>> COMING UP ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> Juhanna: WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL SEASON 2 FINALE EPISODE AND CELEBRATION.

>> WE ARE WORTHY OF LOVE AND SUCCESS AND PRAISE, WEARING AFROS, LOCKS, TWRIFT TWISTS AND BRAIDS.

>> KNOW YOU BELONG IN EVERY ROOM.

KNOW YOU BELONG IN EVERY ROOM.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> FIGURE OUT WHO THE ALLIES ARE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

>> THE STORIES MAKE THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE.

>> EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN THEY MAY NOT WANT ME TO BE THERE.

I'M GOING TO BE THERE AND I'M GOING TO LOOK CUTE BEING THERE.

♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD, FEELING, I'M UP ON A CLOUD AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> Juhanna: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL SEASON TWO FINALE EPISODE AND CELEBRATION.

I AM YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

TONIGHT WE HAVE AN AMAZING PROGRAM PLANNED FOR ALL OF YOU SO WE WANT YOU TO CALL, TEXT, POST, TELL A FRIEND THAT "BEHIND THE WOMAN" IS ON.

FIRST UP IN TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, WE HAVE TIFFANY LLOYD.

SHE IS A SYRACUSE NATIVE WHO HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY FOR 10 YEARS, HOLDS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND RECENTLY EARNED A MASTER'S IN ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

SHE SERVES AS DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S HEALTH AND EMPOWERMENT AT THE ALLEN FOUNDATION WHERE SHE LEADS STRATEGIES AIMED AT REDUCING UNINTENDED PREGNANCY.

TIFFANY IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING OUR LOCAL CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE REPRODUCTIVE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

TIFFANY ALSO WAS SOMEONE WHO STOOD BESIDE ME WHEN I STARTED HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND HER LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT AND PASSION KEEPS ME GROUNDED IN OUR JOURNEYS TOGETHER.

TIFFANY.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT AND TO EXTEND WORDS OF INSPIRATION AND EMPOWERMENT TO ALL THE SISTERS IN THE HOUSE ON OUR COLLECTIVE JOURNEY TOWARDS SISTERHOOD AND EMPOWERMENT IN FINDING OUR PURPOSE.

NO ONE IN THE WORLD UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A WOMAN, TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING FORTH NATIONS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY BEING IN DANGER AND NEEDING PROTECTION.

THE CONDITIONS OF TODAY ARE SUCH THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER.

THERE IS A REAL SENSE OF URGENCY IN STAYING FOCUSED AND STAYING COMMITTED TO OUR WORK.

BEING INTENTIONAL AROUND THE THINGS WE DO AND BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY.

AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THE WORDS THAT I WOULD SHARE HERE TONIGHT, THERE WAS ONE THOUGHT THAT I COULDN'T SHAKE AND THAT IS WHILE I WAS HERE WITH THIS MICROPHONE ON THIS STAGE WITH THESE LIGHTS, IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PAY HOMAGE TO SOME OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY IF MY JOURNEY.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SHARE SOME JEWELS OF WISDOM THAT THOSE WOMEN HAVE SHARED WITH ME.

TAMIKA OTIS TOLD ME TO MANIFEST BECAUSE YOUR THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS.

IT WAS RITA CLOUD WHO SAID TAKE ANOTHER WOMAN WITH YOU.

THIS ONE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE ROAD CAN GET COLD AND LONELY AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO GO AT IT ALONE.

CARA WILLIAMS TOLD ME THAT OUR SILENCE IS SOMETIMES THE RESULT OF FEAR, OPPRESSION AND INJUSTICE.

WHICH IS A REMINDER TO US ALL THAT SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH IS AN ACT OF COURAGE.

DEJANEA BOYD TOLD ME THE STORIES MAKE THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE, WHICH REMINDS ME OF THE POWER AND HEALING IN STORY TELLING WHICH IS WHY BEHIND THE WOMAN HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.

WE WANT TO HEAR THE STORIES OF OTHERS.

WE GROW WHEN WE HEAR THE STORIES OF OTHERS.

AND IT WAS SHEENA SOLOMON WHO TAUGHT ME THAT CULTURE EATS STRATEGY FOR BREAKFAST.

IT IS THE THINGS THAT WE DO EVERY DAY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUCCESS.

SO I'LL LEAVE WITH YOU THESE WORDS: BUILD YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE.

ACQUIRE LAND PROVIDE YOUR CHILDREN WITH ROOTS AND WINGS.

UNDERSTAND THAT SELF CARE IS NOT A SINGLE ACTIVITY.

IT IS A LIFESTYLE.

VOTE.

DRINK WATER.

PURSUE YOUR PASSION.

AND ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER THAT IF IT ALL GOES ASTRAY, YOUR DESTINY CAN STILL BE FOUND IN THE DETOUR.

ENJOY THE SHOW.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> Juhanna: SOMETIMES OUR DESTINIES CAN BE FOUND IN THE DETOUR.

THANK YOU, TIFFANY LLOYD.

NEXT UP WE HAVE TWO AMAZING SISTERS WHO ARE ALSO ARTISTS READING ORIGINAL WORKS.

FIRST WE WILL BEGIN WITH ANGELA DOUGLAS IN A POEM ENTITLED DEAR BLACK WOMEN, FOLLOWED BY NADINE MATTIS READING AN ORIGINAL WORK WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND.

A SYRACUSE BASED VICTIM SERVICES ORGANIZATION COVERING ALL OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, SHE IDENTIFIES AS A VICTIM AND SURVIVOR AND IS PASSIONATE ABOUT ONE'S ABILITY TO RECLAIM THEIR LIFE AND HEAL FROM TRAUMA AND ABUSE.

WITH THIS PASSION, SHE PROVIDES A VOICE, PRESENCE AND ACTION FOR THOSE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL, DOMESTIC AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE.

FOLLOWING MY DEAR SISTER ANGELA IS NADINE MATTIS WHO IS ALSO CREATING SPACES FOR BLACK WOMEN.

SHE IS CO-FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF EASTON'S NOOK LLC, A NATIONALLY RENOWNED AND HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER WRITING RETREAT FOR ACADEMICS, ACTIVISTS AND ARTISTS.

A SELF PUT ARTIST, NADINE HAS RETURNED TO HER LOVE OF DRAWING AND HAS BEGUN TO CREATE PENCIL DRAWINGS THAT REFLECT THE VISION OF HOPE AND LOVE IN OUR DIASPORIC COMMUNITIES.

WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, HERE IS ANGELA DOUGLAS FOLLOWED BY NADINE MATTIS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

GOOD EVENING.

DEAR BLACK WOMAN.

YOU ARE THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

WE ARE BEAUTIFUL, RESILIENT AND BRAVE AND HAVE BIRTHED NATIONS, OUR ABILITY TO MULTITASK IS ALMOST CRUEL.

DEAR BLACK WOMAN, HOW DO YOU STAND SO TALL WHEN OUR SPINE IS THE FOUNDATION THAT CARRIES THE GENERATIONS BIRTHED FROM OUR WOMBS ON OUR BACK?

IS IT BECAUSE BLACK DON'T CRACK?

OR WIDTHER OR TREMBLE UNDER THE IMMENSE PRESSURE OF TIME AND IN HISTORY, WE ARE THE ANTICIPATION TO THE MYSTERY, DEAR BLACK WOMAN.

LOOK HOW OUR HAIR REACHES OUT TO THE SUN.

WE ARE, IN OUR OWN ORBIT.

THAT IS WHY THOSE WHO STAND AGAINST US WOULD RATHER US FORFEIT, DEAR BLACK WOMEN, WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE WORTHY OF LOVE AND SUCCESS AND PRAISE, WEARING AFROS, LOCKS, TWISTS AND BRAIDS.

DEAR, BLACK WOMAN, OUR VOICES ARE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMS YET GENTLE ENOUGH TO IMPART WISDOM.

DON'T YOU SEE THE SUPERHERO IN DISGUISE?

KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER, MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT.

DEAR BLACK WOMAN, I SEE YOU.

WITH TEARS IN YOUR EYES, TIRED OF FIGHTING AND BIDING YOUR TONGUE TO SURVIVE.

DEAR BLACK WOMAN, STRAIGHTEN YOUR CROWN.

THE HOUR IS UPON US AND YOUR TIME IS NOW.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS A GREAT CELEBRATION.

A CELEBRATION OF Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND WHEN I FIRST MET HER, SHE CAME TO THE RETREAT AND WAS WRITING HER DISSERTATION IN THE SAME WAY THAT EASTON NOOK WAS IN ITS BEGINNINGS, SO WAS SHE.

SO THERE IS A SHARED LOVE FOR MOVING FORWARD AND PLANTING OUR FEET.

THE POEM I WROTE, BLESSING THAT I WROTE ON BEHALF OF HER IS CALLED WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, EXPAND IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, ALLOW IT TO EXPAND YOU.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, BE GREATFUL FOR IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, CHERISH IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR PURPOSE IN IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT BEING THE LIGHT IN IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ROOT OF IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, BE HUMBLE IN IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, KNOW THAT YOU ARE BLESSED IN IT.

WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND, KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PROMISED IT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> Juhanna: WHEREVER YOUR FEET LAND.

THANK YOU.

TONIGHT I'M SO EXCITED TO BE JOINED BY THREE POWERFUL, POWERFUL, POWERFUL WOMEN, SISTERS, FIRST WE HAVE EVELYN INGRAM, DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR WEGMAN'S FOOD MARKET, ANGELA LEE, CHIEF TALENT AND DIVERSITY OFFICER, MELANIE LITTLEJOHN, VICE PRESIDENT FOR NEW YORK CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT NATIONAL GRID.

BEFORE WE GET INTO A CONVERSATION WITH THESE WOMEN... [ APPLAUSE ] ABSOLUTELY.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR AMAZING WORK AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING THAT HAS SUCH TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE CENTRAL NEW YORK COMMUNITY.

>> MY NAME IS MELANIE LITTLE JOHN.

MY DAY JOB TITLE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL GRID'S NEW YORK STATE CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION.

MY ROLE AT NATIONAL GRID IS ALL ABOUT CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY.

MY PROUDEST CAREER MOMENT WAS DURING HURRICANE SANDY AND HELPING THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAD LOST EVERYTHING.

BEING THERE FOR CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY NEED YOU TO BE THERE.

I CAN'T UNDERSCORE THAT ENOUGH.

AND BEING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH CUSTOMERS, TO THIS DAY, IS MY ABSOLUTE PROUDEST MOMENT.

JUST BEING ABLE TO BE THERE TO HELP PEOPLE REBUILD, GET THEIR HOMES, THEIR LIVES BACK JUST A LITTLE BIT.

THAT'S WHAT MY WORK IS ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT MY TEAM'S WORK IS ABOUT, IS ABOUT CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNITY AND HOW WE ARE THERE WHEN THEY NEED US THE MOST.

>> MY NAME IS EVELYN INGRAM.

I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY GAUGEMENT AT MEDIA RELATIONS FOR WEGMAN'S FOOD MARKET.

PART OF WHAT I DO IS WORKING WITH NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR MISSION SO MAYBE PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, PULLING RESOURCES TOGETHER TO HELP THEM FULFILL THEIR MISSIONS AND THE OTHER ASPECT IS SERVING AS A REGIONAL SPOKESPERSON FOR WEGMAN'S.

I LOVE GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY AND I'M BLESSED TO GET PAID TO DO SOMETHING I LOVE TO DO.

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE EMBARKING ON A NEW VENTURE.

WE ARE RENOVATING A CHURCH ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SYRACUSE, FORMER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND RENOVATING IT INTO A MULTIUSE EVENT CENTER LIKE NO OTHER YOU HAVE SEEN IN THIS AREA.

WE ARE MAKING IT SOPHISTICATED, ROYAL, WE RENAMED THE BUILDING THE CASTLE BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A ROYAL EXPERIENCE WHEN THEY COME TO THE CASTLE.

PEOPLE FEELING AS IF THEY'RE KINGS, QUEENS, PRINCESSES.

BEING AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUPLE GIVING TO THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SIDE OF TOWN IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

>> MY NAME IS ANGELA LEE, TEEF TALENT AND DIVERSITY OFFICER AT HILLROM.

I FOCUS ON THE TALENT AGENDA, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT SKILLS AND THE RIGHT CAPABILITIES THAT KEEP OUR WORKFORCE IN THE COMPANY RELEVANT.

I DO THIS ALSO IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR CULTURE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE DIVERSITY PIECE COMES IN.

IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT IS DIVERSE, THAT IS INCLUSIVE, THAT EQUITY IS IMPORTANT THAN A NOTION.

