From first-grade helper to transformative education leader, Clarisse Mendoza Davis shares her journey of serving underserved youth and reshaping early childhood and alternative education with compassion, vision, and equity at the core.Clarisse currently leads the See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools as CEO, overseeing programs that serve over 1,000 justice-involved and opportunity-deprived youth across Washington, D.C. Known for her holistic, equity-focused approach, she has spent 21 years shaping educational systems, from teaching high school English at Cardozo Senior High School to leading early intervention programs and alternative schools that emphasize student agency and support. Her work bridges policy, leadership, and hands-on student engagement, demonstrating how intentional leadership can transform lives.Growing up as a child of immigrants in Chicago, Clarisse witnessed firsthand her parents’ dedication to education, which inspired her lifelong commitment to learning and equity. Her early teaching career coincided with major reforms in D.C. public schools, where she navigated high-pressure accountability systems while mentoring colleagues and supporting students in under-resourced schools. A pivotal moment came when she realized ninth-grade reading deficits required earlier intervention, leading her to design and implement early childhood diagnostic centers that now serve thousands of families, proving the profound impact of timely support.Clarisse emphasizes the power of community engagement, trust-building, and proximity to stakeholders. She shares practical strategies for leading schools and organizations with authenticity, including maintaining regular connection with families, staff, and donors, and using data alongside empathy to inform decision-making. Her leadership philosophy prioritizes listening, co-reflection, and ensuring students remain in the driver’s seat of their educational journeys, which has contributed to record-breaking graduation rates at Maya Angelou Academy and life-changing outcomes for students in detention centers.This conversation highlights broader lessons in leadership, equity, and resilience. Listeners will gain insight into how intentional, community-centered approaches can transform educational outcomes, create opportunities for marginalized youth, and sustain passionate, effective leadership. Tune in to hear Clarisse Mendoza Davis share her inspiring story and actionable insights for anyone committed to making meaningful change in education and beyond.Chapters👩🏽‍🏫 00:31 Meet Clarisse Mendoza Davis🎙️ 00:55 Want a Podcast Just Like This One? Check Out podcastsmatter.com 📚 01:15 Clarisse's Early Life and Education🏫 08:31 Teaching Experiences in Washington DC✍️ 13:58 Find Support for Writing Your Impact-Driven Book at booksthatmatter.org 🌱 15:36 Early Learning Intervention Initiatives🤝 24:53 Building Community Trust💡 26:11 Leadership Values and Challenges👥 29:18 Proximity and Engaging Stakeholders🎯 32:38 Mission and Impact of Maya Angelou Schools🌐 35:12 If You Are a Leader or Changemaker Looking for Support, Check Out geniusdiscovery.org 💭 36:48 Success Stories and Personal Reflections🎧 44:52 Find More Podcasts That Matter at podcaststhatmatter.org Links Website: See Forever FoundationInstagram: @mayaschoolsConnect with Clarisse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarisse-mendoza-davis-2178aa12Check out Clarisse Mendoza Davis’s work with Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools and the See Forever Foundation, connect with her on LinkedIn, and explore her transformative educational initiatives shaping opportunity and equity for youth today.Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc/Stronger Consulting: https://strongerconsulting.comPublish a Book That Matters:  http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters:  http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.orgFor more great podcasts like this one, visit https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ Stay strong.  

From surviving early loss to building mission-driven strategies, Cecilia Paz Aguilar shares how turning pain into purpose shaped her leadership, creativity, and commitment to sustainable growth.Cecilia Paz Aguilar is the Founder of Rozas Rising, a business development and event strategy firm that helps leaders and organizations bring ideas to life through connection, clarity, and execution. With a background as an educator and founding school leader across California, Texas, and Louisiana, Cecilia has spent her career bridging mission-driven partners with the tools and relationships they need to thrive. She also serves as a PT Business Development Consultant with Stronger Consulting, expanding partnerships across education and social impact spaces. Known for blending strategy with heart, Cecilia brings a deeply human approach to leadership and growth.In this conversation, Cecilia reflects on growing up in Stockton, California, navigating the loss of her mother at a young age, and how survival instincts shaped her relentless work ethic. She shares how humor became a family healing tool, while achievement became both a shield and a strain. As the daughter of immigrants, Cecilia explains how the drive to prove oneself can fuel success but quietly block true thriving. Over time, burnout and reflection pushed her toward a slower, more intentional pace rooted in self-trust rather than external validation.Cecilia offers powerful insights on purpose-driven building, nervous system health, and sustainable ambition. She speaks candidly about overworking as a trauma