Leading with Joy

"In this book, these courageous, world changing, women of color root radically in their years of leadership, ancient Knowings, and wide open hearts as they light the way towards Joy as an embodied act of self-determination in service of the collective good. Their stories, reflections and pragmatic practices provoke the seismic shifts that are critical to lasting, systematic, vibrant change. This book is a must read."

"We need to protect our hearts, when systems of hate, greed and fear rule the earth and permeate our lives. Thank you Akaya and Vini, for honouring joy as ancestral wisdom."

"At a time when we are facing multiple crises, Leading with Joy  reminds us that leadership is not only about courage and responsibility, but also about transformation, love, and joy. Akaya and Rajasvini reground the conversation about leadership on the wisdom and lived experiences of women of color. Their reflections, stories, and practices are a guide to building new ways of leading while holding the sacredness of the self and the collective."

"I'm allergic to books about leadership, but this slim volume engaged me so powerfully. That's because, I think, it's really a book about being human, and because it's not just smart, it's wise—kind, generous, rigorous, and exactly right for the tough moment we find ourselves in. A few (a very few) books are necessary, and this is one."

"Has there ever been a more inviting, companionable book about leadership? In compact chapters, delicious and meditative as poems, succulent with story, Leading With Joy  offers empowerment, clarity, pleasure, and an infinite array of tools and guidance to help us feel better about our lives and the work we do, both together and alone. It's splendid!"

"This is a courageous book for what it says and for what it implies. In a time when many of us are tempted to simplify our realities to be able to be comfortable in certainty, Akaya and Vini invite us to sit with and accept the deep complexity and paradoxes of the current moment. They invite us to enter and own our dances in the crevices and cracks of our own reasoning so we can expand them and glean into a compelling and joy filled future possibility. As we teeter constantly on the edge of either oblivion or abundance as a species, we can dance intrepidly with our feet on the ground and our eye towards a future of shared buen vivir."

"Leading with Joy  is a remarkable contribution to the canon on leadership. Akaya and Rajasvini are storytellers, and offer practical lessons through poetic and engaging language. This is a book for anyone who cares about community and well-being, and it will stay with me for a long time."

"This book deconstructs toxic, formulaic leadership models and gives us a new model centered on our human need for joy. The stories, wisdom, and practical guidance shared in these pages will elevate your leadership at work and beyond."