We were lucky to catch up with Kenyora Parham recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Kenyora thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I initially aspired to be an architectural engineer with the vision of constructing innovative and immersive spaces that could bring about transformative healing. However, my understanding of this mission evolved during my time at Simmons, a women’s-centered university. It was there that I realized my true calling was to design pathways toward transformative healing, particularly for women, girls, and individuals at the intersections of their identities, who are affected by systemic oppression.

Throughout my career, I have worked across various sectors, including nonprofits, higher education, and collaborated with grassroots advocates, activists, and government officials. My focus has been on designing programs and policies that facilitate these pathways. However, at the core of my mission lay the experience of systemic oppression, including biases, microaggressions, and overt racism from some of the women who were my supervisors.

There was one exceptional supervisor who never made me feel inferior. She encouraged me to pursue my goals and dream of becoming an executive director. Despite facing elements of gaslighting and intimidation due to my ability to shape and build things effectively, I persevered in my journey toward this goal.

Becoming an executive director was just the beginning for me. I aimed to create a community of people who shared the various hues of identities and wanted to navigate the world and workspace while staying their most authentic selves. My ultimate ambition was to reach the C-suite, and I realized that by creating my own pathway, I could redefine my journey and become a chief executive officer and the founder of an organization. Thus, I founded “C-Suite in Living Color.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Certainly, after more than 15 years of experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors, I made a deliberate choice to utilize my expertise for a specific purpose. I embarked on a journey to craft solutions that foster enhanced efficiency and effectiveness within organizations, always mindful of the fact that individuals within these organizations are not uniform in their experiences at work. My goal was to delve into the intricacies that exist within organizational teams and to develop tools and systems that facilitate success for everyone. The services I offer have a dual focus.

First, I’ve created a community space tailored for those who aspire to leadership roles. This space fosters peer-to-peer support and imparts concrete practices and strategies that empower individuals to navigate their current roles effectively or explore new professional paths.

The second facet involves comprehensive consultations with organizational leadership. During these consultations, I work closely with organizations to pinpoint existing gaps and opportunities. This collaborative effort results in a detailed report that encompasses a project plan with a timeline, milestones, cost analysis, and an organizational performance review. This approach involves tackling the often-uncomfortable conversations that people tend to avoid at work, seeking to address the core issues and identify tangible solutions that lead to healthy work environments.

It’s important to note that each organization may have unique outcomes, as the approach of “C-Suite in Living Color” is rooted in human-centered principles. It focuses on transformative change, mutual reciprocity, personal and organizational growth, all while identifying effective systems and solutions that empower both the organization and the individual to flourish together. I take immense pride in this approach and its commitment to fostering holistic growth in the corporate world. What I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know is that my work is dedicated to creating meaningful change in organizations, promoting diversity, and ensuring that everyone can thrive in the workplace.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Certainly, if you’ve ever been on a Zoom call with me, you’d notice my extensive library, meticulously color-coded. My collection spans a wide range of genres, from nonfiction to biographies, self-help, psychology, management, leadership, and more. Specifically, concerning my management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy, I’ve always been drawn to resources that encourage me to think more expansively, strategically, and thoughtfully about my leadership and management style.

While the typical books on management and leadership, such as “Measure What Matters” by John Doerr or the works of Peter Drucker, along with publications from the Harvard Business Review, certainly provided valuable insights and language for my professional journey, I also found unconventional sources to be profoundly influential.

Books like “Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery” by bell hooks, “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria” by Beverly Daniel Tatum, “Unbound” by Tarana Burke, and “For Colored Girls Who Considered Politics” by Caraway, Daughtry, Moore, Brazile, and Chambers were especially meaningful. These nontraditional texts resonated with me as a Black woman, helping me explore my personal definition of what it means to be a Black woman, particularly one with Costa Rican roots. In a world that often polices the language I use, these books offered collective wisdom that affirmed my self-worth and authenticity.

Through these books, I found the strength to embrace my unapologetic nature and the understanding that I am more than enough. They reinforced my belief that I have the right to be my most authentic self.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

When it comes to managing a team and fostering high morale, my advice revolves around a human-centered approach that spans from the hiring process to onboarding, throughout an employee’s tenure with the company, and their transition out. Starting with the hiring process, interviews play a pivotal role. It’s an opportunity not only to establish your leadership within your role but also to showcase your humanity, personal mission, and purpose. Sharing who you are, beyond your job title, helps potential team members feel less intimidated and encourages them to be authentic.

During the onboarding process, whether for an individual or a team, it’s essential to get to know them on a personal level. Deliberately ask questions like what frustrates them, what kind of support they need, what self-care means to them, what brings them joy, and their organizational philosophy. These questions encourage introspection and help individuals show up authentically in their work.

Throughout their tenure with your organization, continue with the human-centered approach. Allow individuals the time and space they need to perform their tasks. While deadlines and milestones are crucial and a collective aspiration for the organization, it’s also important to accommodate unexpected challenges and curveballs that life may throw your way.

A human-centered approach remains at the core, even when individuals transition out of the organization. People may leave because they’ve outgrown their current role or don’t see a growth path within the company. Some may depart due to personal reasons, and conflicts with colleagues or superiors may lead to departures as well. By implementing this approach from the beginning, transitions, whether initiated by the employee or the employer, can be healthy. Bridges won’t be burned, reputations won’t be tarnished, and both parties can continue to thrive despite the occasional setback.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.csuiteinlivingcolor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csuiteinlivingcolor/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenyora-parham/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HerstoryK
• Other: https://www.kenyora.com/ https://www.instagram.com/herstoryk/

Image Credits
Photo by Shannon Finney for National Women’s Law Center Action Fund Photo by Kat Calvin Photo by Simmons Unversity