response, the importance of self-awareness, and how neuroscience, psychology, and intuition intersect in leadership. Meditation, music, and meaningful relationships now anchor her wellness practices, allowing her to show up more fully as a founder and partner.At its core, this episode is a conversation about legacy, healing, and redefining success on your own terms. Cecilia reminds listeners that pain is not an ending, but a redirection. One that can lead to clarity, peace, and aligned impact when honored intentionally. Tune in to hear a grounded, inspiring discussion on growth that doesn’t cost you yourself.Chapters✨ 00:43 Meet Cecilia Paz Aguilar and her journey of resilience📚 01:16 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/ 🌱 02:09 Cecilia’s story from Stockton to becoming an educator💡 04:22 Finding purpose and meaning through adversity✍️ 15:33 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org 🧠 26:01 Exploring neuroscience and emotional intelligence🧘‍♀️ 28:02 Meditation practices and tools for grounding🎶 29:18 Musical influences and the stories they carry🚀 33:38 Launching a new business venture with Rozas Rising🌹 38:05 Reflections on loss resilience and personal growth🌍 40:56 If you are a leader or changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org 🎙️ 47:38 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.com LinksWebsite: https://www.rozasrising.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceciliapaz11/ Email: founder@rozasrising.comExplore Rozas Rising, connect with Cecilia on LinkedIn, or reach out directly to learn how her work in strategy, leadership, and relationship-building can help your vision rise with clarity and purpose.Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloCheck Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473 Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comPublish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ 

From Seattle classrooms to federal policy halls, Jessica de Barros shares her journey of championing equity in education, showing how a lifelong commitment to access and opportunity can reshape communities and systems.Jessica, a Seattle native and seasoned educational leader, has devoted her career to dismantling barriers to student success. From her early days working for U.S. Senator Patty Murray on education and social policy in Washington, D.C., to leading initiatives with Seattle Public Schools and the Washington State Charter School Commission, she has consistently focused on equity and systemic improvement. Her experience spans multiple sectors, blending public education, policy implementation, and nonprofit partnership to create meaningful, sustainable impact.Her path was shaped early on by her own childhood experiences with school busing in Seattle, where exposure to diverse communities highlighted stark educational inequities. Jessica recalls formative moments in high school and college that revealed the gaps created by tracking and inconsistent curricula, fueling her drive to ensure that every student has access to high-quality learning opportunities. Challenges along the way, from navigating bureaucratic systems to balancing stakeholder expectations, taught her the importance of adaptability and thoughtful leadership.Throughout the conversation, Jessica shares practical strategies for fostering collaboration between schools and community organizations, emphasizing that education happens beyond the classroom. She reflects on successful initiatives such as girls in STEM programs for Somali youth, illustrating how inclusive partnerships expand opportunities for marginalized students. Jessica also stresses the value of listening, remaining open-minded, and thoughtfully navigating complex policy environments to drive meaningful change.Listeners will gain insights not only into education policy and leadership but also into the broader themes of equity, civic responsibility, and strategic problem-solving. Her reflections on balancing advocacy, collaboration, and systemic reform offer guidance for anyone seeking to create impact in education or social policy. Tune in to hear Jessica’s stories, lessons, and inspiring vision for a more equitable educational landscape.Chapters👋 00:31 Meet Jessica de Barros, Education Leader🎧 00:52 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.com🏫 02:39 Jessica’s Early Education and School Integration Experience🎓 06:59 High School Memories and College Transition💼 17:41 Early Career in Politics and Policy📚 19:54 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org⚖️ 24:38 Accountability and Equity in Education📏 28:37 Challenges in Measuring Teacher Effectiveness🤝 31:58 Partnering with Community-Based Organizations📝 33:42 Leadership Lessons and Policy Implementation🌐 41:54 If you are a leader or changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org💡 45:35 Personal Reflections and Career Advice🎙️ 50:12 Find More Podcasts That Matter at podcaststhatmatter.orgLinksConnect with Jessica: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-de-barros/Connect with Jessica de Barros and explore her work leading educational initiatives, fostering equity, and building partnerships that empower students and communities across the country.Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc/Stronger Consulting: https://strongerconsulting.comPublish a Book That Matters:  http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters:  http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.orgFor more great podcasts like this one, visit https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ Stay strong.  

