Throughout my journey — from boardrooms to palaces — I’ve come to understand that some of the deepest revelations and most profound shifts happen in spaces that are small, sacred, and intentional. Spaces of dialogue. Of connection. Of curiosity. Of storytelling.

In revisiting the power of these intimate exchanges, I found myself drawn back to the concept of the salon — not just as a European tradition, but as a point of convergence between my African roots, my diasporic identity, and my evolving role as a royal leader. What began as personal reflection has now become a call forward — to reawaken and rearticulate the art of conversation as a sovereign tool for shaping culture, legacy, and designing our collective futures.

From Griot to Salonnière: A Legacy of Dialogue and Community

Before the salons of Paris shimmered with Enlightenment-era conversation, African Kingdoms were gathering in palace courtyards under giant branches of the baobab tree. These weren’t just social encounters — they were epicenters of transformation, cultural power, connection, and legacy-building. Chief, elders, and griots (West African oral historian and storyteller) — living archives of wisdom — facilitated dialogue that shaped identity and community life (Barber, 2007).

Centuries later, the salonnières (a woman who hosts salons) of France emerged — visionary women who curated intellectual salons in their homes, fostering robust discussions about politics, philosophy, art, and society. Their influence was not performative, but transformative (Goodman, 1994).

Still, a lingering question remains: Could these European salon traditions have been shaped, consciously or unconsciously, by Africa’s long-established culture of communal dialogue — encountered by the French through colonial expansion, travel, and modern-day exchange?

Beauty Salons, Barbershops, and Cultural Resilience

Fast forward across oceans and eras: as Africans were displaced across continents by the transatlantic slave trade, we did not leave behind our culture — we carried it, adapted it, and let it bloom in new soil.

In African American beauty salons and barbershops, we created sanctuaries of joy, strength, and authenticity amidst centuries of challenge. These spaces became civic forums, safe havens, and incubators for Black thought and political awareness (Harris-Lacewell, 2004). Within these walls, the griot met the salonnière, and resistance wore the robe of conversation.

Reaching Back to Move Forward

As I reflect on the salon tradition, I’m inspired by the intersectionality of dialogue, culture, and community within the African Diaspora. Looking ahead to 2050, I see extraordinary potential to reclaim, unify, and amplify our collective story.

We are not merely descendants of survivors — we are the heirs of designers, philosophers, builders, and record-keepers. Our task is not to imitate outdated models of power, but to architect new frameworks worthy of our legacy.

Introducing The 1:4 Movement: The New Conversation

Today, as a royal bridge builder, a woman of African American descent, and a daughter of the African Diaspora, I continue my commitment to fostering intergenerational and international unity within our small global villages.

That’s why I’ve evolved the tradition of the Salon into what I now call The New Conversation. These gatherings are not just intellectual exchanges — they are living, breathing acts of cultural exchange and community design.

This Is a Call for Modern Salons

These are not simply events. They are sanctuaries of strategy, circles of courage, and spaces of robust conversation. They blend ancestral wisdom with contemporary vision. And no true circle would be complete without tea.

Tea is not an afterthought — it is ritual. A soft entry into hard conversations. A symbol of welcome, warmth, and wisdom. To serve tea is to extend grace, make room for presence, and root the dialogue in hospitality and heart (hooks, 1994).

What Defines a Modern Salon

These gatherings are more than conversation — they are blueprints for building interconnectedness. Leadership in motion. Culture in dialogue. Legacy in formation.

Each Modern Salon is curated around a central theme to deepen collective insight. This model brings forward courageous dialogue rooted in joy, wrapped in authenticity, and supported by strength.

So, you are invited — to host, to join, to co-create. Whether in your home, your community, your house of worship, or your palace, The New Conversation belongs to all of us.

My role, and perhaps yours too, is to ensure these conversations are not just scheduled but revolutionary. Together, we rise as multiple small global villages — interconnected and thriving.

I invite you to muse on this final thought.

Until the Next Conversation,
Her Majesty Naa Ife Bell

References & Further Inspiration

• Goodman, Dena. The Republic of Letters: A Cultural History of the French Enlightenment. (1994)
• Barber, Karin. The Anthropology of Texts, Persons and Publics: Oral and Written Culture in Africa and Beyond. (2007)
• Harris-Lacewell, Melissa. Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought. (2004)
• hooks, bell. Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery. (1994)

Hello, trailblazing women in leadership! As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s also celebrate the journey to our best selves. I’m Chief Ife Bell, and you’re exactly where you need to be to elevate and liberate every aspect of your being — personal, family, professional, and community. For newcomers, welcome to a space dedicated to merging life and leadership through authenticity, freeing us to foster hope and step into the full power of our best selves in every arena. I’m thrilled to guide you through a delightful approach to self-care, crafted especially for the dynamic lives we lead. Get ready for Self-Care Bingo — a charming and impactful spin on well-being, designed with the unique needs of women leaders in mind.

Why Self-Care Counts for Women Leaders:

For us, self-care is not a luxury — it’s essential for our leadership lifestyle. Weaving self-care into our leadership narrative turns well-being into a superpower, allowing us to lead with vitality and vision. Let’s shift the narrative from self-care as an afterthought to a non-negotiable pillar of our success.

More Than Just Fun and Games

Our Self-Care Bingo is a strategic adventure through essential self-care practices. Each square is a checkpoint on your path to rejuvenation — there to ensure you’re replenishing and nourshing your energy, creativity, strength, and soul.

Let’s Get into the Game

Step 1: Choose Your Adventure: Grab your Self-Care Bingo card from our website or social platforms. Rally friends and/or colleagues, and spark a self-care revolution together.

