OUR FOUNDER & TEAM
Working together to support Black women leaders and managers as they learn, heal and grow in their leadership capacity
Laura E. Knights, LCSW
CEO and Founder of Knights Consulting LLC
Black Woman Leading® Creator
Laura Knights is the Creator of Black Woman Leading® and Founder & CEO of Knights Consulting, LLC, where she helps organizations cultivate more confident, conscious leaders and high performing teams. She is an executive coach, speaker, facilitator, and trainer with 20+ years of experience creating professional development programs that have touched leaders all over the world. Her expertise and background in business, human resources, adult education, and as a licensed clinical social worker uniquely equip her to teach others how to deal with both the “head work” and “heart work” required to succeed at work and in life.
Laura received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management, from Washington University in St. Louis. She obtained her Master’s in Social Work from DePaul University. She is a certified workplace critical incident response professional, a certified clinical trauma professional, a certified practitioner for both the DISC and Core Values Index assessments, and holds the Licensed Clinical Social Worker designation in both Illinois and Georgia. Laura was named the 2021 Top HR Professional of the Year by the Greater Atlanta Association of Talent Development.
Laura is a teacher and master strategist at heart. She has always been dedicated to supporting Black women to move from surviving to thriving in both their personal and professional endeavors. Black Woman Leading® is the latest iteration of her efforts, and a true passion project that combines all the best of her professional experiences and skills. Together, with the team, Laura aims to support participants holistically as they learn, heal, and grow in their leadership capacity.
Team
Summer Alexander
PROGRAM COACH
Summer is a dynamic coach and facilitator with 10+ years experience in corporate training, communications, workforce development, and stakeholder engagement. She is also a Certified Equity & Belonging Facilitator. Her expertise spans various industries including information technology, finance, government, nonprofit and higher education. Summer is also an alumni of the Black Woman Leading program!
Sunette Thompson
Program Coach
Sunette is a powerfully intuitive coach with 10+ years experience in business development, organizational development, entrepreneurship, and human relations. She is an Employee Assistance Professional with expertise in applying positive psychology models in individual and team coaching initiatives.
DR. Chinasa Elue
Program coach and Early career program coordinator
Chinasa is a dynamic coach, trainer, and facilitator with 10+ years experience supporting leaders at all career levels in moving forward to make impactful changes in the midst of uncertainty with empathy and care. In addition to her work with Knights Consulting, she is an associate professor of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on grief leadership, trauma-informed leadership practices in organizational settings, and the health and well-being of historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. Chinasa runs the research lab for the Study of Emotional Intelligence, Leadership Effectiveness, and Well-Being of Educational Leaders at Kennesaw State.
Karma Hill
Program coach
Karma Hill is an ICF accredited Positive Psychology & Leadership Coach with 12+ years experience in life and professional coaching, with application of positive psychology and coaching psychology. Karma’s expert skill set includes scientifically rooted approaches, effective use of her intuition, knowing the appropriate powerful questions to ask combined with the correct tools and techniques to empower clients. She brings concentrated expertise in women in leadership, leadership burnout prevention, and applied integrative wellness in the workplace.
FELICIA TATE
Program coach
Felicia brings a strategic viewpoint as a program coach to effectively advise program participants on navigating the full talent development cycle within organizations. In addition to experience as a coach, trainer and facilitator, Felicia is a Senior Human Resources Professional specializing in and excelling at the management of business performance strategies, development of top talent, and the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure company’s goals are met. She has an extensive background in human resources oversight, which includes employee relations, labor relations, strategic organizational development, leadership and career development, performance management, executive coaching, recruitment, and succession planning.
DEBRA SAMUEL
Program coach
Debra is a passionate and empathetic change agent and Organizational Psychology practitioner with over 10 years of diverse leadership experience. She partners with external clients and internal stakeholders across industries such as healthcare, technology, health and wellness, hospitality, non-profit, manufacturing, and higher education to create organizations and cultures where both people and businesses thrive. With a research-based approach, Debra applies principles of positive organizational psychology to mitigate and prevent workplace burnout, prioritizing employee well-being. She is especially passionate about working with women to strategically advance their careers and overcome both personal and professional hurdles, empowering them to realize their fullest potential. Dedicated to supporting current and aspiring leaders and teams, she cultivates a sense of belonging, equity, and empowerment in their work environments. At her core, Debra is driven by a desire to inspire growth, helping people uncover their unique strengths and confidently step into the best version of themselves.
Téa Campbell
Creative Content Manager
Téa is a compelling Brand and Content Strategist, with a strong background in Digital Media and Communication. She produces all social media content, podcast visuals, and marketing materials. Téa brings 3+ years expertise in content creation, social media engagement and brand strategy.
Cheron Gee
Event Coordinator
Rooted in the belief that every event should be a reflection of the brand’s unique vision, personality, and story; Cheron transforms ordinary gatherings into extraordinary experiences. As the BWL event coordinator, she brings her magic to our annual Black Woman Leading LIVE! Conference + Retreat to make it a truly transformational event. She ensures that every aspect of our events are handled with precision and care, allowing all guests to fully enjoy the experience.
