The Most
IMPACTFUL and
VISIONARY
LEADER 2025
to Look for in
Dr.
DAVENA
Longshore
Resilience And Vision in Leadership www.insightssuccess.com
Editorial
The Rise of a Visionary Trailblazer
I
n an era where leadership is being redefined by authenticity, empathy, and innovation, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to spotlight those who are not just leading but inspiring transformation. This Insights Success special edition, The Most Impactful and Visionary Leader to Look For in 2025, proudly features Davena Longshore—a name that resonates with purpose, resilience, and forward-thinking leadership. Davena’s journey is not one of mere titles or accolades; it is a story of breaking barriers, empowering others, and bringing meaningful change to every space she enters. Her visionary approach to leadership rooted in integrity and driven by impact, has positioned her as a guiding light in today's evolving professional landscape. Whether in business, community engagement, or personal advocacy, Davena exemplifies what it means to lead with both head and heart. This edition is more than a celebration—it is a call to reflect on the qualities that truly define impactful leadership in our time. It invites readers to explore how visionaries like Davena are not only reshaping industries but also influencing the way we think about leadership itself.
-Alaya Brown
As you turn these pages, we hope you're inspired not only by Davena Longshore’s journey but also by the shared responsibility we all hold to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction. Happy Reading!
cont 08 Davena Longshore Resilience And Vision in Leadership
F E AT U R I N G
tents ARTICLES
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Financial Empowerment Strategies for Young Professionals
The Rise of Female-Led Conscious Wealth Leadership in Startup Culture
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Executive Editor Visualizer Art & Design Head
Merry D'Souza Alaya Brown Eva Miller Michael Warner Donna Claus
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Yasmin Nasser
Business Development Manager
Sherin Rodricks
Marketing Manager Business Development Executives Digital Marketing Manager Technical Head Research Analyst Circulation Manager
Jenny Jordan Reem Almasoud, Sheldon Miller Isabel Barnes Phil Simon Helena Smith Finn Wilson
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June, 2025 Corporate Office Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-859-2600 Email:
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Dr.
DAVENA
Longshore Resilience And Vision in Leadership
The Most Impactful and Visionary Leader to Look for in 2025
S
This accelerated education was complemented by exceptional mentorship opportunities, including sessions with a local university chemistry professor who would pay the six-yearold Longshore to solve complex math and chemistry issues.
ome leaders are born not of ambition but of an unwavering calling a silent power which is molded by self-control, empathy, and an unrelenting search for meaning. Among these leaders is Dr. Davena Longshore. Her early teachings weren't taught; rather, they were experienced in a household where brilliance is valued and helping others is a way of life. She is already exhibiting the qualities of a leader long before she was given titles or honors: listening while others remained mute, acting when others were turning away, and remaining steadfast when others backed off.
"He would visit me when I was six years old and pay me to solve complex math and chemistry problems. I also attended his science camps during the summer, which sparked my interest in becoming a doctor and scientist." she says. Her mother's influence was equally significant. Beginning at six, Longshore was required to read the dictionary and write reports on encyclopedia articles, an unusual task that developed her exceptional communication skills. However, perhaps more importantly, her mother showed compassion through community service.
Her tale is not traditional or linear. Her journey is defining expectations and subtly redefining what it means to be a leader, from coordinating crisis management for one of California's most difficult prisons to counselling six-year-old high school pupils. She has been working in the fields of education, public service, psychology, and justice, but her philosophy is always the same: leading with compassion, speaking clearly, and never sacrificing integrity for a position.
"She was actively involved in the community, helping to feed the poor and caring for the disabled and elderly. Her kindness, compassion, and desire to help others inspired me to do the same early on." she says.
Her remarkable accomplishments stem from the belief that leadership is about making room so that others can succeed. Not because they are in style, but because they are essential, she is advocating for openness, emotional intelligence, and decisive action. Her conviction is that success is determined by the beneficial impact of change rather than by recognition is influencing every position she has held.
