Untapped Leadership
Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders
MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP
by Jenny Vazquez-Newsum
5/24/20248 min read
Welcome to the book summary “Untapped Leadership - Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders” by Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, written and narrated by Janky Mind.
Introduction
Untapped Leadership is a book that shines a light on the unique and powerful ways leaders from different backgrounds lead. It’s full of real-life stories and tips from leaders who’ve often been overlooked. The book shows us that these leaders have a lot to teach everyone about being a great leader, no matter where you come from.
Every day, leaders from diverse backgrounds face a tough battle. They’re fighting for a chance to show what they can do, but it’s not easy. They have to deal with unfair systems and people’s biases. Even though they’re just as skilled and smart as any other leader, they have to work harder to get noticed and make a difference.
Untapped Leadership is like a treasure map for these leaders. It helps them find their way through the challenges and shows the world that leadership doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all look. It’s a call to action for everyone to embrace a new kind of leadership—one that’s as varied and vibrant as our communities.
The book isn’t just about pointing out what’s wrong. It’s a loud cheer for a future where all kinds of people lead together. It tells us that having different voices in charge isn’t just nice to have; it’s a must-have. It’s the key to sparking new ideas and making things better for everyone.
Chapter 1: Thinking New Thoughts About Who Gets to Be a Leader
When we think of leaders, we often picture them as powerful people. But this idea is too narrow and leaves out a lot of talented people, especially those who aren’t born with certain advantages. For example, only a tiny number of top bosses are women of color. And it’s not just them—other groups like Black, Latinx, and Asian people don’t get many chances to be leaders in big companies either. This shows there’s a big problem with how we choose our leaders.
The way we talk about leadership usually doesn’t include the experiences of people from these groups. The usual advice on how to be a leader doesn’t take into account the extra hurdles they face. So, the old stories about leadership don’t fit everyone’s reality, especially not for leaders of color.
This book isn’t about ignoring what leaders from the usual backgrounds have done. It’s about saying we need to listen to more kinds of leaders. Leaders of color have a lot of wisdom to share, and their stories can teach us how to be better, kinder, and more open-minded leaders.
It’s time to change how we think about leadership. We need to welcome different voices and ideas because it’s the right thing to do, and it also makes us stronger. By learning from leaders who’ve had to deal with unfairness and being ignored, we can break down old ideas about leadership. The future is all about lifting up the voices that haven’t been heard enough, making sure that our leaders really reflect the amazing variety of people in our world.
Chapter 2: Learning from the Edges
Think of it this way: people from communities that don’t always get heard have some super valuable ideas, especially about getting along with each other, both at work and in life.
Why? Well, they’ve got a special view of the world because they’ve had to deal with some tough stuff. They’ve had to figure out how to get by in a world where the rules aren’t always fair. This means they can spot things that others might miss and ask questions that make everyone think differently.
There’s this cool idea called standpoint theory that says where you’re coming from changes what you see. It’s like if you’ve always been at the top, you might not get what it’s like for the folks at the bottom. But if you’ve had to climb up there, you see all the nooks and crannies along the way.
Leaders who’ve lived these experiences bring a whole treasure chest of knowledge. They’re like explorers who’ve traveled through uncharted lands and have amazing stories and maps to share.
So, what’s the big idea here? If we really want to solve problems, we’ve got to listen to everyone, not just the people who’ve always been in charge. We need to hear from those who’ve been on the outside looking in. When we do that, we make better choices, and we build a world that’s fairer for everyone. That’s how we start making a difference that lasts.
Chapter 3: Growing Your Inner Leader
Being a leader isn’t just about hitting goals or getting things done. It’s really about knowing yourself deeply—something that doesn’t get talked about enough. This kind of inner knowledge is super important for leaders from all walks of life, helping them find their way through tricky situations.
Self-awareness means a lot more than just figuring out if you’re a morning person or how you like to chat at work. It’s about seeing the hidden parts of yourself, like the biases that we all pick up over time. For leaders who really want to make a change, it’s key to understand these parts to not accidentally make the problems they’re fighting against even worse.
Leaders who’ve felt left out or had to change how they act to fit in have a special take on self-awareness. They’ve learned it the hard way, by working in places that weren’t always welcoming. This gives them a special chance to dig deep and make sure they’re really coming across the way they want to.
Some people think you can learn to be a better leader in just a day or two, but that’s not how it works. Real leadership is about what you do every single day, how you stay open to new ideas, and how you support other people’s ways of leading. It’s about noticing the little ways biases can sneak in and doing something about it.
Leadership is more than just a quiz that tells you about your personality. Real self-awareness is a journey that never really ends. It’s about challenging yourself, getting comfortable with new thoughts, and always being ready to look at yourself honestly.
Chapter 4: No Shortcuts to Real Change
Leadership isn’t just about the big wins; it’s also in the small, everyday choices we make. It’s about leaving a mark of progress and fairness, making sure every move we make is a step towards a fairer place to work. This idea really hits home for leaders of color, who often lead with two goals in mind: to do well in their jobs and to clear a path for others to follow.
True leadership means more than just talk—it’s about taking real steps to make things better. It’s about making sure you leave things better than you found them. That means being active in making the workplace better for everyone, especially for those who might see things differently. It’s about knowing the big challenges that are still out there and working hard to get rid of them.
Trying to fix unfairness and make room for everyone isn’t something that happens overnight—it takes time, toughness, and sticking to it even when it’s hard. Leaders have to say no to quick, easy solutions and focus on real, lasting progress, even if it’s bit by bit. This way of thinking about leadership goes deeper and means more than the usual way.
This new way of leading also understands that leaders can get really tired, especially when they’re trying to do well at work and make big changes at the same time. It’s super important for leaders to find ways to keep going without burning out, not just for their own good, but so they can keep making a difference for a long time.
Great leaders know that building a better future takes time and patience. With this view, being a leader isn’t just a job—it’s a commitment to making changes that will last, creating a workplace—and a world—that’s fair for everyone.
Chapter 5: Room for Everyone at the Table
In the rush of our busy lives, we need to remember how important it is to listen to all kinds of voices, especially those that haven’t been heard enough. True change takes time and the right space to grow. We need to slow down and really value everyone’s story, not just the quick wins we’re used to.
Right now, the way we see leadership often misses out on what people from different backgrounds go through. Their stories aren’t all the same, even if they’ve all faced tough times. It’s super important to bring these stories into the spotlight because they help us shake up and improve the systems we all live in. But this can cause some tension since it means questioning the way things have always been done.
Getting to a place where leadership includes everyone is a long journey. We can’t rush it. If we move too fast, we might skip over the deep thinking we need to do. Taking our time means we can have real talks and learn from each other. We can do this through getaways, sharing thoughts, and taking time to reflect, which lets us see things we might miss in our hurry to get results.
The kind of space where this happens is just as important as the time we put into it. Without trust and feeling safe, it’s hard to have the tough talks we need. Being ready to hear different points of view starts with having a team that really trusts each other. This means we have to work hard to build a place where everyone feels supported and ready for change.
Now’s the chance to think differently about who gets to lead. We’re invited to look closely at old ideas and try out new ways that fit better with how we understand the world today. There’s a lot of work ahead, and it’s all new territory. But the steps we take now could shape how people lead for years to come. Leading in a new way isn’t just an idea—it’s something we have to do if we want to make a real difference."
Final summary
It’s time for a leadership revolution! We need to mix things up and make sure everyone has a seat at the table. It’s not just about being fair—it’s about being smart. When leaders from all backgrounds get to share their ideas, organizations get better. Instead of sticking to the old ways where a few people at the top make all the decisions, let’s switch to a style that celebrates all kinds of voices, takes its time to do things right, and builds places where everyone feels at home.
About the author
Meet Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, a superstar in making leaders shine. She’s the boss at Untapped Leaders, where she helps leaders from all colors and backgrounds grow. She’s also lending her voice to make sure women get the respect they deserve in Santa Monica and helping future leaders find their path at Scripps College. Jenny’s all about bringing new ideas and energy to the world of leadership.