If you're the woman everyone relies on—the high-achiever who leads, carries, delivers, and still feels a quiet ache for more ease, more recognition, and more breath—this episode is for you.

February is Black History Month, and I'm intentionally dedicating this month of Empower HER Radio to spotlighting Black women who lead with brilliance, depth, and undeniable power. I want to name this clearly: some of the most influential mentors in my life have been Black women—women whose leadership, excellence, and presence have shaped me in ways I'll never stop honoring. This conversation is the kickoff, and it's one you will feel in your body.

My guest, Dr. Melanie Gray, shares a story that holds both truth and triumph—rooted in lineage, resilience, and evolution. Her parents grew up in Jim Crow era America—not ancient history, not a distant past—and she speaks with stunning clarity about what it means to carry legacy, to rise with dignity, and to keep becoming. With 40+ years in nursing and decades of leadership across healthcare and higher education, Dr. Gray embodies a kind of success that's not just impressive—it's aligned.

Inside this episode, we go deep into trauma-informed leadership—what it actually is, why it matters far beyond healthcare, and how it changes everything about the way you lead, parent, communicate, and build culture. We talk about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), generational trauma, and the subtle ways "armor" can show up as perfectionism, over-functioning, and being seen as "not approachable" when you're simply trying to stay safe. Dr. Gray brings it home with a powerful reframe: instead of asking "what's wrong with them?" we learn to ask "what happened to them?"—and that one shift can transform how you show up with your team, your family, your clients, and yourself.

And then—this is where it turns into an identity activation—Dr. Gray lays out what self-care looks like for real: put yourself on your calendar and don't move the date. We talk boundaries, burnout recovery, and the truth that your career cannot be your entire legacy. Because the woman you're becoming isn't here to survive her success—she's here to enjoy it.

🎧 Listen now if you're ready to rise without burning everything down.
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Connect with Dr. Melanie Gray: https://drmelaniegray.com

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