This early inspiration manifested in young Davena listening to the problems of others, protecting girls from bullies, and even bringing less fortunate peers’ home to provide them with clothes and personal care—early signs of the leadership qualities that would define her career. Her father, an educator, civil rights activist, and researcher, taught her that helping others ultimately leads to success. "He taught me to be an advocate and instilled in me the understanding that as a Black female, I would need to work twice as hard to excel in our social climate," she explains.
True leadership can be difficult to find these days, but Davena Longshore is a visionary and grounded presence. Her story is not only inspirational, but also a model for others who think that genuine intent is the first step towards long-lasting influence.
Finding Her Calling Roots of Excellence Longshore's professional journey has been anything but linear. Her natural ability to understand human behavior began at a young age by six, high school students were calling her home to seek relationship and life advice.
In Orangeburg, South Carolina, Longshore's path to excellence was paved early. As the daughter of a school superintendent and a business owner, her childhood was a meticulously orchestrated symphony of academic rigor and enrichment.
"I always had a natural ability to understand human behavior. My father often told me I had the wisdom of someone much older. Initially, I channeled this gift into the religious ministry for over 15 years. However, a crucial realization shifted my trajectory. I soon realized that some individuals seeking help through religion needed more clinical support," she explains.
"My father believed children should never be idle. This philosophy meant year-round schooling and a packed schedule of extracurricular activities playing piano, drums, saxophone, singing, and basketball that built the foundation for my future achievements.” she says.
This insight, coupled with her understanding that mental health remains a barrier in many communities, particularly among ethnic minorities, led her to pursue clinical psychology.
By the age of 12, she had begun high school through a special pilot program, completing all required courses by 15.
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Many ethnic minorities tend to seek help from those they can relate to, and discussing psychology is often considered taboo in my community, she reflects. Her diverse background —spanning education, finance, government, and information technology, combined with her understanding of psychology, made her uniquely qualified to bridge these worlds.
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This rare combination of expertise eventually led to her selection to lead a pilot research program supporting law enforcement—a role that would leverage her full spectrum of skills. Balancing The Scales The challenge of maintaining work-life balance struck Longshore when her kindergarten-aged son completed a Mother's Day project. Asked what his mother does for fun, he wrote simply: "work." At that moment, I realized that she needed to find more balance. This challenge intensified after her divorce, when she became the primary caregiver for her three children. Her strategies for balancing personal life while managing work demands are both practical and profound: prioritizing tasks, practicing clear communication, and involving her family in her professional journey. "I have always told my children that while you can make more money in life, you can never get back lost time. This philosophy guides my approach to time management, minimizing activities that don't add value to her goals.” she says. She was once called 'weird' because she did not binge-watch television. However, when she compares the value of bingewatching to learning a new skill or reading a book to gain knowledge, it becomes clear that binge-watching is a timeconsuming activity that doesn't help her achieve my goals. She has mastered the art of setting boundaries through "open, honest, and transparent communication" both at work and home. "I have learned that people-pleasing can hinder your potential and that saying 'no' is a powerful tool," she observes. As a single parent, she developed insights into each child's individual needs. She discovered how each of them individually views love and how to express it to them. This understanding has helped her manage how much time each child needs to have their emotional and psychological needs met.
Leadership Defined by Empathy Longshore's leadership philosophy stems from personal experience with poor management. "I have worked on jobs where my contributions were not rewarded, where the pay was not enough for me to provide the basic necessities for my family, where I was being bullied and harassed with no assistance from management, and where I was not allowed to grow and be promoted. I vowed to never treat employees this way when I ascended into leadership." she says.
Teaching her children independence and involving them in her work has created mutual benefits. When her children were younger, she taught them to be independent and to help around the house. For example, she wanted to build a snack bar for my employees. My children accompanied me to the shop for snacks and helped me construct the bar at work.
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Her distinction between leadership and mere management is crystal clear. Leaders make decisions based on the best interests of others. They are not self-seeking and realize that doing what's best for others will ultimately benefit them. This people-first approach hasn't always served her immediate interest in a competitive system. "Putting others before myself was not always beneficial, especially in a capitalistic system. I watched those who were selfish and selfserving get promoted before individuals like myself," she acknowledges. But she stands firm on her morals and have always believed that the last will finish first. Her success, she believes, stems from this care for others combined with her extensive educational credentials. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people. She believes, You are who you surround yourself with. The wrong voices can sabotage your career, and toxic employees can run away with superstars. She has learned to hire superstars and leaders.
