Breaking Barriers: A Journey of Resilience and Leadership – Dr. Renée Heywood
Reflecting on the Lou Montgomery documentary, I am reminded of the profound significance of being “the first.” My own journey mirrors this theme. When I appeared in the documentary, I was celebrating my role as the first Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Brockton Public School District – a city where 90% of students are of color, yet 85% of educators are white. This disparity underscored the urgent need for culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, and my team worked tirelessly to address it.
However, despite the community’s call for equity work, budget cuts dismantled our efforts. The loss was devastating. I left the position as Director of Education for incarcerated youth to serve the community of Brockton, which I had called home for over 30 years. Suddenly, I faced difficult questions: Should I leave education? Relocate? Retire early?
Instead, I chose to embrace entrepreneurship, founding Real Talk Leadership. My decision was inspired by a family legacy of trailblazers. My great-grandmother, Elizabeth Oliver Newton, was the first Black woman business owner in Boston, having her own a beauty school that supported the Civil Rights Movement as well as immigrants who couldn’t get training for jobs to support their families. Following her example, I sought to create an impact through leadership consulting. Initially, success came quickly; I earned more in a few hours than in my previous full-time role. Yet, politics intervened again when a major client lost its grant funding, forcing me to pivot once more.
As I applied for leadership roles, rejection letters piled up. A CBS News article titled “Why Are So Many Black Women Losing Their Jobs?” revealed a troubling trend: over 300,000 Black women left the workforce between February and April, largely due to corporate America’s retreat from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. This reality hit home. My previous title, centered on DEI, had become a liability. When a friend, who was a board member of a small non-profit, candidly admitted that she left her organization because it was “not ready to have a Black woman lead,” fear and uncertainty set in.
Through perseverance and prayer, a breakthrough came: I was hired as the first CEO of color at a nonprofit organization. This role integrates everything I have learned about leadership and service over 25 years in education. The organization has embraced my vision, affirming that resilience and integrity are indispensable in leadership.
Lou Montgomery’s legacy as a pioneer resonates deeply with me. Being “the first” is not merely a title – it is a responsibility to lead with empathy, courage, and unwavering commitment. My journey reflects the challenges and triumphs of breaking barriers, and it underscores a universal truth: progress demands resilience, and leadership rooted in equity can transform communities.
References:
Cole, C. (2025, October 2). Why are so many Black women losing their jobs? An expert blames three factors. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/black-women- unemployment-rate/