IT'S A REALITY AND PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT HILL HILLROME DOES, WE ARE A MED TECH COMPANY.

AT SOME POINT WE WILL BE IMPACTED OR A LOVED ONE WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE DEVICES THAT WE DEVELOP.

AND SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I DO MY BEST WORK IN TERMS OF ENSURING THAT WE'VE GOT TALENT THAT CAN HELP EXECUTE ON THAT VISION.

WE ALL HAVE TO WORK, WHICH MOST OF US DO.

IF YOU DO, IT'S JUST NICE TO DO SOMETHING YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT.

>> HELLO LADIES.

[LAUGHTER] >> HELLO.

>> I'M SO EXCITED THAT YOU ARE UP HERE ON THE COUCH WITH ME.

SO HERE WE HAVE ANGELA, MELANIE LITTLEJOHN AND EVELYN INGRAM AND I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED AND I'M SWEATING A LITTLE BIT.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

I WILL BE, TOO.

>> Juhanna: GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

SO I'M GOING TO START OFF BY ASKING ANGELA, YOU ARE NOT ONLY A DYNAMIC PROFESSIONAL BUT YOU ARE ALSO A MOTHER, A WIFE.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE IT ALL?

>> OH BOY.

I BALANCE IT ALL BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY PARTNER.

I MEAN THAT'S BOTTOM LINE.

I COULDN'T DO IT, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MY HUSBAND.

AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR THE 20 PLUS ODD YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WORKING IN AN INCREDIBLY DEMANDING ROLE.

>> Juhanna: RIGHT.

THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES YOU ARE SEEN AND YOU ARE IN THIS DYNAMIC ROLE AS CHIEF TALENT AND DIVERSITY OFFICER AT HILL-ROM WHICH IS A GLOBAL COMPANY.

>> GOEBEL COMPANY, YES.

>> AND IT'S ALMOST LIKE HOW DO YOU DO THAT AND HOME LIFE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> >> Juhanna: WAS IT ALWAYS THIS EASY OR WERE THE FIRST FIVE OR EIGHT MORE DIFFICULT?

>> I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M FORTUNATE MY KIDS ARE OLDER NOW.

SO I REALLY CONSIDER THAT I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL YOUNG ADULTS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY IN THOSE EARLY FORMATIVE YEARS, IT WAS A CHALLENGE.

BUT I ALWAYS MOVED WITH INTENT AND MY HUSBAND AND I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PARTNERS SO IT WAS ALL ABOUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, WHY WE ARE DOING IT, WE ARE DOING THIS WITH THE INTEREST OF OUR FAMILY AT THE FOREFRONT.

AND YOU KNOW, HE IS, AGAIN, ALLOWED ME TO FLOURISH BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY I COULD DO IT ALONE.

>> >> Juhanna: THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW AS A SINGLE PERSON STILL HERE IN NEW YORK.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.

[LAUGHTER] MELANIE, YOU ARE ALSO MOM, WIFE, DYNAMIC POWER HOUSE.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY FOR THE VIEWERS AND THE WOMEN THAT HAVE SHARED SO MUCH THIS SEASON.

HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO BALANCE AND CONTINUE TO BALANCE AS MANY OF THEM ARE WORKING TO GET WHERE YOU ARE?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD SAY IS DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ALWAYS BALANCED.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT.

RIGHT?

THERE ARE DAYS WHERE I SAY WAIT A MINUTE.

LET'S TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, LET'S FIND THE BALANCE.

AND ON THOSE DAYS WHERE LIFE IS TOTALLY OUT OF BALANCE, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO STEP BACK, FIND YOUR CENTER, FIND YOUR CALM, FIND YOUR RHYTHM.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO RECLAIM IT AND JUST KNOW THAT EVERY DAY WILL NOT ALWAYS BE BALANCED SO YOU RIDE WITH IT DURING THOSE WAVES.

AND YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TRIBE AND YOUR CIRCLE CAN HELP YOU RIDE THOSE WAVES WHETHER IT'S LIKE ANGELA, I HAVE A SPOUSE THAT HAS MY BACK 1001%.

I HAVE MY SISTER FRIENDS THAT HELP LIFT ME UP.

I HAVE MY SONS THAT REINFORCE WHY I GET UP EVERY DAY.

SO GIST BE COMFORTABLE IN KNOWING THAT EVERY DAY YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE BALANCE EVERY DAY.

BUT LEAN ON THE MOMENTS WHEN YOU NEED YOUR GIRLS, NEED YOUR FAMILY TO HELP LIFT YOU.

>> EXPWHRJ IT WOULD BE EASY BECAUSE ALL OF YOU ARE SITTING HERE GLAMMED OUT, RIGHT AND IT WOULD SEEM OFTEN TIMES LIKE WE ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER AND SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE YOUR PARTNER, IT'S NOT ALWAYS BALANCED.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT I THINK TO HEAR.

AND NOW EVELYN, THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS LIKE THERE IS THE HUSBAND.

ALSO YOU HAVE A SON BUT YOU ALSO ARE LIKE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THERE ISN'T A BOARD OR AN EVENT THAT YOU ARE NOT AT OR ATTEND OR, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN, YOU ARE SUPPORTING IN SOME WAY AND I KNOW MANY OF THE WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS SEASON ALSO ARE VERY COMMUNITY-MINDED AND WANT TO GIVE BACK.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM ABOUT HOW YOU KEEP BALANCED, YET ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I LAUGH AT PEOPLE WHEN THEY MENTION THE COMMENT ME BEING AT EVERY EVENT.

I SAY WELL I GET TO EAT A LOT OF CHICKEN BECAUSE MOST OF THESE EVENTS ARE CHICKEN.

IT'S FUNNY, WHEN I THINK ABOUT BALANCE, I FIND THAT I LOVE WHAT I DO.

SO BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I DO, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WORK.

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE I NEED TO BALANCE.

BECAUSE I'M JUST DOING WHAT I DO.

I MEAN I HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND.

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE.

FAMILY IS SUPPORTIVE.

WEGMANS IS PHENOMENALLY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT I DO AND IT REALLY DOESN'T FEEL A NEED FOR BALANCE BECAUSE I'M DOING WHAT I LOVE SO FOR ME IT'S A MATTER OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M PRIORITIZEING AND MAKING SURE THAT MY SON, WHO IS NOW GETTING READY TO GO OFF TO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, FEELS SUPPORTED BY HIS MOM.

