Front Porch Wisdom: Navigating Leadership Pressures and Barriers as a Woman of Color

by Froswa' Booker-Drew, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson (Foreword by)

Overview

Celebrating the Achievements and Struggles of Women of Color in Leadership

Unlock your potential with Front Porch Wisdom, a powerful guide for women of color navigating the complex landscapes of leadership. Authored by Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew, Front Porch Wisdom fills a crucial gap in leadership books by focusing on faith and workplace journeys unique to women of color. Each chapter is an invitation to explore tools and insights tailored for nonprofit management, corporate environments, and beyond. With wisdom accumulated from a lifetime of leadership and community engagement, Dr. Booker-Drew offers a safe and reflective space for thinking, learning, and growing as a leader.

Front Porch Wisdom offers women the opportunity to:

• Emphasize the importance of faith and personal values in leadership roles.
• Learn practical tools and strategies for navigating corporate and nonprofit sectors.
• Read real-life stories and experiences from women of color in leadership.
• Experience reflective exercises designed to encourage personal and professional growth.
• Uncover insights into overcoming unique challenges faced by women of color.

While reading Front Porch Wisdom, you will discover strategies to tackle workplace challenges, enhance your personal capacity, and build meaningful relationships that will fortify both your professional and spiritual journeys. Whether you are stepping into a leadership role or seeking to refine your existing skills, Front Porch Wisdom is your companion in climbing the leadership ladder with confidence and grace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781514008898
Publisher:	IVP
Publication date:	06/17/2025
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	208
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Froswa' Booker-Drew (PhD, Antioch) is the founder of Soulstice Consultancy providing philanthropic guidance, community engagement strategies, and leadership development for companies and nonprofits. She is the founder of the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit designed to amplify, support, and fund the work of Black-led nonprofits. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Tulane University and a research affiliate at Antioch University. Froswa' is the author of four books including Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy and is the cofounder of HERitage Giving Circle. She has an adult daughter and a grandcat.

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson (MA, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) is a writer, international speaker, leadership consultant, mentoring coach, and the visionary founder of the nonprofit, Leadership LINKS, Inc. She is author of Mentor for Life: Finding Purpose through Intentional Discipleship and the Hope for Us: Knowing God through the Nicene Creed Bible study. A graduate of the US Naval Academy and a former Marine Corps officer, Natasha has nearly twenty years of leadership and mentoring experience in the military, government, church, seminary, and nonprofit sectors. As the chairperson of the board at Leadership LINKS, Inc., Natasha's vision is to holistically develop transformative and redemptive servant leaders who are united in community and committed to invest in long-term generational and cultural change. In addition, she is a columnist at Outreach Magazine, regular contributor at Missio Alliance, and a member of the INK Creative Collective.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
Introduction: Sit with Me on the Porch

1. What Do Leadership, Women, and Work Have to Do with It?
2. What Does the Data Say?
3. You Are Not an Imposter
4. Who You Need in Life
5. Rejection and Trauma in the Workplace
6. Intersectionality and Leadership
7. Networking and Social Capital
8. Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence as a Strategy
9. Discrimination in the Workplace
10. The Post Racial Society Is an Ideal
11. Interviewing, Negotiating, and Getting the Role
12. The Impact of White Supremacy in Organizational Culture
13. The Case for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
14. Coaching Up, Power Dynamics, and Change Management

Epilogue: Time to Go Inside from the Porch
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Resources for Connection
Further Reading
Notes

Editorial Reviews

"The cultural context and case studies are important educational tools for those who hire, supervise, and work with women of color, and they are necessary considerations for all who seek to call themselves an ally, mentor, sponsor, or supporter of women of color."

Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

"What if you could sit on the front porch with Lady Wisdom herself, laugh and cry and learn facts that will shift your thinking and lift you up out of your chair? That is what this book is. I am honored to be a friend."

Laurie Beth Jones

"Froswa' Booker-Drew creates a welcoming and informative narrative that embraces the realities of being a Christian woman of color in the workplace. This book provides me, a white female leader, even more insights into the systemic barriers to success that are created in my institution that, quite honestly, are often invisible to me. I value reading the real-life testimonies by Froswa' and others who share their vulnerable experiences here, giving me more fuel to address those challenges within the workplace I run. A must-read for all of us striving to make the world a better place."

Jennifer Bartkowski

"In Front Porch Wisdom, Froswa' Booker-Drew uses her own rich experience and the lived experiences of women of color to create a playbook for BIPOC women to lead, thrive, and succeed by leaning into their expertise, wisdom, and faith. Froswa' challenges each of us to be hard on institutions, soft on people, and kind to ourselves. By challenging White supremacy culture generally, specifically naming its impact on BIPOC women, Froswa' has created a compelling resource for women of color to use in succeeding professionally and personally because of—not in spite of—their identities, experiences, knowledge, and faith."

Aimee Cunningham

"This book is an empowering and insightful read. It is a must-read for women of color seeking to thrive in leadership. Blending timeless biblical principles, decades of executive coaching wisdom, real-world case studies, and actionable advice, it offers a powerful road map for navigating the challenges and opportunities of leadership with grace and impact."

Jessica Shepherd

"Froswa' Booker-Drew is a seasoned professional whose extensive experience and profound expertise shine through in Front Porch Wisdom. This book is exactly what I wish I had years ago stepping into leadership. It offers timeless insights that continue to resonate with me, and I find myself uncovering new layers of wisdom that will guide and sustain me in my work for years to come."

Bethany Rivera Molinar

"Froswa' Booker-Drew is a rare voice of wisdom and authenticity in the leadership space. Front Porch Wisdom is a timely gift, offering the guidance leaders have long needed. Froswa's unique ability to weave biblical principles with practical strategies makes this book a transformative resource for those seeking to lead with faith and purpose."

Lorenzo A. Watson

"This book is essential for women of color leaders. Froswa' Booker-Drew provides practical, strategic toolkits—ranging from reflective insights to powerful prayers—designed to create lasting, actionable social impact in our communities. It emphasizes that no matter our background, we all have the ability to lead and make meaningful change."

Jin-Ya Huang