ROOTS.
A Leadership Community For Women Of Color
A 6-month leadership experience for women of color in education who are leading inside complex systems and carrying significant responsibility.
Inside ROOTS, women of color leaders come together to step out of the pace of their day-to-day work and think more intentionally about how they are leading.
Many of the leaders in this space have felt like they were the only one navigating what they carry, holding complexity, making decisions in isolation, and trying to move work forward without a clear place to process it.
That begins to shift here.
In community with other women of color leaders who understand the weight of the work, what once felt isolating becomes recognizable. Leaders begin to see patterns more clearly, hear themselves think again, and realize they are not alone in what they are navigating.
Inside ROOTS, women find community, honesty, support, and the freedom to show up as themselves.
When women of color have a space where they don’t have to explain themselves, where they are met with understanding instead of questioning, and where they can finally say what’s real without holding it back, something shifts:
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clarity about what they are navigating and why
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a stronger ability to see patterns and make sense of complex situations
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more grounded, deliberate decision-making
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a clearer sense of what belongs to them and what does not
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a community of peers who understand the realities of their work
What Happens In ROOTS.
ROOTS is a 6-month leadership experience designed for women of color leaders navigating complex systems.
Participants meet regularly as a small cohort, creating space to step out of the pace of their day-to-day work and engage the real leadership challenges they are facing.
Each session centers real situations participants are navigating, offering space to think out loud, make sense of complexity, and be in conversation with others who understand the work.
Over the course of ROOTS, leaders engage questions such as:
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What is actually within my authority to change and what belongs to the system?
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Where are the structural barriers that keep important work from moving forward?
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How can I strengthen my leadership strategy inside complex institutional environments?
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How do I stop over-functioning and begin leading from position?
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What does it look like to lead with clarity while maintaining integrity in difficult conditions?
Participants leave ROOTS with:
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stronger clarity about their leadership approach
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practical strategies for navigating institutional dynamics
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a renewed connection to their purpose and leadership values
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a trusted community of peers who understand the work
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ROOTS is intentionally small, so each leader has space to reflect, contribute, and learn from the experiences of others.
Program Details.
Who ROOTS Is For
ROOTS brings together women of color leaders working across education who are navigating leadership inside complex institutions.
Participants often include:
* Vice Presidents
* Chiefs and Executive Directors
* Deans and Senior Leaders
*Associate or Assistant Vice Presidents
* Emerging senior leaders preparing for executive roles
Cohort Size: 7-9 participants
Investment & Enrollment
Program Investment: $2,500
Seat Reservation Deposit: $500 to reserve your seat
Remaining balance due July 1, 2026
Payment plans available.
Institutional invoicing available.
Next Cohort Begins: August 2026
Cohort size is limited to 7-9 participants, with only one participant per institution.
Many participants use professional development funding from their institution to support their participation in ROOTS. Documentation for reimbursement can be provided upon request.
ROOTS Leadership Arc.
The ROOTS experience is guided by a leadership framework that helps participants examine both their leadership practice and the institutional systems they are working within.
Over the course of the six months, participants move through a series of leadership conversations that build upon one another and deepen their clarity about how they lead and how they navigate complex institutions.
Each stage of the ROOTS Leadership Arc invites participants to explore a different dimension of leadership inside complex institutions.
What's Included.
SEED - name what you are carrying in your leadership and reflect on the expectations shaping your role.
SYSTEM - examine the institutional systems shaping how work moves or stalls, within your organization.
STRUCTURE - identify structural barriers that prevent important initiatives from advancing.
POSITION - clarify your leadership authority and stop carrying responsibilities that do not belong to you.
STRATEGY - strengthen your leadership approach for navigating complexity and advancing meaningful work.
STABILITY - develop steadiness in leadership and sustain clarity, purpose, and energy over time.
About The Facilitator.
ROOTS is facilitated by Debra Griffith, Ed.D., an executive coach and senior leader who has spent her career working inside complex education systems across 6–12 schools, community colleges, and universities.
She understands what it means to lead in environments that are often unclear, constantly shifting, and not always designed with you in mind, while still being responsible for moving work forward.
Her work is grounded in a systems lens, with a focus on helping leaders make sense of what they are navigating, see patterns more clearly, and lead with greater clarity and intention.
Over time, she has seen that what feels like an individual leadership challenge is often connected to something larger how work is structured, where misalignment exists, and what leaders are being asked to carry without the conditions to move it forward.
Questions About ROOTS?
Choosing the right leadership experience matters.
If you have questions about the ROOTS cohort, whether the program is the right fit, or how to request professional development funding from your institution, I’m happy to connect.
You’re welcome to reach out directly.
debra@dobetterexecutivecoaching.com
INVESTMENT
Individuals (Founding Cohort): $2,500
$1,000 deposit to reserve your seat
Payment plan available
Institutions (Founding Cohort): $2500 per participant
Invoicing available
W-9 + vendor form provided
Pricing reflects individualized coaching, a
curated small cohort, and identity-centered
leadership development.
ENROLLMENT TIMELINE
The founding cohort begins February 2026.
Enrollment closes January 26, 2026,
or once seats are filled.
To reserve your spot,
email: debra@dobetterexecutivecoaching.com
A $1,000 deposit is required to hold your seat.
FAQs
For women of color who have been looking for a leadership space like this:
a community where you can speak honestly about power, pressure, and decisions, without explanation, alongside peers who understand what you carry.
From that place, leaders gain perspective and make grounded decisions with trusted peers, not in isolation.
You deserve a space
where you don't have to explain yourself.