Standing Ten Toes Down

Two weeks into a new presidential administration, the landscape of the United States continues to shift—and not for the better. What we are witnessing is not politics as usual. It is a direct, aggressive attempt to erase Black, Brown, and LGBTQ+ lives, to consolidate power into the hands of the wealthy elite, and to strip away rights that have been fought for, bled for, and hard-won over generations. This is not just about policy; this is about our collective humanity and how we choose to show up for one another.

And so, I ask: What does it mean to lead with courage in times like these?

Leadership, real leadership, requires standing firm in our values even when the ground beneath us is unsteady. It means resisting the urge to shrink back when the cost of speaking up feels too high. It demands that we be kinetic—not passive observers, not bystanders—but in motion, pushing forward even as forces try to pull us back.

At Five/6teen Consulting, our vision has never wavered: We envision a future where every individual thrives with purpose. A future where every voice is heard and valued. A future where leadership is not just accessible but equitable. A future where we don’t just dream about meaningful change—we build it.

But building requires action. Resistance requires movement. Courage requires motion. And so we move.

What Courageous Leadership Looks Like

Courageous leadership isn’t just about talking loud or taking up space. It’s about standing firm when the ground is shaking, about holding your truth in a world that would rather you shrink. Courage is that unshakable knowing deep in your bones—that even if you’re the only one speaking up, even if it costs you something, even if the weight of it is heavy, you still choose to show up.

Courage means moving even when your voice trembles. It means recognizing that silence is complicity and choosing action over apathy, even when you don’t know how it’ll all play out. It’s looking at fear dead in the eye and deciding to move forward anyway.

As Maya Angelou reminded us, “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” True leadership isn’t just about personal strength—it’s about carrying the voices, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before us while ensuring that those coming up behind us have a solid foundation to stand on. Leadership with courage means recognizing that we do not move through this world alone—our steps are guided by the sacrifices of those before us, and it is our responsibility to leave the path clearer, wider, and more just for those who follow.

Here’s what courage looks like in action:

• Taking Bold Steps. Be the first to speak up, the one who calls out harm, the person who refuses to let injustice slide. Not just when it’s easy, not just when the room is filled with people who agree with you, but when it matters most.
• Standing Firm in Your Values. It’s not enough to claim equity and justice as values. You have to live them. That means making hard decisions, standing in your truth, and refusing to back down when your principles are tested.
• Making Room for Others. Courage is not about being the loudest in the room—it’s about ensuring others, especially those historically and strategically silenced, have the space, resources, and power to lead.

But please don’t think courageous leadership is just about big, public moments. It’s also about those everyday acts: setting a boundary when you’re used to overextending yourself, having the difficult conversation instead of avoiding it, choosing “no” when “yes” would be easier.

Courage isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s a quiet, steady refusal to give up. It’s the endurance to keep showing up.

Kinetic Leadership: Courage in Motion

This year, my word is kinetic—because we don’t have the luxury of standing still. Kinetic leadership is about movement—about transformation in action. It’s about understanding that justice is not passive, that waiting for the right moment is how movements lose momentum, that fear and uncertainty cannot be excuses for inaction.

Kinetic leadership means choosing forward momentum. We don’t sit still while inequities deepen. We act. We advocate. We push boundaries. We make them uncomfortable. We refuse to let oppression settle into the cracks of this society without a fight.

Kinetic leadership means adaptability. Systems built to uphold injustice are always evolving, shapeshifting, reinforcing themselves. So we shift, too—not in our values, not in our commitment, but in our strategies. We pivot. We build new ways forward when doors close.

Kinetic leadership means resisting stagnation. Fear wants us frozen. It tells us to wait. To hesitate. To question if our voice matters. But we don’t have that luxury. Strategically undervalued communities don’t get to sit this one out. The moment is now. We move.

And at Five/6teen Consulting, kinetic leadership means refusing to be complicit. We stand with Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, and strategically excluded communities. We stand against policies and practices that seek to erase, exclude, and oppress. We move forward, not just in words, but in action. Our vision, our mission, and our guiding principles are not just ideas—they are our North Star.

As Toni Morrison said, “The function of freedom is to free someone else.” Leadership is not just about pushing ourselves forward—it’s about collective liberation, pulling others with us, and ensuring that no one has to walk this road alone.

How Do We Cultivate Courageous Leadership?

We are not born courageous. Courage is a muscle—it strengthens with use. It’s a practice, a choice, a commitment to showing up even when it’s inconvenient, even when it’s exhausting, even when we’d rather look away.

Here’s how we cultivate it:

?? Commit to Your Core Values. If you don’t define what you stand for, someone else will do it for you. Take the time to get clear—what is your non-negotiable? Hold onto it fiercely. Let it guide you when the world tries to shake your foundation.

?? Find Your People. Courageous leadership is never a solo act. Find the ones who will challenge you, hold you accountable, and stand beside you when the pressure is high. Build community. Lean on each other.

?? Get Comfortable with Discomfort. Courage and comfort don’t coexist. You will be uncomfortable. You should be uncomfortable. Growth lives in discomfort. That hard conversation? That pushback? That fear? Lean into it. That’s where change begins.

?? Take One Step at a Time. You don’t have to take the whole staircase in one leap. Just move. One brave step, then another, then another. Momentum builds itself.

?? Use Your Voice—Even When It Shakes. Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s speaking anyway. It’s knowing that what you have to say is important, that your truth belongs in the room. That you belong in the room. Speak anyway.

The Work Ahead: Standing Firm, Moving Forward

Let’s be real—this country was built on the idea that certain people should have power and others should not. Every institution, every policy that seeks to erase, restrict, or repress Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, and other undervalued communities is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

But here’s the thing: we don’t have to accept it.

We have a choice. We can stand ten toes down. We can move forward. We can be kinetic.

At Five/6teen Consulting, we are not waiting for justice to catch up. We are building it. We are leading with courage, challenging harmful systems, and creating spaces where leadership is truly equitable. This is not passive work. It is active, intentional, and necessary.

And so, I ask: How will you move this year?

If this edition resonated with you, subscribe to Empowered Voices for more reflections, strategies, and community. We are not standing still. Let’s rise—and move—together.

With courage and motion,

Dr. Kim Davis

Founder & President, Five/6teen Consulting