TO FEEL LIKE MY HUSBAND FEELS LIKE I HAVE HIM AS MUCH AS HE HAS ME.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A MATTER OF BALANCE.

IT'S REALLY BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE THAT'S BEEN ACTIVE, EVEN THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH.

I JUST LIKE TO BE ACTIVE.

SO FOR ME, AND BEING ABLE TO BE IN A ROLE WHERE IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WORK, I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO BALANCE BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT I'M DOING EVERY DAY SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT HELPS ME.

>> AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

FOR THE VIEWERS THAT ARE STRIVING TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE IN VARIOUS WAYS, WHAT PARTICULARLY THE WOMEN, RIGHT?

WE HAVE A DIVERSE AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THIS SHOW.

AS WOMEN WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR STORIES WITH US, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNG LADY OR A YOUNG PERSON THAT IS TRYING TO GET TO AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL OR JUST THEIR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS?

AND MAY BE STRUGGLING.

THEY HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT BALANCE OR FIGURING OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH NOT BEING IN BALANCE, RIGHT?

THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO GET ON.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE?

>> I WILL SAY AS I THINK BACK ON MY OWN JOURNEY, IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT PURSUING RELEVANCE.

MAKING SURE THAT I HAD A RELEVANT SKILL SET SO I COULD CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT I SERVE, IF YOU WILL.

AND I REMEMBER A LESS THAN THAT WAS SHARED WITH ME VERY EARLY ON BY A MENTOR WHO SAID LOOK, DON'T FOCUS SO MUCH ON THAT NEXT PROMOTION, THAT NEXT JOB TITLE, YOU REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCES AND HOW YOU CAN APPLY THOSE EXPERIENCES SO THAT YOU ARE PUT IN A POSITION TO GROW ONCE I FIGURED OUT MY FOCUS NEEDED TO BE ON THAT OPPOSED TO CLIMBING A LADDER, IF YOU WILL, THEN THE GROWTH JUST HAPPENED.

>> DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WELL AND THAT MAY HELP YOU GET TO THE NEXT PLACE BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU DON'T QUITE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE GOING, RIGHT?

BUT YOU DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD, THAT YOU ARE PROGRESSING.

>> Juhanna: AWESOME.

MELANIE, HOW ABOUT YOU.

>> TO TAKE WHAT ANGIE JUST SHARED, THERE WAS A STATEMENT THAT I'VE HEARD: DO A GOOD JOB EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING, RIGHT?

JUST SHOW UP.

SHOW UP IN A BIG WAY: BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS FOR ME, I ALWAYS SPOKE ABOUT THE TWIST IN THE ROAD THAT WITH EACH OPPORTUNITY OR WITH EACH FAILURE, YES, THEY ARE FAILURES THAT ARE THERE THAT YOU ARE GROWING AND LEARN THROUGH EACH STEP IN THE ROAD.

HOW DO YOU THEN TAKE THAT AND KEEP BUILDING IT AND KEEP BUILDING IT AND THEN THE FINAL THING, KNOW YOU BELONG IN EVERY ROOM.

KNOW YOU BELONG IN EVERY ROOM.

>> >> Juhanna: YOU ARE THE ONE THAT TOLD ME THAT: THAT IS SO POWERFUL BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS BEING A WOMAN, A WOMAN OF COLOR, AND YOU ARE MASTERING WHERE YOU ARE.

AND WHEN YOU GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL AS YOU KEEP MOVING AND AS YOU HOPEFULLY WILL MOVE, YOU MAY SEE LESS AND LESS OF YOU AND YOU BEGIN TO QUESTION, AM I SUPPOSED TO BE HERE?

IS IT OKAY THAT I'M HERE?

CAN I SPEAK WHEN I'M HERE.

AND SO HAVING SOMEONE TO TELL YOU, YOU BELONG HERE, IT'S REALLY POWERFUL.

>> CLAIM YOUR SPACE.

CLAIM IT.

>> Juhanna: EVELYN, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I WOULD SAY WHILE YOU ARE CLAIMING THAT SPACE, BE CONFIDENT IN THAT.

JUST THE CONFIDENCE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

AND FOR ME BEING IN SITUATIONS WHERE THE ONLY WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WHEN I FIRST ENTERED THE ROLE AT WEGMANS, WHO DID I CALL BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY IN THE CIRCLE?

THIS SISTER RIGHT HERE.

FOR ME WHEN I WAS GETTING PEOPLE ASKING CAN WEGMANS DO THIS, DO THAT, SHE WAS IN THAT CIRCLE.

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE I DON'T NEED TO CALL OR ASK, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I CALLED.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES I WOULD CALL HER AND GET HER ADVICE.

BUT IT WAS REALLY THAT CONFIDENCE BECAUSE TO ME THAT DIDN'T MAKE ME LOOK AS IF I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING.

IT WAS SMART BECAUSE I WAS MAKING SURE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE DOING THE RIGHT THING SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE BEING CONFIDENT AND WALKING IN THOSE ROOMS AND I ALWAYS SAY FOR ME AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER, THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT SIGNS MY EMPLOYMENT CHECK.

AND AS LONG AS DANNY WEGMAN IS PROUD OF WHAT I'M DOING, I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE SAYS.

THAT'S THE WAY I APPROACH IT.

I HAD TO GET TO THAT CONFIDENCE LEVEL BECAUSE I KNOW I'M AN ASSET AND I DO KNOW I BELONG IN THOSE ROOMS AND EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN THEY MAY NOT WANT ME TO BE THERE.

I'M GOING TO BE THERE AND I'M GOING TO LOOK CUTE BEING THERE.

>> Juhanna: ABSOLUTELY.

UNDERSTAND THIS IS SOMETHING I SAY AND I INTENTIONALLY INVITED THE THREE OF YOU BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU ARE IN THOSE ROOMS, THERE IS STILL CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME.

AND I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL SPEAK ABOUT HOW, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE TOM ONE, PEOPLE CALL YOU THE WRONG NAME.

>> NOW HAVE I TO SHARE THAT.

WE HAVE TO SHARE THAT.

I CANNOT LET THIS SHOW GO WITHOUT SHARING THAT.

EXPWHRJ ALL THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

>> ALL THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, ALL THREE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN IN THESE CIRCLES IN THESE ROOMS AND SOMEONE IS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ME AND THEN THEY START TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL GRID.

