The Scarcity Trap: Why Self-Trust Changes Everything for Women of Colour Leaders

What if the very metaphors we use to talk about leadership are already rooted in scarcity?

In this episode of Unspeakable Leadership Season 6, Rohene Bouajram sits down with Vanity Jenkins, founder of ShiftED Consulting, leadership coach, and human design facilitator, for a rich, honest, and deeply practical conversation about scarcity mindset, self-trust, and what it truly means to lead from a place of abundance.

Vanity shares her personal journey through two layoffs, single motherhood, and the decision to finally bet on herself, and unpacks why so many women of colour find themselves trapped in fear-based leadership, even when they're trying to open doors for others.

We cover:

  • Why the metaphors we use ("climbing the ladder," "seat at the table") are already rooted in scarcity

  • How women of colour can unconsciously become barriers to other women of colour and why

  • The relationship between injustice and scarcity in organizational leadership

  • What it takes to move from fear-based decision-making to abundance and possibility

  • How to name and interrupt the inner voice that spirals toward worst-case scenarios

  • Why stability isn't always what we think it is and what self-trust looks like instead

  • Navigating the freedom and fear of entrepreneurship as a single mom

  • Thinking in seasons: what African perspectives on time and nature teach us about leadership cycles

  • The difference between mentorship that opens doors and mentorship that narrows

    possibility

  • Why the crossroads metaphor is itself a form of scarcity and what to ask instead

This conversation is grounding, generous, and deeply affirming for anyone navigating leadership transitions, scarcity mindset, or the courage it takes to bet on yourself.

——

Connect with Vanity Jenkins:

Website: www.shiftedconsulting.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/shiftedconsulting/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanity-y-jenkins/

Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/vanity-jenkins-/discovery-call

——

Access resources here to redefine your leadership.

——

Listen to the episode here or watch the episode on Youtube.


Embed Block
Enter a valid embed URL or code.


Next
Next

Stop Shrinking Yourself: Redefine Your Leadership on Your Terms