This week, Shilz and Djenys take “power,” “pride,” and “resilience” off the poster and place them back into everyday life—how Black women carry them in voices, choices, and community. Framed by the UK Black History Month theme Standing firm in Power and Pride, the conversation moves from principle to practice: influence over dominance, representation that opens doors, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up.
Djenys reflects on power as influence—using dialogue to teach, mentor, and create fair conversations. Shilz traces a 15-year career journey from being one of the few in the room to seeing more leaders of colour, naming the women and allies who opened doors along the way. Pride becomes personal and generational—Djenys speaks to her Congolese roots, passing confidence and culture to her children. And resilience anchors the hour: parents and grandparents who migrated, worked multiple jobs, learned new languages, and still built foundations their families now stand on.
Together they hold a hopeful tension: progress worth celebrating, responsibility in how we use power, and a commitment to keep widening the circle. This episode feels like a love letter to the past—and a clear challenge to the present.
In this episode, we explore
Power as influence, not control — and how CML uses conversation to shape culture
Representation, sponsorship, and the doors opened by Black women and allies
Pride as heritage, language, music, and confidence passed to the next generation
Resilience beyond survival: building, leading, and creating opportunity for others
Using positions of power responsibly, with community in mind
Why Black History Month matters—and why the work continues all year
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