No matter the gender, skin color, or race of a person I find myself mentoring, particularly in my role as an academic, I strive to support each person in reaching his or her full potential (as far as I can take that person). I desire to see the individuals I'm privileged to lead grow in such a way that they can confidently pursue any opportunity that crosses their path and eventually become strong, effective leaders themselves. I seek to aid those in which I come upon to bravely tackle and break through the barriers they will undoubtedly face in their personal and professional journeys and develop to become the kind of leaders who are servants thereby leading with power and compassion, and moreover getting the respect they deserve. Because of my background and experiences, I do have an affinity for African American women leaders-born and taught, past, present, and future. That's the primary reason for this book. And yes, my drive to influence African American women leaders is a bit personal. This book will focus on what it takes to be an effective leader. It will examine the inner soul work that is imperative for leaders to do in an effort to lead and care for the souls of others well. We will also explore the hard and soft skills required to lead successfully. My hope for every reader is that you will walk away with a clear understanding of what's expected of you as a leader. Likewise, I want you to gain the knowledge that leadership is a service and not a privilege. Finally, it may seem as though the book is solely written for black women, as I do reference this population a great deal; however, don't judge a book by its cover. This book is for anyone with an interest in leading effectively.