Dominique Smith

Intro to Leadership Pract Appl

Madam C.J. Walker

Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove, a child to sharecroppers, on December

23, 1867, and died in 1919. She was born in Delta, Louisiana where she arose from a plantation

in the Louisiana. She struggled with hair loss in the midst of her life through poverty, which

would soon gradually change after she started a job being a laundress for Annie Malone, who

was an African American Businesswoman who developed a hair growth formula. C.J., then

became inspired by the hair growth formula and soon developed her own version of Malone’s

growth formula. She is remembered today as the First Black Self-Made Female Millionaire in

America. She made fortunes through her haircare products for women of color to combat hair

growth and a healthy scalp. Not only was she a businesswoman, but she was also an activist and

philanthropist, as she used her success as a platform to help her community.

I hope to develop leadership qualities as such, authenticity, influence, consistency,

integrity, and empowerment. These essential qualities were shown through the leadership of

Madam C.J. I value to be more empowering like she was with her community. Adding, that she

employed a large number of colored women and trained them to be sales representatives and

hairstylists. Lastly, I value to be an influence as C.J., where she was an activist who used her

position to advocate for the advancement of black Americans and to bring an end to lynching.

Maya Angelou
 Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis,

Missouri, U.S and later died May 28, 2014, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Maya Angelou

was an American poet, actress, and memoirist. Through her works she explored the accounts of

racial, sexual, and economic oppression. These works also were inspired by the most traumatic

moments of her life. She was later awarded with being the first black woman to have a

Nonfiction Bestseller Memoir, which was titled ‘I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings’. She also

later became a Civil Rights Activist and the Northern Coordinator of the Southern Christian

Leadership Conference. Angelou was awarded by Barack Obama, who was president at the time,

with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor in 2011. After her

passing in 2014, she was honored by the US Postal Service with a stamp that was symbolic to

Maya Angelou.

I hope to develop leadership qualities as such as influence, adaptive, courageous, transparency,

and purpose driven. These essential qualities were shown through the leadership of Maya

Angelou. I value to be more empowering, and purpose driven because leadership isn’t leadership

if you don’t have a vision set accomplish, but with that goal, striving to leave behind my mark

and influence is what I value the most.

Serena Williams

Serena Jameka Williams was born in Saginaw, Michigan on September 26, 1981, to her

parents, Oracene Price and Richard Williams. Her father was a former sharecropper, who was

determined to make sure his children did not experience the means of poverty. She and her sister,

Venus Williams, were taught by acts of tennis. Her father wanted a successful life for his

children and with this, he and their mother taught themselves everything they needed to know

about the game of tennis. Her first encounter would be the junior United States Tennis
Association tour. She ended up ranked first of ten divisions, but this did not stop her. She later

went on to graduate from Driftwood Academy and signed an endorsement deal of 12 million

dollars with Puma. Tennis being a predominantly white sport, Serena Williams conquered all and

continued to leave her market on the game of Tennis. Serena Williams was awarded the name

AP Female Athlete of the Decade in the 2010s for her amazing achievements.

I hope to develop leadership qualities as such as, integrity, dominance, consistency,

determination, and empowerment. These essential qualities were shown through the leadership

of Serena Williams. I value to be determined and dedicated to the vision I have for myself just as

Serena. She showed great leadership through her acts of taking what her father visioned her to be

and strived to reach the goal that was set.

Dr. Sebi

Alfredo Darrington Bowman, also known as Dr. Sebi, was born November 26, 1933, and

later died August 6, 2016. Dr. Sebi was known for being a Honduran self-acknowledged

herbalist healer. He was known for curing all diseases with plant-based alkaline and herbs.

Several known celebrities were cured by Dr. Sebi and to name a few of them they were, Michael

Jackson, Eddie Murphy, and Steven Seagal. Many were appreciated of the guidance and

knowledge that he spoke to them. In his early years, Alfredo became a machinist on a cargo ship

and was born from a small village. His severe health problems caused for him to search for

answers on how to help him. He later traveled to Mexico and met a herbalist who told him that

he was dying, but gave him the proper instructions that cured him of illness. Sebi used what he

knew and researched more to begin helping those around him. In August of 2016, Dr. Sebi died

of pneumonia that he contracted from prison.

attributes are those that were shown through Dr. Sebi’s leadership. I value the motives of

influencing those above or below me, just as Dr. Sebi. Knowing that he left his legacy and

knowledge behind is incredibly amazing.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18, 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa, and later died

December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg. His leadership roles were being a black nationalist and the

first black President of South Africa. He helped bring an end to racial segregation and build

support for a peaceful protest against the discriminatory laws. He became a part of the African

National Congress (ANC), a Black-liberation group, and was positioned to be a leader of its

Youth League in 1944. Nelson Mandela was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his strong

efforts of leadership. After being imprisoned, Mandela was shown support from the South Africa

black population and international communities. After being released in 1990, Nelson Mandela

became President of the ANC. During his presidency of the country in 1944, he investigated and

established many laws that promoted human rights, education, housing, and so much more.

I hope to gain the art of visionary, determination, influence, and optimism. These

attributes are those that were shown through Nelson Mandela’s leadership. He was a peaceful

leader and showed the world how vision or purpose driven he was. This what I strive to instill in

the community around me. He did not let his setbacks take over how great of a leader he was and

how determined he was for change.

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The
brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson
Mandela

I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover
when they fall. – Serena Williams

The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should

"If I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work
hard." – Madam C.J. Walker

"Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."
– Madam C.J. Walker

“I want to live truth, even if it kills me.” – Dr. Sebi

If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing, you can
be. – Maya Angelou

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some
passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. – Maya Angelou