From immigrant roots to industry-leading influence, Nicole Smart shares how purpose, identity, and intentional leadership shaped her journey into DEI, executive coaching, and transformative workplace culture.Nicole Smart, Founder and Principal Consultant of Smart EDI Solutions LLC and the coaching platform Purpose Tracks, brings over a decade of cross-sector experience rooted in advancing equity, leadership excellence, and intentional culture-building. As a daughter of Trinidadian immigrants, she credits her parents’ service-driven careers for instilling the work ethic, integrity, and sense of purpose that continue to define her approach today. Now an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport, Nicole integrates her professional sports background with her passion for developing leaders who create environments where people and performance thrive.Nicole reflects on pivotal moments that redirected her path, from experiencing early discrimination after immigrating to New York, to pursuing law school before ultimately discovering her place in professional sports. A crucial conversation with a WISE mentor helped her see that purpose doesn’t require a predetermined roadmap, leading her to pursue a master’s degree at Cornell rather than a traditional legal route. Through these experiences, she learned that nonlinear journeys often reveal the most authentic destinations.Nicole shares a wealth of insights, including her “smart intention” practice centered on intentionality, redirection, and positivity. She reframes DEI as an inclusive, identity-aware framework that benefits everyone, emphasizing the competitive advantage that diverse perspectives bring to leadership and organizational success. With research showing that over 90% of women in the C-suite played sports, she highlights how athletic environments offer powerful case studies in resilience, teamwork, and leadership development.She also speaks to the evolving landscape of workplace culture, noting how globalization, AI, and shifting societal expectations require leaders to adapt and act with greater self-awareness. Despite political pressures and DEI rollbacks, Nicole remains focused on tangible, human-centered practices that cultivate belonging, value, and psychological safety. Listeners will walk away inspired to rethink traditional career paths, embrace identity as a leadership strength, and approach their work with purpose-driven intention.Tune in to hear Nicole’s powerful story and her practical wisdom on leadership, identity, and shaping equitable workplaces that help people thrive.Chapters👋 00:47 Meet Nicole Smart and Her Journey from Crown Heights to NYU🔗 01:26 Publish your book at https://leveragepublishinggroup.com/🌟 02:23 Nicole’s Story of Family, Integrity, and Hard Work🎯 06:00 Nicole’s Career Path from Law Aspirations to DEI Leadership📝 12:46 Find support for writing your impact-driven book at booksthatmatter.org🏈 21:27 The Business of Sports and Fan Engagement🏆 22:15 Leadership and the Cultural Impact of Sports🤝 24:08 Diversity Equity and Inclusion in Sports🏢 32:20 Navigating DEI Challenges in Today’s Workplace💡 34:50 If you are a leader or changemaker looking for support, check out geniusdiscovery.org 🌱 37:40 Personal Growth and the Journey of Professional Development🎙️ 44:02 Want a podcast just like this one? Check out podcastsmatter.com LinksWebsite: https://www.smartedisolutions.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nssmart/Check out Nicole Smart’s work at Smart EDI Solutions and connect with her to deepen your leadership journey and build more intentional, inclusive environments. Connect with Ron: www.linkedin.com/in/rapataloCheck Out Ron's Book: www.amazon.com/dp/1613431473 Leverage Publishing Group: www.leveragepublishinggroup.comPublish a Book That Matters: http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters: http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.org For more great podcasts like this one, visit: https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ 

From charting pathways for thousands of students to reimagining what true opportunity looks like, Daniel Gray shares a blueprint for reshaping how young people discover their futures with clarity and confidence.In this episode, Mike is joined by Daniel Gray, Deputy Chief for College, Career, and Military Readiness at Houston Independent School District. Known for his leadership in scaling college advising, work-based learning, and high-impact CTE pathways, Daniel has dedicated his career to expanding what is possible for students across Texas. His journey spans roles at Uplift Education, the University of Houston, and national fellowship programs, all rooted in his belief in the transformative power of higher education.Daniel reflects on the early experiences that shaped his calling, from growing up in Long Beach and witnessing inequities firsthand to navigating career pivots that did not align with his values. A pivotal realization during a family trip pushed him toward work that honored his commitment to service and community impact. That clarity brought him into higher education and ultimately K–12 systems, where he saw the need to intervene earlier and build comprehensive guidance for students long before they reached college.Throughout the conversation, Daniel shares frameworks his teams now use across Houston ISD, including structured career exploration from seventh grade onward, scaled internships and apprenticeships, and partnerships with higher education and employers that remove risk for students. He explains why discovering what you do not want to do is just as valuable as finding your passion, and how aligning vision, values, and team culture is essential for systems-level change. His reflections on trust, leadership, and empathy illuminate what it takes to build an ecosystem where every student leaves high school with real choices.At its core, this episode is about possibility, showing how schools, communities, and leaders can work together so opportunity is not left to chance. Listeners will walk away inspired by Daniel’s clarity of purpose and energized by the tangible, scalable models he is bringing to life. Tune in to hear how he is reshaping post-secondary readiness for an entire region and what it means for the future of education. Chapters👋 00:31 Meet Daniel Gray and His Journey in Education🎙️ 01:04 Want a Podcast Like This One? Check Out podcastsmatter.com🌱 01:46 Early Influences and the Start of His Career🎓 04:58 Moving Into Higher Education and Career Development🛠️ 09:51 Creating Opportunities Through a Systematic Approach📚 18:29 Find Support for Writing Your Impact-Driven Book at booksthatmatter.org🌍 27:43 Aligning Values to Support Communities and Students🤝 28:19 Building a Culture of Inclusivity in Schools🧭 30:34 Developing Clear Pathways for Student Success🔧 34:22 Navigating Challenges and Innovations in Education🚀 44:25 Leaders and Changemakers Can Find Support at geniusdiscovery.org🏛️ 41:09 Exploring Partnerships and Future Opportunities🔎 51:38 Find More Podcasts That Matter at podcaststhatmatter.orgLinksConnect with Daniel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieljgray/Check out Daniel Gray’s LinkedIn to follow his work and stay connected to the innovative college and career pathways he is building for students across Houston and beyond. Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc/Stronger Consulting: https://strongerconsulting.comPublish a Book That Matters:  http://booksthatmatter.orgStart a Podcast That Matters:  http://podcastsmatter.comGo from Expert to Thought Leader: http://geniusdiscovery.orgFor more great podcasts like this one, visit https://podcaststhatmatter.org/ Stay strong.