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represents the kind of visionary leadership our complex world desperately needs—leadership defined not by title or authority, but by the positive impact it creates in the lives of others.
Achievements And Legacy Longshore's professional achievements are remarkable graduating summa cum laude from her doctoral program, developing the first residence education program at a historically Black college, contributing to high-profile legal cases, and receiving recognition from the California State Senate for her contributions to mental health.
For her, success is not measured in accolades or recognition, but in the ripple effect of positive change she creates—a standard that makes her truly one of the most impactful and visionary leaders to watch in 2025 and beyond.
Perhaps most notably, during her time with the California Department of Corrections at a Level 4 double-max security prison, she led the critical incident response team managing inmate suicidality—never losing a victim to suicide during her tenure. The Department of Justice described her as an "invaluable asset" to the California Department of Corrections. Personally, her greatest pride comes from her children's success. As a single parent, she guided her son to graduate with academic scholarships and complete studies at Los Angeles Film School, while her daughter skipped a grade, began dual enrollment in college during her junior year, and secured a full state scholarship. The Path Forward When asked what advice she would give to aspiring leaders, Longshore offers wisdom that reflects her journey: lead by example, communicate effectively, embrace continuous learning, build strong relationships, be decisive, encourage innovation, practice empathy, set clear goals, delegate effectively, and continuously reflect and adapt. Her personal mantra distills her philosophy into its essence: "I am my own competition. Every day, I strive to be better than I was the day before. Comparison can be detrimental and limits one's ability to excel. Keeping your goals in mind, stay focused on your own path without looking to the left or the right. Continuously work on improving yourself and remain dedicated to your purpose." As our interview concludes, Longshore reflects on what she once identified as her greatest weakness—the tendency to stay in the background. She has discovered that as she chooses to step into the forefront and take up space, those around her tend to do the same. Embracing her journey forward benefits their collective advancement. It's clear that Davena Longshore has definitively stepped into the foreground. With her unique combination of academic excellence, practical experience, and profound empathy, she
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Financial for Young Professionals
E
xplaining corporate life is an exhilarating yet frightening experience. For new workers, the initial two years or so of working life offer a golden chance to settle financially. But with student loans, lifestyle improvements, and lack of experience in handling money, it's all an eyelash before this becomes a money minefield. Step in financial empowerment a state of mind and mindset that enable individuals to take charge of their finances, make intelligent decisions, and set themselves up for a productive future.
2. Begin With Awareness: Monitor Your Income and Expenses One of the first things about being money empowered is knowing where your money is really going. Tedious to the point of brain-numbing, perhaps, but life-altering to get into the habit of tracking your expenses and income. Utilize budgeting programs such as YNAB (You Need a Budget), Mint, or even an Excel spreadsheet. Write down each source of income and each type of expense—rent, groceries, transportation, subscription services, dining out, etc.
In this article, we’ll explore practical and realistic financial empowerment strategies designed specifically for young professionals navigating the early stages of their financial journey.
Having a destination for money creates space to make a modification that must be made. Having this at the beginning of financial empowerment because it removes mindless spend and allows intentionality is vital information.
1. Understanding Financial Empowerment Now. Now that we have an idea of what financial empowerment is, let's jump into how-to. It's not money-inthe-bank. It's being able to know, believe, and have the means to make the money work for you. Financial empowerment allows you to see where you are with your money, create appropriate goals, and make sound decisions as opposed to out of fear and ignorance.
3. Make a Budget That You Can Live With Budgeting is not self-denial. It's putting balance in your spend based on your values and goals. Financial freedom comes from having the power to tell your money where to go and how to stay, and not know where it goes.
It also entails the emotional component—being okay with your money decisions and hanging in through the busts. Financial personal empowerment is a process, but the sooner you start, the more in charge of your own fiscal future you will be.
