Shifting Leaders: A Season of Redefining Power, Purpose, and Presence
By Ja'Mel Ashely Ware
Leadership doesn't always come with a title. Sometimes it looks like care.
Sometimes it sounds like strategy.
Sometimes it moves through resilience, culture, and quiet strength.
That's what Shifting Leaders set out to explore:
The leadership we practice. The leadership we're building.
And the leadership we've always had, even when it wasn't recognized.
Over the past few months, I've told stories I never thought I'd share publicly. I revisited the lessons of my first business, Intellectual Ratchet. I peeled back the layers of personal loss, grit, and quiet victories that shaped the leader I am. I reflected on the frameworks that have guided my work, and the people who've sharpened me along the way.
And in doing that, I learned something unexpected.
I'm not out of place in this world—I'm exactly where I'm needed.
As someone with a nonprofit background and deep-rooted empathy, I've often felt like I didn't quite belong in business rooms. But I've found validation throughout this series—and my MBA program. The qualities I once thought set me apart in a limiting way are now the things that help me lead with clarity, care, and originality.
Maybe you've felt that too, like your way of leading didn't fit the mold. But sometimes, it's the misfits who move systems.
This series has reminded me that leadership isn't about fitting into a mold.
It's about recognizing that your lived experiences are not limitations but assets.
That realization is rooted in what scholars call authentic leadership—a model that values self-awareness, transparency, and ethical behavior (George, 2003). Genuine leaders don't lead despite their personal histories—they lead because of them.
Centering the Conversation: A Reflection with Tim Hussey
To close this season of Shifting Leaders, I sat down with Tim Hussey, creative director, brand strategist, and founder of TBH Creator Consulting. Tim has worked beside me as my AOR (agency of record), helping shape the visual voice of The IR Agency. But in this conversation, I wanted people to meet the man behind the work.
It was one of the most honest, affirming interviews I've had the privilege to facilitate.
In Tim's journey, I saw the quiet brilliance so many of us carry.
The kind of leadership that doesn't beg to be seen but leaves an impression that can't be ignored.
His growth, honesty, and clarity reminded me:
Leadership isn't just about standing out. It's about being firm in who you are and inviting others to do the same.
🎥 You can watch the whole conversation on The IR Agency's YouTube channel here:
What This Conversation Revealed About Leadership
Your network already holds the knowledge you're searching for
Storytelling isn't just branding—it's a form of leadership
Trust is the currency of collaboration
Delegation is a sign of maturity, not weakness
Community > followers. Always.
These insights reflect transformational and servant leadership—two frameworks emphasizing growth through service, trust, and collective elevation (Bass, 1985; Greenleaf, 1970). Tim lives by those principles daily.
Listening to Tim reminded me that leadership isn't something you arrive at—it's something you grow into.
His reflections didn't just mirror his journey—they mirrored mine.
We've both built in the margins. We've both led without waiting for permission.
And like so many others, we've done it by showing up consistently, not perfectly.
What I've Learned About Leadership
Leadership isn't a straight line. It's a spiral of clarity, challenge, reflection, and recalibration.
I used to see the dissolution of IR as a failure. Now I understand it was a chapter that had to close so a better one could begin. I used to think my empathy was a liability. Now I know it's a superpower. The leader I am today is built on every hard-earned lesson I once wanted to forget.
This shift mirrors community leadership theory, emphasizing shared purpose, collaborative power, and systems-thinking rather than individual achievement. The most impactful leaders aren't necessarily the loudest—they're the ones who build platforms for others to rise with them.
What's Next
This is where Shifting Leaders pauses—for now.
Why? Because theory needs data. I need time to analyze what we've built, test new formats, and reflect on what's next. I've also got life to live—an MBA to finish, a new venture in motion, and a family I'm committed to being present with.
Good content can come in silence.
But great content? That comes from living.
We'll return in August with new interviews, more storytelling, and deeper reflections on what it means to lead from the inside out.
Until Then…
Shifting Leaders wasn't just a series. It was a mirror. A prompt. A push.
To help you remember your story, your systems, your survival—they all count as leadership.
So if you've ever led with intention, heart, or hope, then you are a leader.
And the world is better because of it.