Elizabeth Leiba

Founder, The Center for Black Women, Work, and Power

I lead a research-driven initiative examining labor, leadership, and institutional accountability at a critical inflection point in the American workforce.

My work focuses on how Black women experience power inside organizations, how institutions respond to economic and cultural disruption, and how leadership norms, policy decisions, and workplace structures shape outcomes over time. I approach these questions through long-form research, narrative analysis, and applied inquiry grounded in lived professional experience.

I have published multiple books that function as field-based research, documenting patterns in voice, silence, leadership evaluation, and institutional behavior across corporate, educational, and policy-adjacent environments. These works serve as qualitative evidence informing my ongoing analysis of workplace systems rather than as prescriptive or self-help material.

The Center for Black Women, Work, and Power provides a formal home for this body of work, supporting sustained scholarship, public-facing analysis, and institutional engagement. It is intentionally structured as a lightweight research entity to preserve independence, rigor, and publication focus.

I am currently engaged in research, writing, and advisory work related to workforce transformation, leadership dynamics, and organizational accountability.

For research inquiries or institutional correspondence:
info@centerforblackwomenworkandpower.org

Podcast Host

Host of Black Power Moves, a weekly deep dive podcast that is part of the Ebony Covering Black America Podcast Network. Episodes inform about Black culture, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and history.  

The podcast format exemplifies a casual, get-to-know-you conversation, rather than an interview. This  expresses the mission and goals, which are simply to amplify the voices of Black people across the Diaspora.

To that end, there are no prepared questions, to recreate the tradition of oral storytelling through a historical African lens. Guests tell their own stories in a way that feels comfortable and natural, with the host guiding the conversation in the framework of an authentic, culturally sensitive and relevant narrative that has a goal to amplify Black voices and inspire, educate and motivate listeners. 

Guests include Black tech leaders, college presidents, community leaders, trail blazing business and social entrepreneurs, educators, and cultural icons.

Notable Guests Include: 
- Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim, the City of Atlanta’s Chief Equity Officer
- April Walker, General Manager of the US Microsoft Technology Centers
- Glenn Woods, Senior Brand Social Media Manager for Hulu
- Kimberly Evans, Vice President for JP Morgan Chase & Company
- Sheldon Louis, Partner Manager for Twitter Sports
- Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of the CIAA
- Adjoa B. Asamoah, Co-Founder of the CROWN Coalition
- Manuel Godoy, CEO of Black Sands Entertainment 
- Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College
- Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Founder of the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation
- Natalie Miller, Owner of the Historic Magnolia House 
- Jackie Iloh, Diversity & Equity Strategist at Lyft 
- Donna Dozier Gordon, Head of Inclusion & Diversity in the US at H&M
- Sue-Ann Robinson - Attorney for Ben Crump Law and CJ Lawrence - CEO of Black with No Chaser

Founder, The Great Exhale™ | Award-Winning Activist | Entrepreneur & Speaker | Top 10 LinkedIn Creator in Inclusion & Diversity | Judge, The Anthem Awards | Forbes Featured | #ActuallyAutistic | INFJ | 🇧🇧🇯🇲🇹🇹🇺🇸

Lisa Hurley is a five-time Anthem Award-winning author, activist, podcaster, second-generation Reiki Master, and rest advocate. Her work centers Black women, and converges at the nexus of self care, community care, joy, and rest. Through her writing, speaking, and community-building, Lisa champions soft living for Black women. 

Hurley is the author of Space To Exhale, a transformational book created to help people beat burnout, embrace rest, and curate a soft life. Part memoir, part manifesto, part meditation guide, Space To Exhale is a self-help book that inspires readers to practice the pause and take time to exhale.

As a champion of rest for Black women, Lisa is the founder of The Great Exhale, a global virtual community dedicated to sisterhood, serenity, and soft living. TGE offers curated rituals, inspiring affirmations, and healing conversations for those ready to say no to hustle culture and yes to a life of ease. It is a healing hub where Black women can relax, lay their burdens down—and exhale.

An Executive Member IADAS, Lisa is also a board member of Yuvoice, and a Juror for the Anthem Awards. A respected figure, she has been honored as one of the Top 20 Entrepreneurs to follow on LinkedIn, voted as one of LinkedIn’s Top 50 Black Creators, and recognized as one of the Top 10 Anti-Discrimination Activists in the world. In addition, Lisa has been honored by Hush Loudly as an Introvert to Watch, and as one of pocstock's Future of Black America Top 50 Leaders. As a result of her activism, her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Adweek, and more. 

With a passion for speaking out that belies her natural introversion, Lisa is a prolific podcaster. In addition to being the Host and Executive producer of Space To Exhale: The Podcast, a five star-rated show that focuses on self care for Black women, she is also the Co-Founder & Co-Host of The Introvert Sisters Podcast, and a former Co-Host of The Tea on Tap podcast. 

With a strong belief in good vibes, Lisa is known for her inspiring affirmations on TikTok. In her free time, she enjoys bonding with her family, reading a good book, and expressing her creativity through fashion.

Of Caribbean heritage (Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica), Lisa is a world traveler with an understandable preference for warmer climes. Her love languages are sunshine, laughter, and naps.

Ready to exhale?
📚 Learn more, and order Space To Exhale: www.spacetoexhalebook.com
🎙️ Listen to Space To Exhale: The Podcast: bit.ly/STEPodcastOnSpotify
🔗 Stay connected: https://linktr.ee/lisahurley

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Elizabeth Leiba

Lisa Hurley

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