Brilliant Transformations: Toward Full Flourishing in BIPOC Leadership Transitions

As social change organizations have started to address systemic racism within their systems and structures, many have sought the leadership of Black people, Indigenous people, and other People of Color. In many cases, however, these organizations have not created the conditions that support BIPOC leaders to flourish. Nevertheless, leaders of color have brought strength, experience, and brilliance into positions of power and created ways to advance much needed change.

Brilliant Transformations: Toward Full Flourishing in BIPOC Leadership Transitions reflects the insights of leaders of color who have navigated positions of power in social change organizations as they succeeded white predecessors. It reflects a wide range of experiences of BIPOC leaders from across the United States related to their transitions, strategies for navigating these transitions, and specific recommendations for how to make these transitions better.

This study was authored by Michelle Flores and Elena Conte and developed in partnership with team of core advisors — Bianca Anderson of ProInspire, AiLun Ku of BIPOC Leaders Network, and Ericka Stallings of Leadership Learning Community — who guided the report from its initial conception to fruition and brought tremendous insight into both the process and content.

As we continue to refine our own practices in support of our partners’ leadership, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation hopes this report will help everyone involved in leadership transitions to become more aware of the impact of their choices — and, therefore, more intentional — at the many junctures of a planned transition, including outgoing leaders, boards, staff, recruiters, consultants, and funders. Please reach out to us at EL@rsclark.org with your questions, reflections, and insights. https://www.rsclark.org/resources