Step 2: Craft Your Winning Strategy: Handpick activities from our curated selection or use the blank card to personalize your play. Each task is a step towards a more dynamic and resilient you.

Step 3: Toast to Your Triumphs: Every completed square is a victory. Define what a ‘bingo win’ looks like for you — a quiet moment with a book, a new course, or even doing nothing. No bingo experience? No problem! We’ve got you covered with our easy-to-follow guide.

Step 4: Share and Shine: You’re part of our community of leaders redefining strength. Post your completed bingo cards with #womenleaderslead and tag us @chieifebell to inspire a thriving movement. Let’s celebrate each step toward a more balanced, vibrant leadership life.

The Bingo Revolution:

This is your call to yourself. Incorporate Self-Care Bingo into your daily rhythm and showcase your journey. With each checked box, you’re crafting a legacy of leadership that cherishes well-being and unlocks your next level of freedom as the foundation for success. Your best self isn’t just a vision; it’s a reality being shaped by each self-care choice you make.

So, women who lead — all of us — let’s unite in this game-changing practice. Share your journey, join the conversation, and together, let’s lead with unshakeable care and purpose.

To the victories, both big and small, in our pursuit of wellness,

Chief Ife Bell

www.chiefifebell.com

Chief Ife Bell | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Hi, I’m Chief Ife! If you are here, that means you are ready to unlock your next-level potential and embrace the freedom of being your best self in all facets of your life (self, family, profession, and community). If you’re new here, I’m on a mission to help individuals authentically connect life and leadership to unlock freedom by cultivating hope so they can bring their best selves to all facets of their lives. Last year, we focused on understanding your ‘best self’ — that dynamic, evolving state where you maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses, rooted in authenticity and aligned with your future self. Curious about this journey? Check out my previous blog for an in-depth exploration of developing your best self.

This year, we’re diving deeper into actionable steps to cultivate and sustain our best selves. It’s all about avoiding burnout, making leadership a lifestyle, and achieving our dreams and goals. So, this blog will focus on a visualization tool that you can use to remind you about nurturing your best self.

Are you ready? Ok, let’s embark on this transformative journey together!

Cultivating Your Best-Self:

Recently, a post by Cofi (@bycofi_lifestylebrand) showcasing a fruitful year with images of newly sprouting garden plants sparked my imagination. While I may not have a green thumb, I realized the parallel between cultivating plants and nurturing the less tangible aspects of our best selves. This post inspired me to design this cultivation tool called the Best Self Garden — a visual metaphor (I love a good metaphor), where each ‘plant’ represents an essential quality or trait that contributes to our best self and is a catalyst to remind us to regularly fill or water our best self garden.

Why Cultivate a Best-Self Garden?

Last year was about unlocking our best selves. Now, as we shift into the new year, we are focused on Making 2024 Count! So this means intentionally cultivating and nurturing our inner qualities that fuel our best selves. It is as vital as watering the plants in a garden.

The Best Self Garden is a visual tool for consistently unlocking and nurturing our best selves. It’s not just about growth. By committing to this practice, we’re nurturing ourselves and becoming a beacon of change and inspiration for others.

The garden comprises eight metaphorical plants or characteristics that contribute to your best self. Why eight (8)? It symbolizes abundance, power, and new beginnings, harmonizing with the energy of the new year, 2024, which also adds up to eight (8) (2+0+2+4=8).

So, How Does the Best-Self Garden Work?

“The power of vision requires the right set of frames.” ~Archbishop Bernard E. Jordan.

By creating this visual representation of our best self, we activate the power to consistently unlock our best self by replenishing what is needed long before burnout occurs. Placing the garden where you’ll see it every day is a powerful activation tool to remind us to replenish our best self qualities regularly.

Creating Your Best Self Garden

Are you ready to create your Best Self Garden? Great, let’s go.

Step 1: Reflect. Identify the traits you need to cultivate. First, we start with reflection; ask yourself: What characteristics do I need to cultivate my best self? What do I need to be my best self consistently? Create your own list of at least eight (8). Here is what I’ve chosen for my Best Self Garden. (You may notice more than 8 in my list below, but I paired them together.)

1. Joy & Authenticity: “I am strengthened by joy and authenticity.”
2. Rest & Self-Care: “I claim rest and self-care as my portion.”
3. Forgiveness & Grace: “I embrace forgiveness and the gift of grace.”
4. Focus & Presence: “I am focused and present in the now moment.”
5. Confidence, Courage, and Determination: “Confident, courageous, and determined am I.”
6. Peace & Freedom: “I have peace that passes all understanding, and freedom is mine.”
7. Gratitude: “My heart overflows with gratitude.”
8. Hope & Possibilities: “Hope fuels me, and possibilities await me.”

Step 2: Setup Your Garden: You will need a few supplies for this set. The list is below. Secure your garden display tool. I grabbed a hanging plant display off of Amazon. Write the characteristic on the label. I chose to use these circle cutouts. You will need something to affix the characteristics labels. I used clothes pins and double-sided tape.

Step 3: Assemble Your Garden: I affixed the characteristic (circle cutouts) to the close pins. Then, I set up my best self garden tool. Using a funnel, I filled each jar with water. Then, I placed the clothes pins onto the jars. (I found it easiest to hang the tool before filling it with water).

Step 4: Display Your Garden: You have done it. Place it where you’ll see it regularly as a reminder to replenish these aspects of your life.

