If you missed the International Women’s Day livestream, you can now listen to the full replay of this special episode of the Building Leadership Community Podcast.

In this reflective International Women’s Day conversation, Coach Dora Mendez explores how storytelling, literature, and lived experience shape the way leaders understand equity, representation, and community.

Leadership is often shaped by the ideas we encounter and the voices we choose to amplify. In this episode, Dora highlights a group of international women authors and thought leaders whose writing, research, and personal stories have influenced her leadership philosophy.

From memoir to literary fiction to leadership frameworks, these voices remind us that stories expand empathy—and empathy strengthens leadership.

For professionals seeking to grow their leadership influence, deepen their cultural understanding, and build more equitable workplaces, this episode explores how literature and storytelling can transform the way we lead.

Whether you are watching the replay of the livestream or discovering this episode later, the insights remain just as powerful.

Key Takeaways

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why leadership growth requires understanding history, culture, and lived experience
  • How storytelling shapes empathy and decision-making in leadership
  • Why amplifying women’s voices strengthens organizational culture
  • How literature can expand leadership thinking beyond traditional frameworks
  • Practical ways leaders can elevate underrepresented voices in their workplaces

Authors and Leaders Highlighted

n this episode, Coach Dora shares:

📚 Books by International Women Authors
✨ Dr. Fulgani Shah – From Gaslighting to Truthlighting
✨ Dr. Elena Ruiz – The Fight for Equity in the Bronx
✨ Zenaida Mendez – Amor y Desamor, de La Diáspora

📖 Literary Fiction That Transforms Worldviews
🌺 The Farming of Bones – Edwidge Danticat
🦋 In the Time of the Butterflies – Julia Alvarez
🌻 Half A Century Ago – Dr. Angela Arias

✍🏽 Latina Leadership & HR Representation
💼 Latinas Rising Up in HR – Executive Edition
🌟 Extraordinary Latinas – Volume 4

Podcast Guests Featured

Dr. Falguni Shah
Leadership expert and author addressing workplace gaslighting and leadership dynamics.
https://www.fortruthlighting.com
Podcast Episode:https://youtu.be/_c1zsozd3zo?si=0PU36DsBJ9VaR7ug

Dr. Elaine Ruiz Lopez
Education leader and advocate for equity in schools and communities.
https://www.drelaineruizlopez.com

Podcast Episode: coming soon.

Zenaida Mendez
Memoirist and storyteller exploring diaspora identity, heritage, and leadership through lived experience.
https://substack.com/@zenaidam
Podcast Episode: https://youtu.be/G7taR8E7Hug?si=3CKqH5790FwJW8xE

Books and Authors Referenced

Edwidge Danticat
The Farming of Bones https://amzn.to/4b0FDxC

Julia Alvarez
In the Time of the Butterflies https://amzn.to/46JRI7J

Sandra Cisneros
The House on Mango Street https://amzn.to/4umOX6A

Dr. Angela Arias
Half A Century Ago https://amzn.to/40QEl1Z

Resources and Links

Watch the episode replay:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/I-SsYq7Ycs4?si=9gGDobxS3hGGRClC

Connect with Coach Dora Mendez:
Website: https://CoachDoraMendez.com

Key Themes

• Leadership shaped by storytelling
• Gender equity as a leadership issue
• Representation and voice in leadership
• Cultural perspective and empathy in leadership
• Building community through shared narratives

 If this episode resonates with you, subscribe to the Building Leadership Community Podcast and share this conversation with someone whose leadership journey you admire.

Leadership grows when we elevate the voices that shape our understanding of the world.