A’Lelia Interviews L. Michelle Smith at MLK Library in DC

A’Lelia interviews L. Michelle Smith about L. Michelle’s new book “Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church” at MLK Library in Washington, DC

From the MLK website:

Through rich storytelling, this keynote shares how powerful Black women (and men) in the Fortune 500, education, arts, and entertainment trace their earliest leadership lessons back to the church.

Did you know that humming a gospel tune before walking into a high-stakes meeting can rewire your brain to lead more effectively? The act triggers a release of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin—regulating emotions, lowering anxiety, and activating the reward center to halt fear from taking over your executive decision making..and not just any music can do this. It’s neuroscience. But for many Black professionals, it’s simply ritual—a practice rooted in the traditions of the Black Church.

We’ve practiced powerful, emotionally intelligent leadership for generations—without calling it that. Until now.

What the Audience Will Take Away

● A contemporary leadership framework rooted in both legacy and research
● A reintroduction to the practices that shaped them—and the science that validates them
● A call to lead with conviction, cultural intelligence, and heart—without apology