Step 5: Water As Needed: Just like plants, not every characteristic requires the same amount of attention simultaneously. Use the evaporation as a cue to reflect and act.

Join the Movement & Share Your Journey:

Remember, the goal of the best self garden is to create a visual representation of our best self, thus activating the power of our best self consistently to accomplish our goals. Are you ready to unlock your best self?

I invite you to create your own Best Self Garden and share your journey. Please post pictures of your best self-garden, tag me @chiefifebell, and use the hashtag #bestselfgarden. Let’s inspire each other and create a community committed to growth and empowerment. Your journey could motivate countless others to start nurturing their best selves!

Here’s to Making 2024 Count!

Your friendly guide in leadership,

Chief Ife Bell®

Hi, I’m Chief Ife! If you’re here, it means you’re poised to unlock your next-level potential and embrace the freedom of being your best self in every aspect of life — personal, familial, professional, and communal. For those new to my space, my mission is to guide individuals in authentically connecting life and leadership to foster freedom, cultivated through hope, enabling them to bring their best selves to all facets of their lives.

Defining Your Best Self: A Self-Reflective Journey

Your ‘best self’ is an ever-evolving journey, not a fixed destination. It’s a dynamic, ongoing process that is deeply personal and uniquely defined by you. At its essence, it embodies the moment where your strengths shine brightest and your weaknesses hold the least sway. It’s the authentic core of your being, steering you toward the most fulfilling paths in life.

This concept transcends mere static existence; it’s a vibrant expression of your utmost potential coupled with your most profound joy. Embracing your ‘best self’ means stepping into the entirety of your existence, where authenticity isn’t just a trait but a guiding principle. It’s about fostering growth within yourself and those around you, leveraging your strengths to lead and inspire.

Central to this idea is the concept of ‘use-of-self,’ a term coined by Jamieson & Cheung-Judge (2020). This refers to consciously utilizing one’s entire being in the deliberate execution of one’s role, tailored to maximize effectiveness in any given situation. It’s about intentionally presenting and applying yourself, aligning your actions and choices with your core values and goals.

Developing Your Best Self Statement

“When I am at my best self, I…” This statement is a starting point for envisioning the strengths, core values, motivations, and characteristics that define the best version of yourself. It’s an invitation to reflect on moments when you feel most authentic and empowered. Once crafted, it helps you and others to make more informed decisions that align most closely with your strengths and desires.

• Seek Feedback: If defining your best self feels challenging, ask your network to share moments when they’ve seen you at your best. Specific instances that highlight your unique qualities can offer invaluable insights.
• Integrate Your Strengths and Expertise: Reflect on how to consistently weave your strengths and expertise into your daily life. Think of them as your superpowers, essential in consistently realizing your best self. This integration is key to unlocking your best self with consistency.
• Align Your Motivations and Core Values: Ensure that your actions and decisions resonate with your deepest beliefs and aspirations. This harmony between what drives you and what you stand for is key to living authentically and bringing your best self to every aspect of your life.
• Turn Down Self-Doubt: Remember, the noise of self-doubt and the inner critic doesn’t define your true potential. You are capable of a wide range of possibilities. Your best self can be both present and desired state.

Crafting Your Best Self Statement: Fill in the blanks:

When I am at my best self I_________________________. I need ________________________ to bring my best self to the table consistently and you get ___________________ when I am my best self.

Cultivating Your Best Self: The Art of Leadership and Growth

Having defined your best self, it’s time to cultivate it. Key principles include:

• Authenticity: Be true to your values, beliefs, and passions. Let your uniqueness shine in all you do, and seek opportunities to be your best self frequently.
• Self-Care: Emphasize self-care practices that revitalize your spirit, crucial for maintaining your energy and passion.
• Self-Reflection: Allocate intentional time for reflection on your journey, blindspots, and alignment with your core values, a vital part of cultivating your best self.

Living Your Best Self: The Journey of a Lifetime

“The question isn’t who’s going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” — Ayn Rand

Your best self is not a destination; it’s a journey of a lifetime. It’s a commitment to self-discovery, personal growth, and the art of leading with authenticity. By embracing the principles of leadership, authenticity, growth, and strengths, you’re not just becoming your best self, but also motivating others to start their transformative journeys. Together, we unlock our collective potential for excellence. Let’s make this journey count, always remembering that leadership is not just a role, but a lifestyle.

Your friend in leadership and life.

Chief Ife Bell

Greetings, dear readers! As I recount my recent odyssey across three European countries, I invite you to join me in a thought-provoking exploration of identity, gifts, and growth. This journey, a cornerstone of my doctoral study in organizational development and change, has unfurled a tapestry of insights and revelations that I am eager to share with you.

The Dilemma of Global Scholar-Leadership

Picture this: a global scholar-leader investing time, resources, and heartfelt effort to journey over 9000 miles. A perplexing paradox, isn’t it? The confluence of the gifts given and received during this voyage and the intricate balance between embracing these gifts and fulfilling the role of a global leader. It is a dilemma that most leaders reconcile in an either-or manner versus a through-through manner that allows for the beauty of the gift and the functionality of being a global leader and it forms the crux of my reflections.

A Multifaceted Identity in Motion

As I embarked on this adventure, I donned the personas of an organizational development and change (ODC) doctoral student and scholar-practitioner, all while being mindful of my role as Zosimli Naa, a tribal chief, and an African American woman. This intersectionality created a dynamic backdrop against which I experienced and understood the journey.

Gifts Given and Received: A Dual Narrative

Allow me to guide you through the journey through the dual lenses of “Gifts Received” and “Gifts Given,” each city serving as a unique stage for these exchanges.

