We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kyra Betts. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kyra below.

Alright, Kyra thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I used to be a corporate trainer. I truly believed I’d always be teaching in some capacity but in classrooms, not birthing rooms. While working in a hospital setting, I was slapped in the face with information about maternal and infant mortality in the United States, especially among Black families. I was shocked. I remember reading the statistics and feeling like the ground shifted beneath me. That moment lit something in me that I couldn’t ignore. I could never unlearn what I had discovered, and I could never look back. From that point on, I knew my work had to be about more than training staff, it had to be about saving lives and transforming systems. That moment changed everything

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.

For those who may not know me yet, I’m Kyra Betts—an advocate, educator, and policy strategist working at the intersection of maternal and infant health, Black liberation, and systems change. I wear many hats: I’m the creator of the Dads to Doulas curriculum, Vice President of The Doula Lab, and the Manager of Policy and Advocacy at Generate Health. My work is centered on eliminating disparities in maternal and infant outcomes and creating a world where Black families not only survive birth but thrive in it.

I didn’t start in this field. I was originally a corporate trainer. I thought my path was going to be strictly in adult education. But while working in hospital settings, I was exposed to the heartbreaking realities of maternal and infant mortality, especially within Black communities. Once I learned the truth, I couldn’t turn away. That moment fundamentally changed the trajectory of my life. I went from teaching policies in conference rooms to building programs that help shift policy and protect Black lives.

Through my work, I create programs, tools, and trainings that are culturally grounded, community-informed, and power-shifting. One of the things I’m most proud of is Dads to Doulas, a training program that equips Black men—particularly expectant fathers—with the knowledge and tools to support their partners during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. The goal is simple but radical: to ensure Black dads own their power as advocates at the birth table and beyond. I also consult with organizations, train healthcare professionals, and shape policy that reflects what our communities actually need.

What sets me apart is that I approach this work as a “policy doula.” Just like a birth doula supports someone through labor, I support communities through the often confusing and overwhelming world of public policy. I help translate policy into action, pain into power, and data into storytelling that uplifts and transforms. I believe change isn’t just about passing bills, it’s about building trust, restoring community wisdom, and making sure people most impacted are leading the solutions.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and my work, it’s that this isn’t just professional, it’s personal. I do this for my children, for the generations before me, and for every Black parent who deserved better. My brand is rooted in justice, care, and transformation. And I’m committed to doing this work until we no longer have to fight for Black families to be seen, heard, and held in safety.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What helped me build my reputation in this work is honestly just being unapologetically myself. I don’t code-switch, I don’t water things down, and I don’t show up in spaces trying to make people comfortable with injustice. I’m clear, focused, and deeply committed to this mission and I think people feel that. I speak truth, even when it’s inconvenient, and I always root my work in community, not ego. I’ve never been easily swayed by trends or politic, I move with purpose, not popularity. That consistency, that drive, and that realness have helped me earn trust. Folks know when I show up, I’m not just there to check a box, I’m there to shift something. That’s what sets me apart. I don’t just talk about change, I live it.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every step of my journey, especially my time teaching and working in a hospital setting, was necessary. I had to be a trainer to learn how to teach with clarity and impact. I had to be in those hospital walls to see what was really happening to Black mothers and babies. That experience opened my eyes and shifted my entire purpose. So no, I wouldn’t choose a different path. The journey prepared me for this work in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It gave me the tools, the perspective, and the fire to do exactly what I’m doing now.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kyralynnb_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyrabetts/