How can you stop people pleasing?
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I’m joined by Stephanie J. Hull, CEO of Girls Inc. Stephanie opens up about her journey from being a shy child to leading a national movement that inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
We dive deep into why so many women struggle with people-pleasing. Stephanie explains the “biology of connection,” how we are often socialized to prioritize being liked over being heard, and how that holds us back from our true leadership potential.
We discuss:
Breaking the “Quiet” Stereotype: Why being quiet doesn’t mean you lack confidence.
The People-Pleasing Trap: How the urge to fit in can lead us to “dim our light” to make others comfortable.
The Power of “No”: Understanding that “ladylike” or “nice” shouldn’t mean staying silent in the face of injustice.
Building a Support Squad: Surrounding yourself with a community that celebrates your boldness instead of policing your tone.
Stephanie reminds us that you don’t have to wait for permission to be amazing. You are already enough, exactly as you are.
Women of Color Rise - Analiza Quiroz Wolf
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08/09/2026
My heart is full returning from a deeply grounding trip home to the Philippines.
We got to meet Jim Ayala, CEO of Hybrid Solar Solutions, to learn how social business models are providing solar energy to off-grid, energy-poor communities across the Philippines. It gives me so much hope seeing how we can honor the land, serve the people, and sustain a thriving enterprise simultaneously.
I also attended a Yuta leadership retreat alongside fellow Filipino social impact leaders from the diaspora rerooting in our homeland. Highlights from this transformative experience included immersing in Indigenous practices, nature, and spirituality guided by incredible local culture bearers.
Deep gratitude to Grace Nono for hosting, facilitating, and holding such a powerful space. Thank you for allowing me to support the launch of this program. Special thanks to Hosanna Jireh Calo, Mark Jay "Saddam" Jamboy, Princes Lyn Tarroza, Rhine Bernardino, April “Bern” Mangingit, Sarah Leo Soriano-Martin, Nathan Kuan Salazar-Uhlmeyer, and culture bearers.
What a rooted and inspiring experience!
01/09/2026
Excited to have been a facilitator for our LEE Public Policy Fellowship kick-off orientation in Washington, DC!
The goal of this nine-month journey is to elevate leaders' careers in policy and advocacy through hands-on experience at host institutions.
Throughout the orientation, we were joined by an incredible group of speakers, including U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Ed. D., Blanchi Roblero, Lakeisha Steele, Alana Calhoun, Amber Moore, Chantae Campbell Johnson, M.Ed., Fiona Sheridan-McIver, Mayura Zink, and Silvia Martinez. They shared invaluable advice on navigating policy landscape challenges, supporting sustainable change, and bringing diverse groups together around shared goals.
Proud to be part of the LEE team as a facilitator and executive coach. Special thanks to Michael Reedy, Lily Trieu, Blanchi Roblero, Matthew Mayo, Melissa Cantarero Weiss, and Vanity Jenkins for making this orientation a success!
26/08/2026
Grateful to participate in the Pahara Institute at Lone Rock's 2026 Vitality Program.
Developed in partnership with health expert Rachel Carlton Abrams, the program connects physical health and well-being directly to leadership capacity for education equity fellows.
Thank you to Kriste Dragon and Idrissa Simmonds-Nastili for their vision, investment, and care for leaders.
Beyond the technical expertise, the heart of this program is its community. Gratitude to my peer pod: Dr. Veronica Benavides, Shara Hegde, and Carmen LoTurco and our Vitality community: Alaina Chipman Leeks, Ed.D, Alesha Arscott, Alex Jarrell, Alexza Barajas Clark, Ph.D., Baionne Coleman, Christina Grant, Courtney B., Ebony Keys, Elsie Urueta Po***ck, Dr. Gisele C. Shorter, Guerschmide Saint-Ange, Irma Munoz, Lavada Berger, Lisa Maria Rhodes, Mike Montoya, Rachel Skerritt, Ryan Mandado, Sharif El-Mekki, Stacey Childress, Tatiana Epanchin, Tequilla Brownie, Ed.D., Teryn Thomas, and Tulaine Montgomery.
How do you lead through the ultimate crisis while staying true to yourself?
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Dr. Meisha Porter, lifelong educator and former NYC Schools Chancellor. Meisha was the first Black woman to lead the nation’s largest school district, navigating the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and a mayoral transition.
A proud Black woman and “nurturer of community,” Meisha shares the raw truth about the costs of high-level leadership and why “having it all” is a myth.
She shares lessons for leading authentically:
Reject the “Have It All” myth. Success without rest leads to burnout. You must pour back into yourself to stay in the game.
Lead with one version of you. Authenticity is a superpower. Whether on a keynote stage or in the grocery store, Meisha was the same Meisha.
Don’t read the comments. Not everyone will like your decisions. Trust your integrity and the love of those who truly know you.
Practice radical self-care. As Audre Lordes shared, self-care is an act of political warfare. Do something selfishly for yourself today.
Through her journey, Meisha reminds us that the most important person to like and love you is you.
Listen here:
Apple - podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/boss-mamas-podcast/id1589971670
Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/4m8xR89eSwgOwQT9tiG8m6
Youtube - youtube.com/user/analizawolf
Website - analizawolf.com/womenofcolorrise
27/07/2026
Grateful and inspired after presenting at the FANHS (Filipino American National Historical Society) Conference in Washington, D.C., centered around the theme Pinoys on the Potomac!