Detroit, Michigan: A Prelude of Connection

Gifts Received: A nurturing community and a reflective space to set my intentions for the journey ahead.

Gifts Given: Laughter, profound listening, authentic connections, and thought-provoking inquiries.

**Amsterdam, Netherlands: Navigating the Unknown**

Gifts Received: Compassionate navigation support, a platform for leveling intentions, and a deeper understanding of dilemma reconciliation.

Gifts Given: Expertise woven into knowledge-sharing, the application of dilemma reconciliation, and a foundation of friendship and care.

Amsterdam, the city of bikes, became a metaphor for navigation, echoing the strategies needed in our personal and communal journeys. As I maneuvered through cobblestone streets, I realized how similar this was to navigating dilemmas in both scholarly and practical contexts. The support from my fellow cohort members and staff mirrored the camaraderie we need when traversing new terrains.

London, England: Embracing Intersectionality

Gifts Received: An eye-opening presentation on intersectionality by Coreen Archer, facilitation styles, and a reaffirmation of community support.

Gifts Given: Unique perspective and my presence.

London, the city of fish and chips, introduced me to the concept of intersectionality in a profound manner. Coreen Archer’s presentation on the ladders of intersectionality expanded my thinking, aligning perfectly with my research on access to developmental opportunities for Black women. The city’s gift was learning to balance my professional identity with other aspects of my identity.

My doctoral community continued to support me during my visit with the Dagbon Association of the United Kingdom community. Dr. Jennifer McCary, Kevin Robertson, Yasmine Burns, and Doug Bellah joined. As a global ambassador, I was grateful for the opportunity for these various cultures to intersect.

Paris, France: Navigating Conflict Gracefully

Gifts Received: A refreshing model for conflict navigation by Yeshim Harris, the warmth of community, and shared experiences.

Gifts Given: The comfort of a closely-knit community.

In Paris, the city of lights, Yeshim’s presentation on conflict navigation brought forth fresh insights, much like the illumination the city offers. As we delved into conflict resolution, I recognized the parallel with the art of dilemma reconciliation — a journey through beauty and function. The shared experiences with fellow travelers led to discoveries that blossomed in the context of community.

Conclusion: A Continuation of Discovery

As I conclude this narrative, I find myself at the cusp of a new phase — a phase where I carry the gifts of this journey into my future endeavors. Just as my role as a tribal chief and scholar-practitioner coexist, so do the gifts given and received on this journey.

As I reflect on my multifaceted identity as a global scholar-leader, I am reminded that the leadership journey is never linear. It is a delicate balance, a dance of reciprocity, where the gifts we give and receive intertwine to shape our roles as leaders, advocates, learners, and change-makers.

Join me as we celebrate the beauty of this ongoing journey, where each step is a testament to our evolution and a gift bestowed upon the world.

With boundless curiosity and heartfelt gratitude,

Chief Ife Bell

Customs, arts, social and civic institutions, language, food, religion, economics, and achievements combine to create a beautiful tapestry of culture. The United States has long been known as the “melting pot,” and this phenomenon has spread in the modern age. As a result, our daily lives are intertwined with a diverse array of cultures, all available with a click of a button, thanks to the internet.

The two cultures that most recently contributed to shaping my life have been connected by my chieftaincy; the Kingdom of Dagbon, Ghana, and my hometown of Louisville, KY. One of the founding tenets of Chieftaincy and Sister Cities International is to promote a mutual understanding and to create opportunities for people from two diverse cultures to find similarities while learning about and from one another. As Chief Zosimli Naa II, I am responsible for using my platform to increase cultural awareness and promote inclusiveness. Not by just recounting my own personal experiences but by pairing them with highlights of the overall way of life for the Dagbon and Louisvillian people. The more I learn and immerse myself in these beautiful cultures, the more I appreciate them. It is my hope to inspire that same appreciation in you all.

The Kingdom of Dagbon was founded by the second largest ethnic group in Africa, the Dagomba people, with an overall number of 656,000 citizens (www.ghanaweb.com). The native language of Dagbon is Dagbani. According to oral histories, the kingdom was established in the 11th Century by warrior Tohazie. He trekked through modern day Nigeria and Mali before taking residence in northern Ghana. This kingdom is one of the oldest to exist in Ghana and the largest of all four kingdoms in the Northern Region. Over half of the entire population of Northern Ghana resides in the Dagbon Kingdom, which spans 9,611 square miles. Its administrative capital is the city of Yendi, selected in the 18th century by esteemed king Naa Luro. To this day, this is where the Yaa Naa, the highest position and reigning King of the Dagbon people, is seated.

Around this time, Islam was brought to the kingdom, which is the predominant religion in the Northern Region. Many practicing Muslims in Dagbon combine Islamic practices with traditional ancestral rituals. This blend of elements is mainly present in music, dance, festivals, and funerals. Islam has a significant influence on the Kingdom of Dagbon, including many of the social norms.

The primary source of income for most Dagombas is entrepreneurship and agriculture. According to the Ghana Statistical Services, “food crops such as yam, cassava, maize, millet, and guinea corn are produced for consumption. In addition, many people rear domestic animals and livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, and fowls) and use horses for socio-cultural events”(sites.tufts.edu). Traditional dress for men in Dagbon society is the Ghanaian smock. After becoming an essential part of Ghanaian history, this was declared to be the national attire. The nation’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, and other national leaders wore smocks as they declared Ghana’s independence on March 6th, 1957. Since then, men have become customary to don the brightly covered fabric during important events such as weddings, funerals, and the Damba Festival. In recent years, it has become more common for women to wear smocks.

There are three main yearly festivals celebrated in the Dagbon Kingdom; The Damba Festival, The Bugum Fire Festival, and Eid Fitr. The essence of the Damba Festival (as noted in a previous blog) centers around the birth and naming of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. Over time, it has evolved into a gathering that celebrates the position and significance of chieftaincy and their contribution as leaders.

The Begum Fire Festival is celebrated in the first month of the Dagbon Lunar Year. It commemorated when Noah was finally able to land the ark following the end of the Great Flood (pambeghana.org). This event includes the burning of torches, sacrifices, and prayers for blessings in the coming New Year. Eid Fitr is celebrated globally in Islamic culture as it marks the end of Ramadan. This is a day full of delight and celebration, with lots of food, gift-giving, and well wishes.

The Dagbon Kingdom is full of rich traditions and cultures. I am eternally grateful for how the Dagombas have welcomed me as Chief Zosimli Naa. As a culture innovator and leader, I aspire for Louisville and Tamale to continue mutually developing, sharpening one another, and exhibiting rich, authentic friendships. I believe the more we understand one another, the more we can love and lead.

To learn more about my time at the Damba Festival, please read my previous blog here.

Your friend,

Ife Bell

Chief Zosimli Naa

Sources:

About the Dagomba. dagomba. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://sites.tufts.edu/dagomba/about-the-dagomba/

History of the fire (Bugum) festival. PAMBE Ghana. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://pambeghana.org/history-of-the-fire-bugum-festival/

Kingdom of dagbon. DBpedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://dbpedia.org/page/Kingdom_of_Dagbon

Northern Ghana, tamale and dagbani culture — youth home cultural group. To the frontpage. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.yhcg.net/tamale-cultural-tours/northern-ghana-tamale-and-dagbani-culture.aspx

Our country stands unique in West Africa, both in terms of Inter … (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2022, from https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/GHANA-2018-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf

Women’s History Month had humble beginnings. Originally a local celebration, it was birthed in 1978 by an Education Task Force in Santa Rosa, California, who rallied together to create a “Women’s History Week.” This initiative rippled across the country and began to trickle into towns everywhere. Two years later, March 28 was officially designated as National Women’s History Week by President Jimmy Carter. Every president would continue to issue a proclamation preserving the week-long commemoration until 1987, when Congress passed Public Law 100–9, officially declaring March to be Women’s History Month.

I was touched when I learned that women in education were at the forefront of this rightfully deserved celebration. My personal journey has fostered a sense of gratefulness and amazement for women in general but especially for women with doctorates, as I have looked up to them, aspired to be one, and am honored to be sharing the space with them now.

In my previous blog, I discussed the stats of only 3.1% of Black Women who hold doctoral degrees. For women in general, the number increases to 46%. I want to elevate the profile of five women who have either a doctorate or Ph.D. Doctorates and Ph.D. are like fraternal twins. They are both terminal degrees, which are the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. In deciding which pathway to choose, I researched the different fields, the structure of the program options, time, and costs. There were three key elements that I prioritized in my decision;

1. Cost of the program, because let’s be honest, I don’t want to rack up the Louis Vuitton of education debt. However, when we apply the gender pay gap, women carry more education debt for longer than men. not to mention the need for women to have more qualifications and education to compete in the workplace (a highlight of women’s history month),
2. The next was options; my schedule often needed not to attend in-person or asynchronous classes. Nevertheless, I did want a regular opportunity for face-to-face. It was also a bonus option to have an international experience as part of my program.
3. Finally, the ability to focus on the research question that was important to me and participate in action research.

“I stand on the shoulders of giants.”

So it was vital for me to elevate the profile of women who have obtained this feat and whose shoulders I stand upon. Here are 5 Women with Doctorates whose work I not only profoundly cherish but have impacted the world:

1. Dr. Angela Davis

Dr. Angela Davis is most noted for her activism during the Civil Rights era. Still, she was most politically active in her scholarly work at one point. She earned a doctorate in philosophy while studying in Germany at Humboldt University.

Upon returning to the US, she began teaching at UCLA. She spoke on Immanuel Kant, Marxism, and philosophy in Black literature. Though she was well received by both faculty and students, she was dismissed from the university after being outed as a member of the Communist Party. However, this dismissal only encouraged her work to become even more radical. She went on to help try to free imprisoned Black men, which was ultimately the start of her prison abolitionism, which she still actively advocates for today.

2. Dr. Patricia Daley

Born in rural Jamaica and raised in England, Professor Patricia Daley was the first in her family to attend a university. She studied geography and eventually gained an interest in African Studies, which she pursued during her postgraduate career. In 1989, she completed her doctorate at Oxford University. Her research thesis is entitled, “Refugees and underdevelopment in Africa: the case of Burundi refugees in Tanzania” (Daley, 1989). Much of her work centers on “forced migration, political ecology, and Africa”(White). A highlight of her professional career was being the first Black person and Black woman to be appointed to an academic post at the University of Oxford. She has vocalized the subtle microaggressions she has faced in her career. Still, despite this, she has excelled and progressed in her career. She is now the Professor of the Human Geography of Africa and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford. She is also Vice-President of Jesus College.