I'M LIKE-- THEY THINK THEY'RE TALKING TO MELANIE.

MELANIE HAS BEEN IN CIRCLES WHERE PEOPLE ASK HER ALL ABOUT WEGMANS WHY DON'T YOU CARRY THIS ANYMORE?

SHE'S LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.

NOW AGAIN, MELANIE IS A BEAUTIFUL PERSON BUT WE ARE ON TWO DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE COMPLEX SPECTRUM.

AND I DON'T MIND PEOPLE-- SHE IS A POWER HOUSE OBVIOUSLY BUT TO ME THE FACT OF PEOPLE MISTAKING US FOR EACH OTHER MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE WE ARE REALLY INVISIBLE BECAUSE ALL THEY SEE IS OKAY, WE KNOW THERE IS A BLACK WOMAN, ONE FROM WEGMANS ONE FROM NATIONAL GRID.

DON'T KNOW US APART.

HAVEN'T TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW US AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE BEEN IN THAT SITUATION.

WE CHUCKLE.

WE HAVE BEEN SHARING THAT BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY.

>> Juhanna: YOU SAID SOMETHING POWERFUL THERE.

THAT THAT IS A FORM OF INVISIBILITY.

WE CAN LAUGH AND JOKE ABOUT IT, RIGHT, THAT'S A FORM OF SAYING I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE YOU RIGHT?

I JUST KNOW THERE IS A SHADE IN THE ROOM.

THERE IS SOME SHADE IN THE ROOM.

AND SO ANGELA, WHEN YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW IN THE ROOM... >> YES.

>> Juhanna: WHAT IS IT THAT YOU TEND TO FOCUS ON, IF YOU WILL, WHEN YOU ARE NOT FEELING THE MOST CONFIDENT?

>> WHEN I'M NOT FEELING THE MOST CONFIDENT, I'M JUST GOING TO FALL BOOK WHAT I KNOW.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S AKIN TO WHAT MELANIE AND WHAT EVELYN HAS SAID ALREADY.

IT'S ENTERING THE ROOM WITH A POINT OF VIEW.

CERTAINLY THERE MAY BE FOLKS IN THE ROOM WHO ARE SMARTER AND WISER THAN I AM I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY THAT.

I KNOW WHAT I KNOW AND I KNOW THAT I'M GOOD AT WHAT I DO AND I KNOW I HAVE PREPARED FOR THAT SITUATION SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT I FALL BACK ON.

STANDING FIRM IN MY POINT OF VIEW BASED ON THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE TO GET TO THIS PLACE.

>> Juhanna: BECAUSE YOUR POINT OF VIEW MATTERS.

>> YES.

>> Juhanna: NOW THIS QUESTION I HAVE FOR THE THREE OF YOU.

NONE OF YOU ARE FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.

AND I GET THIS QUESTION ALL THE TIME AND IT'S PART OF THE REASON LIBBED THE WOMAN EXISTS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS WORKING IN THE SOUTHWEST, FOLKS CONSISTENTLY FOCUSED ON THE NEGATIVITY HERE.

THE CITY IS POVERTY STRICKEN, THE REGION THIS, SYRACUSE THAT THE CRIME.

BUT I WAS LOOKING AT ALL OF YOU AND GOING LIKE OH MY GOSH, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THEY TALK TO ME OR WHATEVER.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE BUT I THINK THE THING THAT MANY OF US ARE CURIOUS ABOUT, YOU ALL HAVE DONE SOME AMAZING THINGS IN YOUR CAREER.

WHY ARE Y'ALL STILL HERE?

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN CENTRAL NEW YORK TO BE HOME?

IT'S IMPORTANT I WANT TO HEAR AND OUR VIEWERS BECAUSE MANY FOLKS ARE GOING, WHERE DID ALL THESE BROWN FACED WOMEN COME FROM?

I DIDN'T KNOW THIS PERSON AND SHE WAS OVER HERE AND YOU KNOW, WHEN I CAME, I JUST FELT AS IF THERE WERE SO MANY WOMEN IN THE MIX DOING AMAZING THINGS AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE RETURNED HERE HAVE ASKED, WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO STAY?

>> THE REASON I CHOSE TO STAY, I WILL SAY I'M FROM VIRGINIA.

I'M A SOUTHERN PERSON.

AND THE CLIMATE IS QUITE DIFFERENT.

FROM WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED THESE MANY YEARS HERE IN SYRACUSE BUT I STAYED BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR ME THERE IS A THRIVING COMMUNITY THAT I'M A PART OF.

THERE IS AN OUTFIT THAT I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH FOR OVER 20 ODD YEARS BECAUSE IT'S WORKED FOR ME AND SO I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, DRIVE IN THIS SITUATION AND MANAGE CAREER AND SOCIAL LIFE SUCCESSFULLY.

I SEE THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD IN CENTRAL NEW YORK SO THAT'S WHAT IS ATTRACTIVE TO ME I DAY BECAUSE THIS IS NOW HOME.

I STAY BECAUSE I KNOW LIKE ANGIE JUST SAID, HERE IS A PLACE WHERE OUR COMMUNITY IS-- OUR COMMUNITY IS TIGHT KNIT AND WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I STAY BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME.

AND I OWE THIS COMMUNITY A WHOLE LOT FOR WHAT IT'S GIVEN ME AND THAT'S WHERE MY COMMITMENT IS TO HOPEFULLY, WHEN I GO AND GET MY ANGEL WINGS ONE OF THESE DAYS, THAT SOMEONE WILL SAY YOU LEFT IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER BECAUSE YOU WERE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S WHY I STAY HERE.

AND IT'S HOME.

>> I'M GOING TO BE HONEST.

[LAUGHTER] I DID NOT CHOOSE TO STAY.

WHEN I CAME HERE A COLLEGE STUDENT, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, MY GOAL WAS TO BE HERE FOR FOUR YEARS AND GO.

I WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT.

I'VE HAD ENOUGH SYRACUSE.

BEEN REAL, TOO COLD.

I'M OUT.

GOING TO THE LARGER CITIES.

BUT GOD HAD ANOTHER PLAN AND HE HAS PLACED STABLE IN MY LIFE IN THIS AREA.

GOD CHOSE ME TO BE HERE AND EVEN NOW, I'VE WORKED FOR SOME OF THE TOP COMPANIES IN THE COUNTRY IN SYRACUSE.

NOW I'M ON THE CUSP OF BUILDING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS IN SYRACUSE.

SO FOR ME I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT FAVOR AND I'M GOING TO WALK IN THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHERE THERE IS FAVOR WHERE GOD PLACES YOU.

I DIDN'T CHOOSE IT.

GOD CHOSE IT FOR ME BUT NOW I'M ACCEPTING THAT AND I'M WALKING IN IT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT SYRACUSE WILL CONTINUE TO BE TO ME IN MY LIFE WE ARE GOING TO GET READY TO OPEN QUESTIONS UP TO OUR LIVE AUDIENCE FOR THE FINALE.

WE THOUGHT AS SOME OF THE WOMEN FROM SEASON ONE AND SEASON TWO HAVE JOINED US, WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE LEADING AND BLAZING TRAILS FOR US.

WHAT IS-- BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT.

ONE MORE QUESTION.

ONE WORD, IF YOU COULD SUM UP OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, THIS COMMUNITY, THE WORLD HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT BUT IF THERE WAS A WORD OR A SENTENCE THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SAY TO INSPIRE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE OR SOMEONE WATCHING TONIGHT, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> I WOULD SAY-- I'LL START.

I'LL LET Y'ALL... Y'ALL KNOW I LIKE TO TALK.

I WOULD SAY SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER INSTILLED IN ME, YOU KNOW, FROM A YOUNG WOMAN.

AND THAT IS TO MAINTAIN YOUR INTEGRITY.

MAINTAIN YOUR INTEGRITY.

BECAUSE PEOPLE SAY IT BUT THEY DON'T REALLY ALWAYS FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT BUT TO ME IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I BELIEVE IF YOU MAINTAIN YOUR INTEGRITY IN ALL ARENAS IN ALL CIRCLES, IT'S GOING TO STEAK TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

DON'T DISCOUNT THAT BECAUSE MAINTAINING-- I CAN LITERALLY HEAR MY FATHER SAYING THIS, CAMILLE, MAINTAIN YOUR INTEGRITY.

THAT'S WHAT HE WOULD SAY AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT MAKES A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE.

>> Juhanna: ABSOLUTELY.

>> MY GOING BACK TO MY BASE, RIGHT, MY PARENTS.

MY MOTHER HAD A SAYING THAT SHE HEARD GROWING UP IN A SEGREGATED SOUTH, AND HER TEACHERS WOULD SAY THIS TO HER SAY THIS TO THE CLASS.

IT'S A MEAN AND CRUEL WORLD WHERE TIMID MINDS CANNOT SURVIVE.

SO WHEN I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS IS A MEAN AND CRUEL WORLD WHERE TIMID MINDS CANNOT SURVIVE, SO HAVE COURAGE; RIGHT?

MEAN AND CRUEL WORLD WHERE TIMID MINDS CANNOT SURVIVE SO HAVE COURAGE.

>> POWERFUL.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> AS I THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE STRUGGLES THAT FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.

IF I HAD TO BOIL IT DOWN TO ONE WORD, IT ABSOLUTELY COMES DOWN TO PERSEVERANCE.

I MEAN I THINK WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO MUCH MORE THAN PESH HATCHES-- PERHAPS WE THOUGHT WE DID BEFORE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

I MEAN THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REAL CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES.

THINK ABOUT HOW WE OPERATE TODAY.

THINK ABOUT HOW, YOU YOU FLOW HOW THIS WORLD HAS ADVANCED.

WE HAVE ADVANCED IN SPITE OF OF THOSE CHALLENGES.

I THINK AS I REFLECT IN MY TIME IN MY OFFICE FOR THOSE MANY MONTHS, IT WAS REALLY ABOUT PERSEVERANCE.

>> Juhanna: LET'S OPEN IT UP TO OUR AUDIENCE AUDIENCE MEMBERS WITH QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND SHARE YOUR QUESTION WITH OUR PANELIST WHO HAS COURAGE WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE WOW, I'VE COME TO WHAT HAS BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL MOMENT BEING IN YOUR POSITION AND EXPERIENCE HERE?

>> Juhanna: MELANIE?

>> I THINK FOR ME BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT HAS NOT BEEN MY DAY JOB.

MY MOST WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT ARE THE TWO YOUNG MEN I GAVE BIRTH TO, RIGHT?

AND HAVING THEM WALK IN THEIR TRUTH AND FIND THEIR WAY THROUGH THE MOMENT.

AND I GUESS SECONDLY, IT WOULD ALSO BE SITTING ON THE STAGE WITH THESE SISTERS, WHO I'VE KNOWN FROM DAY ONE, FROM BEING HERE AND SO MANY OTHER SISTERS OUT IN THE AUDIENCE, HAVING THESE LONG AND POWERFUL RELATIONSHIPS AND DOING THINGS THAT MATTER.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

>> Juhanna: ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO TAKE THAT QUESTION?

>> I WOULD SAY, IF I TIE IT TO MY CURRENT ROLE, WHICH IS VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON TALENT, MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TALENT IN THE ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN REMAIN RELEVANT, IT KIND OF COMES DOWN TO OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE BEEN IN TO BECOME A FORCE MULTIPLIER.

THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT INDIVIDUALS IN DIFFERENT LEVELS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS IN THE ORGANIZATION FACE AS THEY TRY TO GROW AND MANAGE THEIR OWN CAREERS HELPING THEM COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FIGURING OUT A WAY TO CREATE THOSE MOMENTS OF EXPERIENCE SO THEY CAN GET FROM A TO B HAS BEEN JUST INCREDIBLY REWARDING AND BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SO LONG, AND I KNOW MELANIE CAN RELATE TO THIS BECAUSE YOU DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

THERE IS NOTHING GREATER THAN WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO YOU AND SAYS YOU'VE REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF MY LIVELIHOOD OR IN TERMS OF WHAT I MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT MYSELF PERSONALLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YES, YES.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I'LL SHARE THAT I WOULD SAY GETTING A YOUNG BLACK MAN OFF TO COLLEGE, I'LL TAKE THAT AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT: I'LL SAY THAT.

BUT I'LL SAY ALSO PROFESSIONALLY ONE OF THE THINGS I FIND VERY FULFILLING FOR ME IS BEING IN A POSITION TO HELP OUR ORGANIZATION DOZEN WHAT THEY DO TO ME, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> Juhanna: AND I WANT TO POINT OUT YOU ARE ALL FRIENDS.

