Are you owning your voice or still shrinking in rooms where you belong?
In this episode of Career Gems for the Journey podcast, Leah C. Murphy sits down with Dawana Holmes, an accomplished leadership strategist and executive coach, for a conversation that speaks directly to anyone who's ever second-guessed their power.
Dawana opens up about what it truly means to take up space as a woman, especially as a woman of color, in corporate and leadership settings. From dismantling the “be grateful to be here” mindset to challenging the ways we’re taught to dim our light, this episode is a call to reclaim your brilliance without apology.
🔎 In this episode, you’ll learn:
💎 How Dawana’s personal leadership journey shaped her bold approach
💎 The importance of claiming your value in high-stakes environments
💎 How to reframe self-doubt and imposter syndrome
💎 What it looks like to lead without constantly seeking permission
If you’ve been playing small or waiting for a signal to level up—this is it.
MAKE YOUR JOURNEY WORK FOR YOU!
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About Our Guest
Dawana Holmes is a Talent Management Consultant at Penn Medicine, where she leads New Employee Orientation and professional development programs across the Philadelphia region. With a strong background in recruitment, training, and leadership development in both retail and healthcare, Dawana is passionate about cultivating talent and creating impactful learning experiences. She holds degrees in Adult and Organizational Development from Temple University, is SHRM-CP certified, and was recently nominated for the 2025 Delaware Valley HR Person of the Year.