In life, we have indirect connections of inspiration and direct. Therefore, I also want to pay homage to women with doctorate degrees that I have personally connected with on my journey in the field of Organizational Development and Change:

3. Dr. Frances Baldwin

Dr. Frances Baldwin graduated with an Ed.D in Organizational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Since then, she has served as founder and Principal Consultant at Designed Wisdom, Inc. The mission behind this consultancy is to inform and empower others with the wealth of knowledge gained in her over 30 year career. She has helped develop great leaders in the American Navy and coached executives for global corporations. As an OD Practitioner and long-time member of the OD Network and the recipient of the 2019 OD Network Lifetime Achievement Award. One of her most significant accomplishments has been having her dissertation reviewed and placed in the Bureau of Naval Personnel Library in Washington D.C. In her 70’s, she is still such a force to be reckoned with, traveling the world as a public speaker. In addition, she has been a professor in residence for the Bowling Green State University Doctorate of Organizational Development and Change (DODC) program, which is where we instantly connected. I am joyful and grateful for her acceptance to serve as a committee member on my dissertation committee. She says, “Age gives you the opportunity to refine your views and realize that wisdom is only wisdom if it helps you and others navigate the realities of current day-with grace, of course.”

4. Dr. Deborah O. Neil

Dr. Deborah O. Neil graduated with a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. In the years since, her teaching journey has led her to the Organizational Behavior in the Department of Management and leading as the Director of the Master of Organization Development program at Bowling Green State University, which is how we instantly connected. I am also joyful and honored to have her on this learning journey with me, serving as the chair of my dissertation committee. “Dr. O’Neil’s research is focused on the processes that assist individuals and organizations in being effective, successful, and productive” (Deborah O’Neil, Ph.D., n.d.). Her work reflects this philosophy, as she has worked with companies such as Alcoa, Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Municipal School District, Ernst and Young, Fifth Third Bank, Goldman Sachs, KeyCorp, McKinsey & Company, and Roadway Express. In addition, she is loved and respected by students for her patience, kind manner, and for genuinely being passionate about her work. She indeed has been such an influence on me in this journey.

5. Dr. Mee-Yan Cheung Judge

Dr. Mee-Yan Cheung Judge completed her Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Maryland in 1979. Considered to be a “scholar-educator-practitioner” in the field of Organizational Development, her resume boasts a multitude of accomplishments. She is renowned for her global work and impact, as she has cultivated significant cultural change across pharmaceutical, retail, energy, and media organizations. This includes the media company BBC, where she is attributed for creating a major role in their transformation. I have enjoyed studying alongside her as she co-facilitated the Use of Self class in my current program at Bowling Green State University. Her commitment to the next generation of HR and Organizational Developer is apparent, as is her personal contribution to healthier work environments across the globe.

I am so grateful for each of the women listed above. While the burden of being the legs that the next generation stands upon is not light. They have made my own journey more manageable. I hope to do the same for the next generation of women coming after me. I have found it essential to connect with women in my field for inspiration and assistance. I invite you all to join me on my journey to becoming Dr. Bell and others.

Yours,

The future Dr. Bell

For anyone else interested in or currently working on their Doctorate journey, here are some tips and resources I found helpful:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/155451444477534/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/220538269079726/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/306082170038366/

References

31 black women with doctoral degrees who are living history. Cohort Sistas. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.cohortsistas.com/31-black-women-with-doctoral-degrees

Daley, P. (1989). Refugees and underdevelopment in Africa.

Deborah O’Neil, Ph.D. (n.d.). Bowling Green State University. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.bgsu.edu/business/departments-and-programs/management/faculty-staff/deborah-oneil.html

Deeper in Debt: Women & Student loans. AAUW. (2021, August 26). Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/deeper-in-debt/

Lewis, J. J. (2020, November 9). Biography of Angela Davis, political activist and academic. ThoughtCo. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.thoughtco.com/angela-davis-biography-3528285

Study sees gender gaps in Ph.d. programs, by discipline and prestige. Study sees gender gaps in Ph.D. programs, by discipline and prestige. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/02/08/study-sees-gender-gaps-phd-programs-discipline-and-prestige

Weatherhead School of Management Case Western Reserve University. Weatherhead School at Case Western Reserve University. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://weatherhead.case.edu/executive-education/coaching-services/coaches/profile?name=deb-oneil

White, C. (n.d.). School of Geography and the environment. Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/staff/pdaley.html

Women’s History Month. National Women’s History Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2022, from https://www.womenshistory.org/womens-history/womens-history-month

“One generation plants the trees, one cultivates the tress so that the trees will protect others.”-Ife Bell

As we transition from Black History Month into Women’s History Month, I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on the Herstory of Black Women with Doctoral Degrees. In considering the intersectionality of blackness and womanhood, I have reflected on Black women navigating both in this predominantly white field. It requires a tremendous amount of tenacity and resolve to exist and thrive in an environment surrounded by inequity and underrepresentation. I am incredibly grateful for their bravery and endurance, as they have contributed to paving the way for my journey. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Organization Development and Change at Bowling Green State University.

As I found myself joining the small percentage of Black Women pursuing Doctorates, I felt a necessary urge to celebrate those that came before me and to advocate for those yet to come.

To fully comprehend the odds that Black women are up against when pursuing Doctorates, one must first analyze the statistics that describe the environment we are stepping into. Of all the doctoral degrees awarded in the U.S, Black women account for only 3.1% as of 2010. We make up only 5.2% of tenured professors, and Black people in general only account for 11% of college presidents. This number is even lower once you exclude HBCUs.

Despite this, Black women are still prevailing and excelling. We have become the most educated group in America in recent years, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. We are trailblazers, accomplishing things even when no one else who looks like us has done so before. Even in 2022, Black Women are still making history as the first Black person in their fields to obtain a doctorate, a legacy started by Georgina Rose Simpson, the first Black woman to receive a Ph.D. in the US.