THE EXAMPLE OF HAVING YOU SIT UP HERE TOGETHER TONIGHT I THINK DEMONSTRATES IN SOME WAYS THE HEART OF THIS SHOW THAT IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL IMPACT THAT YOU CAN MAKE, BUT THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT SO AS YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HELPING YOUR FAMILIES BUT THE SPIRIT OF IT IS THAT YOU'VE CREATED SPACED FOR YOUR BOYS TO GROW OR ORGANIZATION TO GROW AND YOU ARE DEFINING IT IN THE MOMENT.

IT'S NOT THE PERM PERSONAL SUCCESS "I AM" AND THAT'S BEAUTIFUL TO HEAR.

>> MELANIE GETS VERY EARLY SIX A.M.

TEXT MESSAGES FROM ME.

BELIEVE ME.

>> Juhanna: NEXT QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR LIVES THAT YOU ARE SHARING WITH US AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU'VE RECEIVED.

BUT MY QUESTION IS COMING UP TO THIS POSITION HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH DISCOURAGE MANY OR NEGATIVITY IN YOUR PERSONAL LIVES OR PROFESSIONAL LIVES?

THANK YOU.

>> Juhanna: GOD QUESTION.

HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH NEGATIVE IN YOUR LIFE ON THE ROAD TO WHERE YOU ARE?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY AND YOU'RE PROBABLY LIKE I HAVE A TENDENCY OF WEARING ROSE COLORED GLASSES.

AND I DO THAT INTENTIONALLY BECAUSE IT HELPS SHIELD SOME OF THOSE THINGS OUT.

IT HAPPENS.

PEOPLE HAVE COMMENTS.

PEOPLE SAY THINGS BUT I TRY TO ALWAYS JUST LOOK FOR THE POSITIVE AND THEY SAY IGNORANCE IS BLISS BECAUSE I'M HAPPY.

>> Juhanna: YOU PROTECT THAT HAPPINESS.

>> THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

I SHIELD THOSE THINGS OUT BUT WHEN THEY COME, THE SIX A.M.

TEXT, I HAVE PEOPLE THAT CAN I USE TO HELP ME THROUGH THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES BUT I TRY TO STAY IN A BUBBLE BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER STUFF CAN REALLY WEAR YOU DOWN, TEAR YOU DOWN SO I KEEP THE BUBBLE SMALL.

>> I WOULD SAY PART OF THE REASON THAT I'M NOT CONFUSED FOR ELEANOR OR MELANIE IS BECAUSE I DON'T GET OUT MUCH.

I'M LITERALLY IN THE BUBBLE.

I JUST DON'T GIVE A LOT OF FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO NEGATIVITY.

I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IT QUITE FRANKLY AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE -- I WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO BE A DERAILER FOR ME, EVEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME CHALLENGES ON THE JOB JUST PLOW THROUGH.

>> Juhanna: AND PART WHAT HAVE MY MOM USED TO SAY IS KEEP YOUR CIRCLE SMALL KEEP IT SMALL AND SIGHT BECAUSE IT GETS HARDER LIFE JUST GETS HARDER AND FOLKS WILL TRY TO FEED ON WHAT YOU DO.

MELANIE.

>> I'M NOT AS BIG A PERSON IS THE SISTERS THAT ARE SITTING HERE ON THE COUCH WITH ME TODAY AND EVERY NOW AND THEN NEGATIVITY IS GOING TO LAPPED ON OUR LAP I WALK, WE WALK IN THIS SPACE THAT WE WALK IN PARTICULAR AS IN CORPORATE AMERICA AND WE DEAL WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THINGS, IN PARTICULAR MICROAGGRESSION.

MICROAGGRESSION HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL STEP IN WALLOW IN EVERY DAY AND SO THERE ARE MOMENTS IN TIME WHERE WE HAVE TO SAY TIME OUT.

LET ME HOLLER AT YOU A MINUTE.

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY ALTER EGO BECAUSE SOMETIMES... [LAUGHTER] YOUR ALTER EGO-- AND IT'S MY ALTER EGO IS VERY PROFESSIONAL-- >> IS IT ME?

>> YES.

MY ALTER EGO SOMETIMES HAS TO SHOW UP BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETIMES LINES IN THE SAND THAT WE NEED TO DRAW, RIGHT?

AND IT'S ALL ABOUT DELIVERY AND HOW WE DO IT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE MY EARRINGS OFF AT WORK EVEN THOUGH SOME DAYS I WANT TO.

OR IN MEETINGS OR IN GROCERY STORE OR IN THE MALL.

SOMETIMES WE JUST DECIDE THAT TIMEOUT, LET ME HOLLER AT YOU.

WE HAVE TO USE THOSE WORDS AND PUSH BACK ON THOSE MOMENTS AND THESE SISTERS UP HERE, THEY DEAL WITH-- AND YOU ALL SITTING OUT THERE, YOU DEAL WITH THE SAME EXACT THING.

AND IT'S JUST HAVING THE COURAGE.

>> Juhanna: TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I CALL THAT GOING SISTER GIRL.

>> Juhanna: YOU CALL THAT GOING SISTER GIRL.

>> Juhanna: GOT TO TAKE MY EARRINGS OFF.

>> IN MY OFFICE, THEY KNOW YOU JUST HAVE TO GO SISTER GIRL.

IT COULD BE OR DEALING WITH A CUSTOMER BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME COLOR IN THE ROOM AND YOU KNOW I CAN TALK LIKE I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW LIKE MELANIE SAID, STILL BEING PROFESSIONAL ABOUT IT BUT LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE PIET HAVE ON OUR TAILORED SUITS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, IF WE NEED TO TAKE THE JACKET OFF, WE CAN DO THAT.

>> Juhanna: WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION AND ONE OF OUR FUTURE GUESTS FROM SEASON TWO IS GOING TO ASK US OUR LAST QUESTION FOR TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.

I'M BLESSED TO GET SOME WISDOM FROM THIS CONVERSATION.

I WAS GOING TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH MICROAGGRESSIONS.

I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON THAT BUT WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN A POSITION OF POWER AND YOU ARE WORKING AT AN INSTITUTION THAT IS PRIMARILY WHITE AND THE MICROAGGRESSIONS ARE SOMETIMES OVERWHELMING, HAVE YOU EVER EXPERIENCED THAT IN YOUR CAREER AND THOUGHT THIS IS A ROAD BLOCK, SOMETHING I NEED TO PIVOT OUT OF THIS ORGANIZATION HOW DO YOU KIND OF APPROACH IT IN A HOLISTIC WAY TO SAY THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME.

