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Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
Some of the Hardest Conversations I’ve Lead Have Been at Home
Darlene Hawley
I lead a hard conversation in my family's home that day and stood up for what I believed in and that I wasn’t judging the color of skin, it was the person inside.
Some of the Hardest Conversations I’ve Lead Have Been at Home
I still remember my parents face when my date picked me up for Junior Prom. He was mixed Black & White and my parents thought it was best to date in my race.
But I lead a hard conversation in my family's home that day and stood up for what I believed in and that I wasn’t judging the color of skin, it was the person inside.
I went to a diverse high school, I grew up around all colors of skin. I didn’t see the color of someone's skin as a reason to see them any different than for who they were.
Then I met my oldest son's father.
He is Black.
I found myself pregnant during my senior year of high school.
Again I lead a hard conversation in our home.
My parents didn’t even know I was dating anyone, emotions were high as they should be for a teenage girl to be pregnant her senior year but I added another layer of complexity to what I present to my parents that day and lead another hard conversation in our home.
It wasn’t an easy conversation but I was able to get my parents to see my son's father for who he was, and they opened up and he spent time with us and we broke down the barrier.
I also lost family because of it. My Uncle and his family disowned me and vocally tried to get my grandparents to pull away from me.
Their love was over won when they saw their great-grandson and fell instantly in love.
My family listened, learned, and unlearned some things.
The conversations that are finally happening today, need to happen.
We need to change. We need to slow down, stop, and listen to the stories of our Black community.
The hurting needs to end.
We need to rise and come together, show our support, encourage, and amplify Black voices.
I’ve made mistakes and I’ve not done things right but I continue to show up and to learn.
Things I’m doing:
- praying
- educating my children
- voting
- sharing my story
- talking less and listening more
- reflecting
- journaling
- setting stronger boundaries
- having tough conversations with those I love
- pushing through the fear of saying it wrong and doing it anyways
- amplify Black voices
- keep speaking and standing up
- local outreach
- reading and keep learning
- let our Black community know I care
- figure out my next steps and creating an action plan
- creating space in my business community
- allow self-care
- continue being who I am and share my mission and make sure it aligns with my activism and how I want to show up in the world
- feeling the pain as my own
- uncovering where I am bias
- taking action
If we want to see the change we need to start having and leading tough conversation.
One step in front of the other, together we will build longer tables to sit at together.
If you would like to chat with me personally about this feel free to email me.
I offer 1:1 Executive Leadership & Business Coaching & Team Trainings! If you would like to explore what working together would look like, I invite you to submit an application.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
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