Institutions, programs, and staff must advance more swiftly in undergoing serious reform to serve better Black Women, including:

Increasing the number of students admitted

Improving the educational experience

Creating funding strategies for scholarship and research

Seeking out and earnestly listening to Black women

Providing sponsorship and mentoring

Widely celebrating them for defeating the odds

These strategies have proven impact of increased retention, bolstered graduation rates, and expanded published scholarly research. As I have pursued my doctoral degree, I have relied on Black women to reaffirm my purpose and passion when the burden gets too heavy. I am grateful to look up to the Black women pioneers in this field and thankful to have a solid community to lean on.

I plan to use my platform to share my journey and experiences, including the opportunities, success, challenges, and failures. My goal is to elevate Black women’s voices with a doctorate, share our stories, and create a map that Black women interested in doctoral degrees can use for inspiration, comfort, and resources. I also want to share about the field of Organization Development and Change and provide information on my dissertation topics: Women’s Leadership, Professional Redlining, Belonging, and Judgement and Decision Making.

I hope that in doing so, I can help people to understand the necessity and importance of doctoral degrees, especially in the Black community. I hope you will follow me on this journey as I publish blog posts in my new series “Uploading Dr. Bell.” I look forward to bringing you all along with me and will strive to provide the same encouragement and inspiration Black women have brought to my life.

Yours,

The future Dr. Bell

P.S. Each post will include resources that I discovered along the way. Some have used, others just awareness. I invite you to find out what is helpful for you. (This is not an endorsement of any kind.)

https://www.cohortsistas.com

References

Black women are now America’s most educated group. (2021, December 17). Upworthy. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.upworthy.com/amp/black-women-are-now-americas-most-educated-group-2637230666

Fast facts: Women of color in higher ed — AAUW: Empowering women since 1881. (2020, August 12). AAUW: Empowering Women Since 1881. https://www.aauw.org/resources/article/fast-facts-woc-higher-ed/

Gasman, M. (2021, August 12). Hand in hand: Black women in pursuit of the Ph.D. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/marybethgasman/2021/08/09/hand-in-hand-black-women-in-pursuit-of-the-phd/

Harris, A. (2019, April 19). The disciplines where no Black people earn Ph.D.s. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/04/lack-of-black-doctoral-students/587413/

The transformational power of questions. Questions shift our perspectives and unlock new possibilities. They transport us into the future, one that does not include ourselves. They can also evoke fear and uncertainty, yet without these experiences, we are doomed to have the same moments. It is a power that lies within each of us, that requires bravery and a vision beyond ourselves. As a leader, one of the questions that I often ask myself and others is, How are you leading from the seat that you are in?

On December 18, 2021, I had the distinct honor of leading the first New Jersey Damba Festival as honorary chief. Organized by the Northern Ghana Diaspora Community, this celebration united Ghana’s Dagombas and Northerners from across the country. We joined for the continued purpose of increasing awareness with the global community on the rich culture of Northern Ghana, fostering relationships, raising funds for the regions’ development, and delighting in merrymaking.

In the traditional Dagabani tribal language, “Damba” means “that we’ll come together .”The festival’s genesis is centered around the birth and naming of the Islamic prophet Mohammed. However, it has evolved to celebrate the position and significance of chieftaincy and their contribution as leaders.

Naa Zanjina is credited with bringing the Damba festival to Dagabani culture. Following the lunar moon, traditionally, in Ghana, the festival lasts for 10 days, beginning with a day of cleaning and preparations, and closing with a day full of party and celebration. Each day of the festival is full of pageantry. Everyone dons new traditional attire made locally, known as “bin mangli” for women and men traditionally wear smocks. There is plenty of feasting, gift exchanges, traditional dance and song, and oral history. Chiefs are honored as people travel to festival grounds to pay their respects and show homage.

The Damba Festival has been celebrated for generations, including the Diaspora’s celebration across the globe for many years. Louisville first hosted the World Damba Festival in 1999. I, along with the Louisville community, and excited to host again. The festival has been hosted in Boston, Amsterdam, London, Brussels, and now New Jersey.

Following customs as (Chief) Zosmili Naa II for the New Jersey Damab, I welcomed the delegation from Ghana, the Ghanaian Diaspora community in the United States and across the globe, and other distinguished guests. The event was attended by several dignitaries such as Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Pishigu Lana Dr. Alhassan Andani, the Chairman of the Dagbon Development Fund, Professor Abdulai Salifu, the former National Director of the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr. Grace Hampton, Emeritus Professor of Art at Pennsylvania State University, and Dr. Samuel Kwapong Owusu, leader of the Ghana Medical relief team.

The theme of this year’s festival was “Northern Ghana Development: The Role of the Northerner in the Diaspora. Each of the various guest speakers took a different lens on the development of the Northern Region from health to knowledge, economic development, history, and culture. As Zosmili Naa, I was invited to give the formal address as the keynote speaker to all present and those tuning in via ZAA Livestream in Ghana. In addition, I was delighted to have the chance to inform the audience about what I plan to prioritize through the Office of Zosimli Naa within the upcoming new year.

I chose to speak on the topic of “Development Is Group Activity” to emphasize the strength we have as a community the importance of taking action today and using our collective resources and capacity to support those most vulnerable in our communities. Most notably, I officially announced the “Friends of Tamale” initiative. The focus of this program is to support uniting leaders. Diverse in gender, age, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status from the US who desire to collaborate and partner in supporting the development of Tamale and the Northern Region. The other initiative was an invitation for Northerners in the Diaspora to sign up for the Collective Connection Initiative. This endeavor will focus on strengthening the connections between the Northern Region Diaspora. Finally, I encouraged all who were there to take action to join and collaborate to further strengthen the current initiatives such as Dagomba’s Youth Association, Dagbon Development Fund, and the Tamale-Louisville Sister Cities.

