Bringing together nearly 100 people on Wednesday, March 4, the TSD in the Community: Women in Leadership Forum kicked off Women’s History Month with a focus on resilience, purpose and the power of women’s leadership rooted in community.
Hosted by the Tri-State Defender at Opulence Ballroom, the forum brought together a panel of accomplished women who shared personal journeys, leadership lessons and reflections on the challenges facing Memphis communities.
Moderator Lori Spicer Robertson opened the discussion with an icebreaker, asking panelists to introduce themselves by sharing their “superpower,” something unique about themselves and a song that reflects their leadership style.
Panelists included Gale Jones Carson, president and CEO of the Memphis Urban League; Edith Kelly-Green, a retired executive from FedEx, education advocate and entrepreneur; Dr. Telisa Franklin, founder of Love Community CDC and executive director of Memphis Juneteenth; and Natalie McKinney, founder of Grow Child Strategies and a District 2 school board member.
Carson, who said her leadership anthem would be Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls),” reflected on the perseverance she learned from her mother, who worked to raise her family while attending night school to earn an education.
“If she can do it, I can do it,” Carson said.
Her path to leadership included deep personal loss. After the death of her son, who was 17 at the time, Carson spent time grieving before eventually reengaging with community work and politics.
She later ran for office multiple times and, in 2001, became the first woman to chair the Shelby County Democratic Party. Carson also became the first African-American woman to serve as a constitutional officer in Shelby County.
Today, she leads the Memphis Urban League, which focuses on economic mobility through workforce development and training programs.
“We uplift, educate and train people to take them to the next level,” Carson said.
Kelly-Green (who recently added Thompson as her last name as a result of her recent nuptials), an Ole Miss and Vanderbilt University graduate and certified public accountant, described herself as naturally shy, a characteristic that often surprises people given her corporate career.
She became the first African-American female vice president at FedEx, working directly with the late founder, Fred Smith.
In leadership, Kelly-Green said integrity and consistency are essential.
“Your brand has to be impeccable,” she said. “If you build a reputation for honesty and doing what you say you’ll do, that reputation will speak for you.”
A philanthropist and breast cancer survivor of more than 30 years, Kelley-Green has created scholarships supporting African-American women pursuing education in Mississippi.
Franklin, a longtime entrepreneur and community advocate, spoke candidly about the struggles she faced building her business.
At one point, she said, her company generated only “50 cents a day,” and even family members urged her to give up entrepreneurship and find a traditional job.
Instead, she relied on faith and persistence.
“When God tells us to do something, don’t let the noise stop you,” Franklin said. “I didn’t wait for anyone to validate me.”
Franklin also acknowledged the emotional cost of leadership.
“When you’re a leader, it can be lonely,” she said. “You don’t always know who is really in your corner.”
McKinney, who grew up in Oakland, California, and has lived in Memphis for 20 years, focused on the challenges surrounding public education and the systems that affect student success.
Many people describe education as “the key” to opportunity, she said, but it is only a “factor,” one piece of a much larger equation.
“If students can’t get to school every day because they don’t have a uniform or their families can’t afford certain things, like transportation, those problems aren’t just education issues,” McKinney said.
She emphasized how poverty, health care access and other systemic barriers intersect with education outcomes.
“We cannot separate those systems,” she said.
During a lightning round discussion, McKinney addressed a common criticism women leaders often face — being labeled “too aggressive.”
“That’s something women are often told is a weakness,” she said. “But I believe in myself. I know what I know, and I ask the right questions.”
Carson used the moment to emphasize the importance of financial independence for women.
“Have your own money,” she said. “When you’re financially independent, you don’t have to do things you don’t want to do just to survive.”
Audience questions turned to the resilience of African-American communities and the role of shared experience.
Franklin said many people hesitate to tell their personal stories, even though those experiences can empower others.
“We have to stop being afraid of our lived experiences,” she said.
McKinney added that earlier generations relied heavily on communal support, something she believes communities must reclaim.
“We’ve forgotten we were communal people,” McKinney said. “We have to get back to community.”
As the discussion closed, panelists reflected on what legacy means to them, prompted by a question from Milli Pollard, one of the many political hopefuls in the room.
For Carson, it means helping others grow.
“A leader is always trying to help others learn and develop,” she said.
Kelly-Green said legacy includes removing barriers for future generations through mentorship, scholarships and service.
“Sometimes what you know is worth more than money,” she said.
The forum concluded with remarks from Deidre Malone, vice president of the Tri-State Defender board of directors, who thanked sponsors including Google and highlighted the newspaper’s upcoming milestone.
The Tri-State Defender will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year, Malone said, encouraging attendees to support the publication by subscribing and continuing to participate in community conversations.
The next forum is scheduled for May 4 and will focus on health and mental health awareness.
