You don't need a title to be a leader (+ 2 free workshops this January)

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Welcome to my weekly newsletter where I share insights and advice from my experience as a woman of color leader championing values-driven leadership and preparing for the future of social impact.

In today's letter:

1. You don't need a title to be a leader
2. You're invited: January Workshop Series

🐠 1. You don't need a title to be a leader

Here's what Marshall Ganz, professor and practitioner of community organizing, taught me about leadership:

"Leadership is accepting responsibility for empowering others toward a shared goal in challenging and uncertain conditions."

Notice what's missing from that definition?

No mention of:

• Director
• Manager
• Executive
• Coordinator
• Chief Anything Officer

You don't need formal authority to be a leader. You just need to show up. Consistently.

When you:

• Set a boundary with a difficult colleague
• Share what you've learned with someone earlier in their journey
• Question a policy that harms the community you serve
• Choose rest when your body needs it (even when everyone else is hustling)
• Build a relationship across difference
• Say "this isn't working, let's try something new"

That's leadership.

I've seen leadership from:

• Program coordinators who transformed organizational culture from the middle
• Independent consultants who influenced entire sectors through their networks
• Mid-career professionals who mentored dozens of emerging leaders
• Community organizers with no formal affiliation who built movements

And I've seen people with fancy titles who were just... bosses. Or followers in leadership clothing.

The question isn't whether you have permission to lead.

The question is: Will you accept the responsibility?

📆 2. You're invited: January Workshop Series

If you're ready to accept that responsibility—to show up as a leader in 2026, regardless of your title—I'm hosting two free workshops this January to help you do exactly that.

👉 Workshop #1: From Reactive to Strategic: Your 2026 Leadership Reset​
Thursday, January 8 at 9:00 AM EST

This is your internal reset. In 90 minutes, you'll:

• Understand your nervous system pattern from 2025 (Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, or Grounded)
• Map your life satisfaction across 8 areas with the Wheel of Life
• Use the 25/5 Rule to identify your top 5 priorities
• Learn to say no to good and yes to exceptional

👉 Workshop #2: The 4 Shifts Reshaping Social Impact: Your 2026 Leadership Strategy​
Tuesday, January 20 at 9:00 AM EST

This is your external strategy. In 90 minutes, you'll:

• Understand the 4 shifts reshaping social impact work (POWER, LEADERSHIP, SKILLS, FUNDING)
• Assess your leadership identity using Marshall Ganz's framework
• Map your professional network and identify strategic relationships
• Create your 30-day pivot plan

Each workshop stands alone. Attend one or both.

Both are:
✅ FREE
✅ Interactive (breakout rooms, real activities)
✅ 90 minutes
✅ Limited to 300 participants each

These workshops are for women of color, underrepresented leaders and purpose-driven leaders—whether you're a program coordinator, consultant, ED, mid-level manager, community organizer, or anywhere in between.

The only requirement? You're ready to lead.

🌅 Best wishes for a peaceful new year

As we close out 2025, I'm thinking about what it means to lead in times like these.

The polycrisis isn't going anywhere. The transformation of our sector will continue. The pressure will persist.

So how we show up matters.

Whether you join me for these workshops or not, I hope you'll give yourself permission to lead—not from a title, but from your values, your relationships, and your commitment to something larger than yourself.

The future needs more leaders. I hope you'll be one of them.

Warmly,
Maya 🧡
​

P.S. These workshops will give you a taste of what we'll do together in Flourish Fellowship (launching February 1).
​
If you realize during the workshops that you want ongoing support, community, and accountability, you're welcome to join us.
​
Learn more at fearlessproject.co/community​

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