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Use the 50/30/20 rule: •
16
50% of your income goes to necessities (rent, electricity, food)
June 2025
•
30% to desires (eating out, entertainments, hobbies)
7. Learn Forever
•
20% to saving and debt paydown
Knowledge is power, and where money is involved, it is true more than ever. Invest in ongoing learning in books, podcasts, conferences, and money school websites. Listen to old finance professors and never fear to ask questions.
This invaluable principle allows you to save for the future, live in the present, and pay debts.
Knowing the jargon, trends, and gadgets of personal finance will boost your confidence and enhance your skills in making sound financial decisions. Financial empowerment grows with every new find.
4. Create an Emergency Fund Life is the only sure thing. From job loss to unexpected medical bills, life has unforeseen expenses that will destroy your finances if you're not properly prepared. That's why an emergency fund is a personal finance necessity.
8. Develop Healthy Money Habits
Save up to having 3 to 6 months' worth of living costs in a high-interest savings account. Start small—every bit helps. Being in some financial buffer zone is reassuring and empowering to weather life's curveballs.
Rinse, wash, repeat. Form habits that work for your financial goals—check your budget at the end of every month, automate savings, pay bills on time, and steer clear of impulse purchases.
5. Pay Debt Wisely
Celebrate your little victories: deposit into a target, clearing a credit card bill, or remaining within budget for a month. These little victories of success reaffirm your money attitude and prove your commitment.
The majority of newly graduated professionals carry some type of debt, either student loans, credit card balances, or vehicle loans. Debt will be a burden on you, but that doesn't have to negate your financial authority.
9. Ask Help When Needed
Develop a debt pay-off plan. The debt snowball method (paying the lowest balances first) gives instant gratification that's motivating. Or the debt avalanche method (paying the highest-interest balances first) puts money back in your wallet over the long term.
Financial independence does not need to be an individual act. You do not have to do it by yourself. Do not hesitate to seek help. A certified financial planner is able to connect your money to your values and put you on a track suitable for your life and aspirations.
Either method, taking back debt control is an act of economic empowerment—it's the driver.
Just like you see a doctor for physical health, a financial planner is a good friend to your financial well-being.
6. Invest in Your Future
Last Thoughts
After your budget plan, debt reduction, and savings are done, it's time to look ahead. Investing can be scary, but investing is one of the most effective methods of accumulating wealth and achieving financial freedom.
Financial independence is not a solitary accomplishment —it's a series of small, intentional choices that collectively build your power and confidence over the course of your life. To young professionals, choices made today can have a lasting effect on the future. Begin with consciousness, establish good habits, learn, and build your future.
Start with employer-sponsored retirement plans like a 401(k), if there is a corporate matching contribution. Start a Roth IRA to build tax-free, if permitted. Learn about index funds, compound interest, and diversification.
Keep in mind that it's not perfection—it's progress. And with every step you take toward financial freedom, you're that much closer to freedom, security, and purpose of the life you deserve.
The sooner you begin, the more your money has to compound. Freedom with finances is knowing these choices and making them, even in tiny bites.
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The
Rise of
Conscious Wealth in Startup Culture ith a rapidly changing world economy, in which innovation too often risks getting ahead of governance and mission-based intentions more important than ever before, there arising on the horizon is a new type of leadership Conscious Wealth Leadership.
W
With increased access to funds, networks, and capital, women's startups are emerging in a scale never before witnessed in history. But of greater import beneath the numbers is a revolution—a change in how these founders approach wealth.
At the forefront of this consciousness revolution are women entrepreneurs who not only shatter glass ceilings but redefine success, wealth, and leadership as they must be and feel like within entrepreneurial startup culture in the 21st century.
Most women entrepreneurs these days are driven by a greater purpose than profit. They do not see money as an objective but as a means to realize society richness, social justice, sustainability, and empowering other human beings. Their vision is exactly in the core values of Conscious Wealth Leadership, wherein economic success is being sought after with social contribution and integrity.
