy” Young

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

“The hungry cannot eat hope. They can't drink inspiration. They need clean water. Yes, they need food.

There is more money, there is more technology. There's more understanding of human need on this planet than ever before.

And so I cling to the message of my African brothers that say the ancestors are still with us. And if that be true, we have nothing yet to celebrate. We can only thank God that they showed us that it was possible…to break down the barriers that separate the rich and the poor.

It's the first time the Congress got together and Democrats and Republicans voted sanctions and they overrode the veto and and the UN got together and England and France got together with Germany and Cuba and China and the US.

…we made it possible to get this far, but you have sung that there's no easy walk to freedom. And I hear Madiba saying, ‘we showed you the way’.

There is the capacity in this planet that the hungry can be fed that the naked can be clothed that the prophecy of Isaiah can be fulfilled in our lifetime if we keep on keeping on.”

--Andrew Young, Civil Rights Leader; Member of U.S. Congress; Mayor of Atlanta, GA; U.S. Ambassador; Minister and Businessman

(Excerpts from Andy Young’s remarks on the occasion of the Nelson Mandela Memorial Service at the National Cathedral, Washington, DC, 12/11/13)

A Prayer In Community…Jacqueline A. Thompson

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Pastor Jacqueline Thompson, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, CA. Credit: Amir Aziz, Oaklandside.org

Preparation:

“We come to church in community because sometimes it takes more than just us. We are intergenerational because when I look at seasoned saints, I see how God helped them make it through. When I look at young people, I understand what my charge is: ...I have to help them make it through. But sometimes when you’re in the middle you wonder, ‘who is going to help me make it through?’ Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief.

“God is able to do just what he said he will do. He’s going to fulfill every promise to you. Don’t give up on God, cause he won’t give up on you. He’s able! He’s able!”

The Bible says if we come touching and agreeing concerning any matter...because sometimes you need to feel another real live human with blood in their veins to know that God is a keeper...

Prayer:

And So God we come right now as our ancestors would say, ‘in the onli-est way we know how’... We come to you because God literally, there is no other help we know.

You are the God of our weary years and the God of our silent tears. We come before you with bowed down heads and humble hearts because we don’t know what the future holds but we know you hold the future.

God, we’re tired. Some of us are tired of ourselves. But you told us that we could cast all our cares upon you cause your yoke is easy and your burden is light. So God help us! We don’t want to be inauthentic. Something has happened that has shaken us! And it’s because we don’t know that makes us concerned.

But God, won’t you remind us? You said you will never leave us, and you will never forsake us. Some of us are in deep pain. ...you are a balm in Gilead. We thank you for angels that are being dispatched to deal with their situation... We thank you, as the saint of old would say, ‘for being God, and being God all by yourself’.

Help us to keep our confidence in you, not just today but in the days to come. Give us to know that the best is still yet to come. Holy Spirit, fall fresh right now. Stir up the passion and the gift of God! Renew our spirits and our minds, and our body. Help us to seek after you and run on and see what the end is going to be.

And because we are a people of faith, we not gon wait till the battle is over. God, we’re going to shout right now. We are going to thank you for it right now. God is able!”

—Rev. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson, B.A., MDiv, DMin; Preacher, Author, Administrator and Senior Pastor, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, California

*Please note this prayer has been edited for this medium, but can be viewed below in its entirety along with the sermon delivered by Dr. Thompson on November 10, 2025 in Somerset, NJ. —Nona Ogunsula, Principal Creative, Liberty Ink and Founder, womenatliberty and #LeadershipTuesdays

#LeadershipTuesdays--Leading With Empathy...Stephanie C. Hill

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:01:00 +0000

“We've been working [with] our team on something called psychological safety. And basically, psychological safety is saying that in this organization, you're free to bring up your ideas, you're free to question, you're free to speak truth to power without fear of reputational damage or retaliation or anything like that.

And in order to create a psychologically safe space, you have to treat people in a certain way. You have to treat people with compassion, empathy, you've got to give them grace.

You can be tough and have compassion…a compassionate empathetic leader. Being empathetic means… [that your perspective toward the person is…], ‘I understand what you're going through. I feel what you're feeling.’ Compassionate leadership means, ‘Not only do I feel what you're feeling, but I'm going to help you.’