THIS IS A REAL THING BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE WORKING IN AN INSTITUTION AND YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR, THEY TEND TO TREAT YOU LIKE YOU ARE IMAGINING THIS AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S A REALITY OR MAYBE YOU ARE TOO SENSITIVE.

HAVE YOU BEEN IN THOSE POSITIONS BEFORE YOU REACHED THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THE ROAD BLOCKS?

>> Juhanna: DID YOU TAKE YOUR EARRINGS OFF, MELANIE?

>> AND I THINK YOU ARE NOT IMAGINING NUMBER 1, RIGHT?

THERE IS NO IMAGINATION FOR MICROAGGRESSION.

IT IS VERY REAL.

AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, IN PARTICULAR WITH YOUNG WOMEN OR PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF THEIR CAREER IS HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW TO ARTICULATE WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE IT IS NOT YOUR IMAGINATION.

RIGHT?

IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF US IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND FORMS AND HOW DO AWE DRESS IT PROACTIVELY?

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS IT SO THAT FOLKS HAVE NO ILLUSION AROUND THEIR INTERACTION WITH YOU AND IT SOMETIMES-- I HAVE A LITTLE THING THAT I DO FOR MYSELF BEFORE I RESPOND TO SOMEONE THAT I KNOW SOMEONE IS JUST-- I SING HAPPY BIRTSD DAY TO MYSELF.

BEFORE I RESPOND BECAUSE I NEED TO GET SETTLED, I NEED TO HEAR AND THINK ABOUT HOW CAN I RESPOND IN A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN HEAR ME, RIGHT?

AND I KNOW SOMETIMES IF I REACT, THE MESSAGE IS LOST AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND IN A WAY WHERE PEOPLE CAN HEAR YOU, THAT'S GONE OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE JUST LOOKING AT MY REACTION TO YOUR MICROAGGRESSION.

>> Juhanna: SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

I'M GOING TO USE THAT ONE.

>> WHETHER YOU CAN SING OR NOT.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN IMPART WISDOM.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN CHOOSE TO CONFRONT IT HEAD ON.

OTHER TIMES YOU KNOW, WE MAY JUST NEED TO WALK WITH OUR FEET.

THAT'S ANOTHER WAY OF MAKING SURE THAT MESSAGE IS UNDERSTOOD BUT I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO JUST, YOU KNOW, AS MELANIE SAID.

YOU TAKE A MOMENT BUT THINK ABOUT WAYS THAT YOU CAN HELP THE SITUATION.

IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO EDUCATE AN ENTIRE WORKFORCE.

THAT'S A HEAVY LOAD.

NO ONE CAN REALLY DO THAT.

BUT HISTORICALLY WHAT I'VE DONE IS PICK AND CHOOSE MY BATTLES AND I'M VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT IT FIGURE OUT WHO THE ALLIES ARE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

THERE HAS TO BE AT LEAST ONE.

SEE IF YOU CAN'T FIND ONE OR TWO WILLING TO BE A PART OF A MOVEMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> Juhanna: ABSOLUTELY.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO TELL FOLK.

TO ME, IT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE SPOKE ABOUT BEING CONFIDENT.

YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE AND BEING PROFESSIONAL ABOUT IT BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T EXPECT TO YOU RESPOND OR SAY ANYTHING.

AND WHEN YOU DO, IT TAKES THEM OFF GUARD BUT IT ALSO LEDZ THEM KNOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COMMUNICATE THAT BECAUSE PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S WITH PEERS, TOO, YOU KNOW, OH NO.

YOU JUST NEED TO SPEAK IT OUT.

AND I'VE HAD A RECENT SITUATION WHERE I HAD TO DO THAT.

AND THEY DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT TO ME ANYMORE.

>> Juhanna: RIGHT.

I THINK THE POINT THAT YOU SAID, THINKING, IF YOU TAKE A MINUTE, SING HAPPY BIRTHDAY, OR WHATEVER YOUR REFLECTIVE THING IS AND THINK ABOUT THE STRATEGY.

WHO THE ALLY MIGHT BE.

WHO DO YOU NEED TO CALL?

IS THERE SOMEONE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN YOU THAT YOU MAY WANT TO TALK TO CAN BE A STRATEGY ALSO A STRATEGY AND A TOOL CAN BE DIRECT, INTENTIONAL AND CONFIDENT SPEAKING WHAT IT IS.

ESPECIALLY IF IT IS ANOTHER PEER.

IF THEY'RE NOT SIGNING YOUR PAYCHECK, RIGHT LETTING THEM KNOW THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK HERE, YOU KNOW IS A GOOD STRATEGY I WILL TAKE THAT BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED AND I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING WISDOM AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WHERE I AM AND MANY WOMEN IN THE AUDIENCE ARE CURCHTLY HAVING THE SPACE AND PLACE TO SIT ON THE COUCH AND LEARN ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HIVE.

[ APPLAUSE ] FOR BEING HERE.

FOR BEING A SUPPORTER OF THE SHOW, ALL OF YOU.

YOU WERE UPSTAIRS IN A RESTAURANT HERE IN THE CITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO TAKE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT ON THE SOFA WITH US REALLY MEANS A LOT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.

>> WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

>> WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> PROUD OF THE TASK YOU HAVE TAKEN, AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IDEAS.

THEY DON'T BRING THOSE IDEAS TO FRUITION SO WE APPLAUD YOU.

I APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR THIS REGION IN TELLING OUR STORIES.

WE GOT SOME STORIES TO TELL.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> Juhanna: I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS AND OUR GUEST ARTISTS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS FROM SEASON 2, THE PRODUCTION TEAM, THE STAFF OF JUHANNA ROGERS INC, THE STAFF OF WCNY FOR MAKING ALL OF THE SUCCESS HAPPEN THIS SEASON.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

DON'T FORGET AS WE ALWAYS SAY, PLEASE SHARE THE SHOW WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, A NEIGHBOR.

IF YOU WANT TO REWATCH THIS EPISODE AND OTHERS, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT "BEHIND THE WOMAN," PLEASE DO SO AT WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN."

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

AND ON BEHALF OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN" AND THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" PRODUCTION TEAM, THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT SEASON AND HAVE A VERY GOOD NIGHT.

[ APPLAUSE ]