I firmly believe that every great movement is proceeded by sound and fueled by the collective contributions of each individual working towards a common goal. Both the ceremony’s drummers and oral historians provided us with a sound that celebrated our history and our progression in leading towards the future. I am excited to see the future advancements, both individual and collective, made by everyone who made this year’s Damba Festival possible. Not only that but also to welcome all those inspired by the celebration of such an incredible culture and people. May we continue to come together as we lead from the seat we are in, supporting the development of the Northern Region of Ghana. We thank God for long life for us all and for the people of Tamale and the Northern Region.

To see my speech in its entirety, please visit: https://youtu.be/EVF7CFEYLx0

Your friend,

Ife Bell

Chief Zosimli Naa

Sources:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336778036_DAMDA_FESTIVAL_AMONG_THE_NORTHERN_REGION_OF_GHANA

https://www.ghanaweb.com/region/falconmedia/Northern-Ghana-diaspora-celebrate-Damba-in-New-Jersey-Educate-public-on-Dagbon-development-fund-76

https://www.gna.org.gh/1.21291604

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Damba_Festival

https://everything.explained.today/World_Damba_Festival/

July 5, 2021, marks the date I was officially appointed as the role of the Tamale Zosimli Naa by the Chief of Tamale on the recommendation of the Sister Cities of Tamale, Northern Regional Minister, the seven Tamale Paramount Chiefs, Louisville Sister Cities committee leaders, and various community stakeholders. This title translates to the “Chief who Multiplies Friendships.”

Sister Cities was a concept birthed in 1956 by President Eisenhower, who “reasoned that people from different cultures could understand, appreciate, and celebrate their differences while building partnerships that would lessen the chance of new conflicts”(sistercities.org).

Louisville, Kentucky, and Tamale, Ghana have had a longstanding, beautiful friendship since the 1979 Sister Cities International Conference. Initially started by a group of African Americans, they aimed to establish a formal connection with Ghana to celebrate African culture and raise awareness while providing mutual aid and collaboration. The seeds of their efforts have blossomed over the years, and I could not be more honored to be leading this effort today.

Becoming a chief in Tamale is an extensive, intricate process. Upon my arrival at Tamale airport, I was received by a delegation made up of Sister Cities of Tamale, Administration of Tamale Islamic Senior High School (TISSEC), and members of Trull Network of Tamale. The first step was a formal meeting at my palace. I had my first opportunity to officially meet with the Tamale Sister Cities’ executive team and committee members. We discussed the legacy of my predecessor, the late Zosimli Naa Dr. Susan J. Herlin, and the vision they have for the future of the partnership.

The following day, July 5th, I traveled along with a delegation of Sister City members and staff from the Northern Regional Ministers office to Chief of Tamale, the Gukpenaa’s Palace. It was there that the members officially made their recommendation to Chief Gukpenaa to confer the title of the Tamale Zosimli Naa II. During this process, I received my Kola accepting my role as “the Chief who Multiplies Friendship.” The Gukpenaa Alhaji Abdulai then gave the Chieftaincy (Nam) to me, officially installing me as the new Tamale Zosimli Naa II. He received me with such kindness and encouraged me to build upon the late Zosimli Naa’s foundation. The ceremony included traditional drumming and dancing, which carried over to my palace where I sat “in state” alongside my Chief Linguists (Wulana) of my chieftaincy, Chief Drummer (LuNaa), and palace elders; for the first time as the newest members of Tamale royalty. There I took time to greet visitors from the community and countless well wishers on my chieftaincy.

After this, I completed the customary rites along with the Tamale Committee, which would officially permit me to begin my role as the Tamale Zosimli Naa II. Together, we made a courtesy call to the Northern Regional Minister, who so kindly pledged his administration’s support and offered advice and guidance. We also visited the Tamale Islamic Senior High School (TISSEC), which has a long standing partnership with Kentucky Country Day. There, I was able to fellowship with staff and students. This moment, in particular, has a special place in my heart, as education is such an essential part of my life’s work. I was able to offer words of encouragement, and in turn, be inspired by the bright youth of Tamale, which was a treasured addition to my international speaking experience.

We completed the customary rites by making various courtesy calls to chiefs Choggu Naa, Sagnarigu Naa, Nanton Naa, the Northern Regional Minister Hon within the Northern Region, Tamale, and Sagnarigu Metropolis. Finally, the day concluded with dinner held in my honor, graciously organized by the Tamale Sisters Committee.

I am so grateful for the kindness and hospitality shown to me during my time there, with special thanks to the beautiful people of Tamale and the Tamale Sisters Committee members for being such hospitable hosts and now friends. It is such an honor to serve in this role to foster friendships and partnerships that will strengthen diplomacy, culture, education, and economic development between the two cities. The world now revolves around strong partnerships, and I believe that this is the expansion of such relationships.

I look forward to my upcoming eskinment (the equivalency of enthronement) coronation ceremony.

Interested in learning more, be sure to follow me on social media! Also, make sure to check out all the breathtaking attractions Tamale has to offer: https://bit.ly/3rbJNMn! Truly one of the most beautiful places I have traveled to. I can not wait to deepen my friendships with the city.

Your friend,

Ife Bell

Chief Zosimli Naa

Sources: https://sistercities.org/about-us/