Living Strong: The Flip Side of Adversity

How We Flipped the 80/20 Rule in our Organization

Most organizations have 20% of the people do 80% of the effective work. I lead a church and
that rule held true for us as it does with most churches. As a frustrated pastor, a creative, and a
critical thinker I began to ask the questions why more people don’t get involved and serve. Two
major reasons… we don’t offer enough options with time and different types of opportunities.
We created a week of serving opportunities where people could pick their passion and the time
that fit their schedule and we regularly now see 80% now involved.

A Conversation with PA State Rep Morgan Cephas

In this episode, we sit down with State Representative Morgan Cephas, Chair of the Philadelphia Delegation, to discuss her journey into public service and how she is working hard for Philadelphia in Harrisburg. From advancing maternal health equity through landmark legislation to tackling affordability and expanding workforce opportunities, Rep. Cephas shares how she’s working every day to improve the lives of families across Pennsylvania.

“A Bold Force: Leading and Revitalizing Communities.”

In this powerful episode of The Flip Side of Adversity, Dr. Veirdre Jackson sits down with Denise Williams, founder of Be ReZilient, community advocate, and resilience coach, for a transformative conversation titled:
 
“A Bold Force: Leading and Revitalizing Communities.”
 
At a time when leaders are exhausted, stretched thin, and navigating constant change, Denise brings a refreshing and necessary perspective—resilience is not just survival, it’s strategy. With a background spanning corporate leadership at Vanguard to direct community work with families and organizations, Denise has built a model rooted in trust, empathy, and real-world impact.
 
Through her work with FORCE programming—including business analysis, cohorts, training, and skill-building clinics—Denise equips leaders and entrepreneurs with practical tools to assess where they are, build sustainable systems, and grow with intention.
 
This conversation is for leaders who are tired of pouring from an empty cup. You’ll gain insight into how to lead boldly, build resilient communities, and create environments where both people and purpose can thrive.

“Calm Leadership in Uncertain Times.”

In this powerful episode of The Flip Side of Adversity, Dr. Veirdre Jackson is joined by Shakira W. Smith, Chief Operating Officer, veteran educator, and school leader with over 20 years of experience, for a timely conversation titled:
 
“Calm Leadership in Uncertain Times.”
 
During one of the most disruptive periods in modern education—marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest—Shakira chose calm over chaos and consistency over fear. She shares what it truly looked like to lead through school closures, rapid transitions to remote learning, staff burnout, student well-being concerns, and constant uncertainty—while facing criticism, limited answers, and personal pressure.
 
This episode explores how calm leadership is not passive—it is intentional. It is the ability to remain anchored, make difficult decisions, maintain trust, and lead with empathy even when the path forward is unclear.
 
Whether you lead in education, business, nonprofit, or community spaces, this conversation offers real insight into sustaining morale, navigating adversity, and transforming crisis into growth through values-driven leadership.
 
Calm isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.

When Leadership Gets Uncomfortable: Navigating Adversity Without Losing Yourself

When Leadership Gets Uncomfortable: Navigating Adversity Without Losing Yourself explores what it truly means to lead when the conditions are hard, the stakes are high, and the people dynamics are complex. In this episode, Iola Harper reflects on leading through uncertainty, conflict, and change—when clarity isn’t guaranteed and resilience is constantly tested. Drawing from real-world experience, the conversation unpacks how leaders can stay grounded in their values, maintain integrity, and make tough decisions without losing their sense of self. This episode is a candid look at the emotional, strategic, and human side of leadership—offering insight, perspective, and encouragement for anyone navigating adversity while still being expected to lead with confidence, compassion, and purpose.

From Maintenance to Momentum

In this powerful episode of The Flip Side of Adversity, Dr. Veirdre Jackson sits down with Global Trainer and Leadership Coach Katina Christmas Robertson for a timely conversation titled:
 
“From Maintenance to Momentum: The Leadership Flip That Restored My Clarity and Capacity.”
 
In a season marked by downsizing, quiet quitting, and doing more with fewer resources, many leaders have quietly shifted into maintenance mode—filling gaps, covering roles, and holding everything together while losing clarity and momentum.
 
With over 20 years of corporate leadership experience and certifications in DiSC®, CliftonStrengths®, Emotional Intelligence, and Imposter Syndrome, Katina shares the personal and professional turning point that helped her move from overwhelm and resentment back to alignment and purpose. Through her signature SOAR framework, she offers practical strategies for systematizing work, delegating intentionally, and reclaiming strategic leadership.
 
If you’re feeling stretched thin, overlooked, or stuck in urgency, this episode will help you identify the leadership flip that restores capacity, balance, and impact.
 
Stop maintaining. Start leading.
 
“From Maintenance to Momentum” Leadership Reflection Guide:
Get Your Free Leadership Reflection/Clarity Tool

The Heart of the Matter

In this powerful episode of The Flip Side of Adversity, Dr. Veirdre Jackson sits down with Bridgett Hitchings—educator, social worker, and Founder & CEO of Maggie’s Village LLC—for a timely conversation titled:
 
“The Heart of the Matter: Cultivating Belonging Using Healing-Centered Practices.”
 
With over 20 years of experience in youth development and leadership, Bridgett unpacks what belonging really means beyond the buzzwords. Together, they explore the shift from trauma-informed to healing-centered leadership and why culture is not “soft work,” but strategic work—especially in uncertain times.
 
Leaders and teams don’t show up as robots. They bring stories, strengths, stressors, and lived experiences that directly impact performance and retention. This episode equips leaders with practical tools to operationalize care, maintain high expectations, and build affirming team cultures that drive measurable results.
 
If you’re a leader seeking stronger culture, improved retention, and sustainable impact—this conversation is for you.
 
Belonging isn’t optional. It’s essential.

A Loud Quaking

In this powerful episode of The Flip Side of Adversity, Ayana Fernandes Pilgrim and I explore “A Great Quaking”—a deep, internal shaking beneath work, identity, and purpose that many are experiencing right now, particularly Black women. Our guest shares how this quaking unfolded through layered loss: grieving loved ones, leaving a DEI role she once loved, and ending a 27-year marriage—an intimate Gethsemane moment where surrender became unavoidable and what once sustained her could no longer hold her.
 
But the flip side of the quaking wasn’t collapse—it was clarity. Through acceptance, release, and radical imagination, she let go of old identities and limiting beliefs around people-pleasing, perfectionism, respectability, and urgency. In their place, she built a new blueprint rooted in faith, values, and truth—launching a new business and living with deeper integrity and purpose.
 
This conversation invites listeners to renew their minds, strengthen self-leadership, and become willing to birth a new version of themselves in this season of shifting.

The Reality of Reinvention

 
A conversation about the unseen emotional and leadership shifts that come with starting over—including capacity, caregiving, identity change, and the grief that can accompany reinvention. Ariel Baker shares how adversity reshaped her leadership, her definition of success, and the work she now builds in community.

Agape Love

This week on Flip Side of Adversity®: Leadership in Uncertain Times, we’re joined by Dr. Nia Imani Bailey for a powerful conversation on the transformative power of Agape love in leadership and business. Dr. Nia shares her Flip Side story of surrender, purpose, and obedience, offering practical insight on leading with integrity, compassion, and courage during uncertain times. This episode invites leaders to reflect, reset, and lead in ways that help both people and missions thrive.