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You wear many hats as a woman of color in higher education leadership.

Often, this involves dual responsibilities, such as leading from a place of authenticity while meeting your institution's expectations.?

It’s not always easy to find where your vision aligns with institutional mandates, especially in environments that may not have been designed with you in mind.?

But the truth is, alignment is not about choosing one over the other. It’s about integrating both to lead with purpose, clarity, and sustainability.

Why Alignment Matters

When your personal values and professional responsibilities are misaligned, it shows.?

You may feel drained, directionless, or constantly reacting instead of leading.?

On the other hand, when there’s alignment, you gain energy, clarity, and a more profound sense of purpose.?

Your decisions feel intentional, your goals feel attainable, and your leadership becomes more impactful.

Start with Radical Self-Awareness

You need to know your goals before you can align them with the institution’s. This does not just apply to your title, to-do list, or why.?

• What motivates you??
• What change are you here to lead??
• Where do you want to grow?

Take time to write out your professional values, long-term ambitions, and personal leadership mission.?

What kind of leader are you becoming, and how can your role help you get there?

Understand the Institutional Landscape

Next, take stock of your institution’s goals, such as strategic plans, accreditation priorities, enrollment targets, DEI initiatives, and budget constraints. Know where the ship is headed to understand where and how you might steer.

Ask yourself:

• What are the institution’s top priorities for this year?
• What pressures is your department under?
• Where does your role show up in the bigger picture?

Understanding the "why" behind institutional decisions can help you determine where your influence can have the most impact.

Find the Intersection

This is where the magic happens. Where do your personal values and institutional goals overlap?

For example:

• If you’re passionate about mentoring first-generation students and the institution is focused on retention, this is your bridge.
• If your strength is strategic planning and your department is launching a new initiative, you’re already aligned.

Instead of trying to force synergy, look for places where it naturally exists. These become your leadership sweet spots.

Create Shared Language

Communicate your goals in ways that resonate with institutional language. If you want to create more inclusive leadership pipelines, show how that supports succession planning or employee retention. If you're passionate about community engagement, highlight how it strengthens the university’s brand and enrollment efforts.

Framing your work within institutional metrics doesn’t dilute your purpose, and it strengthens your position as a strategic asset.

Build Alignment into Your Weekly Workflow

This isn’t a one-time reflection, and it’s a consistent practice. Use your planner or calendar to schedule weekly check-ins with yourself:

• What am I working on?
• How does this serve my personal goals?
• How does it serve the institution?

When you react only to meetings and tasks, you lose sight of the bigger picture. But when you lead from an aligned agenda, your work starts to move with intention and impact.

Navigate the Tension with Grace

Let’s be honest: sometimes, your values and institutional expectations won’t match. You may advocate for change in a system that resists it. That’s not a sign of failure. It’s an opportunity to lead with integrity.

In those moments:

• Ground yourself in your values.
• Identify small wins within a larger constraint.
• Use your voice, even if it’s uncomfortable.

Remember, leadership isn’t about perfect harmony but bridging gaps with courage.

Invest in Aligned Leadership Support

Leadership can feel isolating, especially when you’re among the few (or only) women of color in executive rooms. That’s why having a coach or community that supports your vision is so powerful.

You deserve support that helps you build strategies rooted in your purpose, not just your job description.?

Your leadership becomes impactful and sustainable when you align your growth with your institution’s mission.