Empathy, Leadership, and Community: A Conversation with a Visionary Leader
Some leaders teach through titles.
Others teach through presence.
Dr. Carol Simmons — lovingly known as “Doc” — has spent her life doing the latter. At nearly 79 years young, she is still writing grants at dawn, building community programs, mentoring leaders, and reminding us that leadership isn’t about position — it’s about purpose.
For Tiffany Odutoye, this conversation is deeply personal. Dr. Simmons is not only a mentor and visionary leader, but she is also family. And listening to her story feels less like an interview and more like sitting at the kitchen table with someone who has lived fully, learned deeply, and chosen service at every turn.
A Life Rooted in Mission
Dr. Simmons’ work spans education, organizational development, community advocacy, and food justice. As Executive Director of the Black Farmers Cooperative and founder of the International Institute of Advanced Instruction, her guiding philosophy is simple but powerful:
The mission is the leader, not the person.
When the mission leads, she believes, ego dissolves. Jealousy fades. Teams align. Transparency becomes possible. In her leadership, everyone knows the vision, the resources, and the goal — because shared ownership builds trust and momentum.
Standing on Your Own Mark
Like many women leaders, Dr. Simmons faced moments where others tried to define her limits. When told she was “too aggressive” to be an administrator, she didn’t shrink — she moved. She chose an environment that embraced her voice and continued forward without bitterness or hesitation.
Her advice is unwavering:
Learn to be an independent thinker and stand on your own mark.
Leadership, she reminds us, requires self-trust. Mentors may guide, but the final decision is always yours.
Advice to Her 25-Year-Old Self
When asked what she would tell her younger self, Dr. Simmons doesn’t hesitate:
“Work toward becoming financially independent so that you can do the things you want to do to help others.”
She shares that pursuing real estate earlier as a side business could have accelerated that independence — not for wealth alone, but for impact. Financial freedom, in her view, is a tool that allows generosity, innovation, and service to flourish.
Her SheRo: Nana
Dr. Simmons credits much of her confidence to her mother, Nana — a woman whose independence, quiet entrepreneurship, and unmistakable presence left a lasting imprint.
“I’m the queen bee,” Nana would say as she climbed the steps — and she lived it.
From Nana, Dr. Simmons learned self-assurance, work ethic, and the power of moving through the world with certainty and grace.
Book Recommendation
Faith Through Fearlessness — Dr. Carol Simmons
A reflection of her lifelong belief that fear is not a stop sign, but a signal to move forward with faith.
Dr. Carol Simmons’ story is a reminder that leadership is not rushed — it is lived. Rooted in humanity. Sustained by courage. And strengthened through community.
🎧 Listen + Subscribe to How She Rises to hear this intergenerational conversation in her own words.