So if we're going to help the people that we're privileged to lead, we have to show up for folks that can't represent themselves or can't fight for themselves. We have to do that. And we also have to help people around us to be better. We have to give constructive feedback. We have to give people constructive feedback in a way they can hear it. So they can take it on board and they can be stronger for it.”

—Stephanie C. Hill, President, Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin Corporation

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On Tuesdays, the #LeadershipTuesdays platform presents a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. Today is the first Tuesday of Black History Month in 2025. We remember and honor those who, with fortitude and persistence, came before us and hoped with active faith for a better tomorrow. They created the foundation on which we now stand and we are grateful for not only their sacrifice, but also their example.

Today’s article features Stephanie C. Hill. She is president of the Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business area within the Lockheed Martin Corporation. RMS, a global leader in aerospace and defense technology, is a more than $16 billion enterprise that employs 35,000 people across the United States and in multiple nations around the world. Hill is an engineer and a seasoned executive leader with over 30 years of experience. Gifted with many talents, she is a woman of faith and also an accomplished musician.

In the quote above taken from an interview for Kahilla* with her sister, multifaceted media maven and acclaimed author Harriette Cole, Ms. Hill offers a definition and examples of what it means to lead with empathy. Check out the entire interview below for helpful, practice guidance on how you can improve your ability to lead yourself and your team through negative occurrences and tough situations.

For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, follow us on Twitter: @LeadershipTues.

*Kahilla is a digital base camp for women on the rise.

REPOST: My Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:10:00 +0000

My Prayer in times when words fail us:

Re-posting a prayer that I wrote over 15 years ago. The sentiment of the prayer really blessed me and I hope it blesses you as well.
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Lord, there are places where we are not able to go, so we send your Spirit. There are hearts that we cannot touch, so we pray for the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit to minister to them.

We also pray for those that will have the opportunity to minister and pray for those who are in need and broken-hearted. Give them wisdom. Help them to minister in a spirit of love, truth and restoration.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

*Dedicated to the memory of Pastor Paul E. Sheppard who inspired this prayer. He past away on January 25, 2025 and my thoughts are with his family and church during this time of grief and gratitude for his life and ministry.

Nona Ogunsula

The Type Of Leaders We Need To Be Developing…Martin Luther King, Jr.

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +0000

“May I stress the need for courageous, intelligent, and dedicated leadership... Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Are The Harvest…Gwendolyn Brooks

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:45:00 +0000

“We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond.”

—Gwendolyn Brooks, Author, Quote from the book, “Paul Robeson”

#LeadershipTuesdays: We Must Use Our Voice…Michelle Herrera Mulligan

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:02:00 +0000

“We must be impatient for change. Let us remember that our voice is a precious gift and we must use it.”

—Michelle Herrera Mulligan, Writer, VicePresident and Associate Publisher, Simon & Schuster

On Tuesdays, #LeadershipTuesdays presents a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. For more information and resources to broaden your knowledge of leaders, and also develop your leadership skills, go to @LeadershipTues on X.com, formerly Twitter.

The Path To Inner Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:27:00 +0000

"Surrender to things you cannot change from your past, release your worries of tomorrow, and learn to value the present and inner peace will follow."

--Kenia Nunez

#LeadershipTuesdays: Playing For The Long Term...Mellody Hobson

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

"Too often people can only see the surface and not the possibility that lives beneath the surface.

Imagine a society in which we all thought that of each other. Where every one had the benefit and none of the doubt."

--Mellody Hobson, President, Ariel Investments

On Tuesdays, womenatliberty.com presents #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. As we continue to celebrate Black History Month and #BlackExcellence, we remember the struggle and persistence of our ancestors who with tenacity and vision saw and fought for a better tomorrow.

Today, we lift up the words of Mellody Hobson who has been resolute in her efforts to champion diversity, equality and equity in every aspect of American life. As someone from humble beginnings, who has excelled to the highest levels of leadership and sat at tables where she had both power and influence, we honor her integrity and voice in this critical time in US history.

For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, follow us on Twitter: @LeadershipTues.

Nona Ogunsula, Founder, womenatliberty.com, #LeadershipTuesdays and #WomenMakingHistory

Mighty and Big...Zora Neale Hurston

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

"A thing is mighty big when time and distance cannot shrink it."

--Zora Neale Hurston

Be A Conduit Of Hope…Elie Wiesel

noreply@blogger.com (Nona) — Sun, 29 Jan 2023 12:00:00 +0000

“Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings.”

—Elie Wiesel