The Gladys Method: How Black Women Leaders Navigate and Dismantle Institutional Barriers

Dr. Sherece West-Scantlebury, President of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, joins Chanda Smith Baker to expose philanthropy's hidden power dynamics. In a raw, unfiltered conversation, she reveals how Black women leaders strategically navigate and dismantle institutional racism, offering a masterclass in resilience, strategic resistance, and transformative leadership that challenges the very foundations of charitable giving. Inspired by the legendary Gladys Washington—who embodied unapologetic leadership, mentorship, and radical love—this episode is a blueprint for systemic transformation, told by a leader who has fought and won battles most never see. Learn: * How to turn institutional barriers into strategic opportunities * The art of influencing power structures from within * Authentic allyship beyond performative gestures * Why incremental change requires patience and persistent vision