Shaking Off Time-Proven Models of Wealth In the past, prosperity and leadership were measured by the concentration of power, cutthroat competitiveness, and rollercoaster growth. These outdated paradigms ruled boardrooms and investment plans for centuries. Not anymore. New female entrepreneurs are bringing a new breeze—on which profitability is in balance with purpose, business growth with emotional intelligence, and marketplace victory with human and planetary wellness.
A Values-Based Business Culture Values-Based Capital Raising Conscious Wealth Leadership Women-led companies are characterized by several unique features: Values-Based Investing – Women business owners more and more look for co-investors who share their values. They will not compromise on capital if it will compromise the moral fiber of their purpose. Conscious funding—by impact investors, values-based VCs, and crowd-sourcing is the choice de rigeur today.
Conscious Wealth Leadership is not a catchphrase. It is an intentional approach to creating businesses that create wealth—financial, social, intellectual, and emotional—on the foundations of ethics, inclusiveness, and sustainability. This five-dimensional framework is gaining traction, especially among women's businesses, where leadership doesn't have to be top-down, draconian, or myopic.
Inclusive Wealth Sharing – These entrepreneurs live by sharing wealth with peers, communities, and causes they support. Equity-based payments, profit-sharing plans, and social reinvestment are the norm for women-led businesses with Conscious Wealth Leadership.
The Feminine Force Behind Conscious Wealth Women aren't startups in startup land anymore—women are ecosystem builders, founders, and entrepreneurs.
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People-Centric Culture – Startups with this type of leadership also deeply believe in well-being more than hustle. Emotional intelligence training sessions, mental wellness days, and flexible work hours are the norm and not options to organizational culture. Sustainability as Strategy – Sustainability is not an add-on, it's built into the business model. Women entrepreneurs are building circular economies, harnessing green technologies, and demanding regenerative business practices. Role Models and Real-World Examples Women all over the globe are making Conscious Wealth Leadership real. Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble, did not build just a technology company but a brand on which women empowerment and safety on the internet reign. Jessica Alba of The Honest Company is putting money into corporate social responsibility as well as value-based consumption. Similarly, women such as Temie Giwa-Tubosun of Nigeria's LifeBank in emerging markets are combining health innovation with social mission, changing lives as they create sustainable businesses.
Women and men of commerce need to be rewarded for values. Accelerators and incubators need to provide training in conscious capitalism, shared wealth creation, and valuesbased decision making.
These entrepreneurs don't merely lecture about impact—these entrepreneurs practice it. Their companies illustrate profound congruence of values and action, that riches and morality are not enemies, and that others and the world need not get in the way.
Above all, generations of young women and girls to come from diverse backgrounds must be able to see public leaders in powerful positions demonstrate that leadership with vision, empathy, and social conscience is not only essential but also effective.
Why It Matters Now?
Conclusion: The Shift Is Here to Stay
We live in a time of social conscience, with customers requiring openness, employees requiring meaningfulness, and investors requiring more and more ESG data. It is in this time that Conscious Wealth Leadership isn't the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. Startups who make this a cornerstone day one become more resilient; drive committed stakeholders and build brand loyalty that cannot be bought.
The rise of Conscious Wealth Leadership by women in startup culture isn't a trend—it's a revolution. It's proof of a new economic paradigm in which success is no longer measured in terms of dollars and cents, but richness of impact, diversity, and integrity.
The emergence of self-aware women-led businesses is a symptom of a broader cultural awakening. It is a repudiation of centuries of distorting, exploitative, and exclusionary capitalism. These women are reclaiming wealth for a reason of freedom and collective building, rather than individual hoarding.
This transformation challenges all of us—women and men—to reimagine what it means to lead, to expand, and to flourish. The more women who approach the podium of influence with boldness, with wise judgment, and with consciousness, the closer the world gets to an economy not only that honors money, but one that honors wisdom.
Building the Future: Support and Scalability
In a world so clearly yearning for more compassionate capitalism, the coming of Conscious Wealth Leadership is not only to be welcomed—its time has arrived. And with women business leaders leading the way, the future is deeper, wealthier, and humanly potent.
To continue the Conscious Wealth Leadership movement, support systems need to change. Investors need to develop more long-term, mission-oriented values.
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