Undiplomatic: Leadership Impact & Elevating Untapped Talent

Welcome to the Power Lounge. In this episode, host Amy Vaughan speaks with Deesha Dyer, a seasoned social impact strategist, author, and leader whose career journey spans from community college to serving as White House Social Secretary under President Obama. Deesha discusses her experiences navigating unconventional paths to leadership, building authentic confidence, and transforming imposter syndrome into empowerment. Amy and Deesha explore the challenges of being a pioneer in traditional environments like the White House and share practical strategies for maintaining authenticity under pressure. They also delve into Deesha"s book, "Undiplomatic," which offers guidance on elevating untapped talent and fostering genuine equity and inclusion within organizations. This conversation provides valuable insights for anyone striving to advance in their career, make a meaningful impact in their community, or seek authenticity in their professional life. Learn why true leadership comes from within, how to dismantle barriers to diverse leadership, and why your unique journey can be your greatest strength. Deesha Dyer is a social impact strategist and author of "Undiplomatic." Her path from community college to White House Social Secretary exemplifies the power of nontraditional leadership. As the founder of Hook & Fasten, Deesha helps organizations navigate the evolving landscape of leadership, social impact, and equity, focusing on empowering untapped talent. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:40 - Ongoing Leadership Journey 04:54 - Oval Office Imposter Syndrome 07:54 - Nervousness versus Confidence Confusion 10:22 - Staying Grounded Through Experience 14:01 - Authenticity in Tough Environments 16:50 - "Fix Bias Before Hiring Diversity" 21:45 - Champion Women in Hip Hop 25:15 - Corporate-Community Partnerships for Essential Needs 27:40 - Maslow"s Hierarchy and Marketing Impact 30:55 - Making Paths Easier for Others 34:37 - Corporate Responsibility for Social Equity 37:26 - Rediscovering Childhood Joys 40:22 - Rethinking Success: Opportunity Over Intelligence 45:05 - Believe in Yourself 47:40 - Navigating Job Posting Uncertainty 49:31 - "Striving vs. Being: A Crisis" 52:42 - "Power Lounge Chat Highlights" 53:03 - Outro Quotes: "Believe in your abilities and your talent, even if your path doesn’t look like anyone else’s. You are one of one, and your perspective is needed."- Deesha Dyer "Celebrate your wins and remember: courage comes after the action, not before. Sometimes being brave is just being afraid and doing it anyway."- Amy Vaughan Key Takeaways: Nontraditional Paths Are Powerful Confidence Lives Inside You Imposter Syndrome vs. Authentic Confidence Be the Example for Others Rethink Merit and Opportunity Challenge Harmful Systems, Not Just Individuals Community and Connection are Anchors Don’t Wait for Permission Resilience Means Self-Care and Staying Curious Legacy is Leaving It Better Check out Deesha Dye’s book: https://a.co/d/hTd9wqI Connect with Deesha Dyer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeshadyer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deedyer267/?hl=en Website: https://www.hookandfasten.com/ Connect with the host Amy Vaughan: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/amypvaughan Podcast: https://www.togetherindigital.com/podcast/ Learn more about Together Digital and consider joining the movement Support the show