It was an honor to share my presentation, "Living Monuments: Babaylan-Inspired Intergenerational Stories & Indigenous Connection," and highlight two of my books: Balikbayan and Asian Americans Who Inspire Us (co-written with my son!).
Speaking of my son—one of my proudest moments of the weekend was watching Bryson receive the FANHS Scholar award and present his project on solar energy! To top it off, having my mom there made this a true multi-generation experience, surrounded by the warmth of a caring Filipino community.
I left the conference so enriched after listening to and learning from an incredible lineup of leaders, storytellers, and scholars: Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, Maritess Zurbano, Mary Anne Akers, Chelsea Blake, Tony DelaRosa, Sarah Amplo, Matthew Veland, Gabriela Sagun, Cai Barias, Julianna Bianes, Gregory Desierto, Claire Reclosado-Baclay, Wilma Consul, Elaine Quijano, Catalina Camia, Angeline Hartmann, Ashley Westerman, Delano Cordova, Reese Villazor, Toni Rose Deanon, Cecilia Marshall, Stacey Suyat, and Louella Rose Cabalona.
🗓️ Save the date: The next FANHS Conference will be in Stockton in August 2028! Mark your calendars!
How can art serve as an act of resistance?
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Jamila Ponton Bragg, founder of JamRock Productions and a leader named to the Broadway Women’s Fund “Women to Watch” list. After 20 years in the nonprofit world, Jamila pivoted to theater, co-producing hits like Passover (2021), Death of a Salesman (2022), Tony Nominated Best Play Fat Ham (2023), The Whiz (2024), Gypsy (2024) and Soul Train (2025).
A proud African American woman, Jamila is on a mission to ensure women’s stories have depth and aren’t confined to tropes. She shares how she stayed true to her values while navigating the high-stakes world of Broadway.
She shares lessons for leading in art and beyond:
Art is Resistance. In a world that often marginalizes women of color, telling our stories is a powerful way to fight back.
Trust Your Instincts. Surround yourself with “your people”—those whose values and tastes align with your mission.
The Power of Showing Up. Leadership isn’t always big gestures; it’s the follow-up email, the check-in, and being present for others.
Find Your Mentors. Don’t be afraid to send that “cold email.” People are often more willing to help than you think.
Keep Your Message Consistent. Reliability and a clear mission build the trust needed to fundraise and lead through tough climates.
Jamila’s story is a reminder that when we stand in our identity and support one another, we can change the narrative on the world’s biggest stages.
How do you build a legacy that lasts five generations?
In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Cheryl McKissack Daniel, Former CEO of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority and woman-owned design and construction firm in the U.S. A family-owned business for more than 120 years, McKissack has been a leader in planning, design, and construction of more than 6,000 projects, including the JFK Airport and Columbia University.
As a fifth-generation builder, Cheryl didn’t always plan to run the family firm. She once dreamed of being an airline stewardess! But she realized that rather than climbing a corporate ladder where few looked like her, she could chart her own destiny.
Cheryl recently wrote shares her “5 Ps” for building a lasting legacy:
Persistence: Show up in rooms where you aren’t expected. Your presence is resistance.
Preparedness: Excellence erases doubt. Always be the most prepared person in the room.
Perseverance: Stay the course when progress feels slow. Legacies aren’t built on a single win.
Productivity: Let your results speak for themselves. Quality is undeniable.
Prayer: Center yourself. Clarity and peace are your competitive advantages.
Cheryl’s story models what it means to stand on the shoulders of ancestors and open doors for the next generation.
17/06/2026
Wow—what an incredible group of Unleashing Potential social impact leaders who bring genuine heart, care, and dedication to real-world impact!
Over the past four months, this cohort has worked on building visions, forming strategic partnerships, and developing collaborative initiatives to take their organizations to the next level.
For our culminating event, the cohort participated in a pitch contest. The partnerships and presentations were creative, inspiring, and what our communities need right now!
Huge congratulations to our Unleashing Potential pitch winners: Luz Maria Mack, Charity Reeves, Melanie "Mel" Martinez, and Sulma Arzu - Brown!
A special thank you to:
- Our fantastic judges, Anna Zak, MPA, PhD Candidate (The City University of New York SLU), Gina Ramcharan (New York Urban League), and Will Schneider (Nonprofit Strategy Consultant), for their time and expertise.
- Most of all, thank you to Jerry Posman and the Unleashing Potential Foundation for your unwavering belief and investment in all of us!
I could not be prouder to have facilitated this journey.
Celebrating UP leaders: Ayodele Saromi, Beth Fertig, Charity Reeves, Isabel Ching, LMSW, Franslee Thomany, Ph.D., George Espinal, Hetal Jani, Judi Desire, Karen Annette Francois, Kwesi McDavid, Kyesha Ruffin M. S. Ed., Laci Chisholm, Luis Jimenez, Luz Maria Mack, Shawnique Woolfalk, Sulma Arzu - Brown, Suzanne LaGasa.
11/06/2026
Great retreat with AARP New York! As a member of the Executive Council, I had the privilege of seeing this hard-working, mission-oriented team—led by the incredible Beth Finkel—in action.
We spent a focused few days this week diving deep into our core priorities:
- Protecting Social Security for current and future generations.
- Advancing caregiving support for our elderly loved ones.
It’s energizing to collaborate on solutions that matter to our community.
Grateful to serve alongside my fellow Executive Council members: Alvaro Carrascal, Cindy Morris, Elizabeth Colon, Ron Roel, Karen Nicolson (she/her), and Catherine Georges.
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