Nurture: An Equity-Centered Leadership Approach

You know what brightens my day? A random text or call from a former teammate I had the joy of leading. It’s like an unexpected gift, wrapped in a warm blanket of nostalgia: “Hey Dr. J, how are you? Just checking up on you.” Or the recruiter calling because a former team member I always knew was destined for greatness has finally been offered the role of principal at a local school. There's something incredibly fulfilling about hearing from people years after they've left my professional care, knowing that we built a relationship based on mutual respect and that I was committed to their growth.

Let's face it: we spend over forty hours a week with our colleagues, and our influence on each other is massive. We’ve all had bosses who made us feel like champions and others who made us want to flee the building like it was on fire. The difference? Leadership. And if you were to ask me what type of leader I am, I’ll tell you right now—I’m a nurturing leader.

Nurture in Action

Now, let me stop you right there. I'm not a mom, but somehow, the word “nurture” has been synonymous with motherhood and packaged with Hallmark cards. When we think of leadership, we seldom link it to the concept of nurturing, perhaps due to the patriarchal norms that have long defined leadership as inherently masculine. Yet, nurturing transcends gendered expectations and speaks to something vital in leadership: action. It’s the process of caring for and protecting someone while they’re growing—and last I checked, everybody at work is growing. Growing in skill, growing in confidence, growing into a version of themselves that they might not have even realized was possible. And who do they look to when things get tough? Yep, that would be us—the leaders.

As leaders, we have more than our fair share of opportunities to guide, support, and correct. Mistakes? They happen. Missteps? Oh, they definitely happen. But it’s in those moments where real growth occurs. The nurturing leader doesn’t just correct a misstep—they turn it into a stepping stone. We get to stand back, arms crossed, grinning ear to ear, watching our people blossom. And there’s no better feeling than seeing someone you’ve mentored walk taller, talk smarter, and maybe even challenge you someday. That’s when you know you’ve nailed it.

Nurture is Equity-Driven: No Masks Allowed

Let’s be real here—when was the last time you felt truly nurtured at work? Was it in a space where you could be your unfiltered, unapologetic self? The sad truth is, we often don masks for “professionalism,” stripping away parts of who we are to fit into boxes no one wants to live in. How many of us have removed a nose ring before an interview, straightened our natural hair, or hidden a tattoo? And don’t even get me started on code-switching. We do it all by lunch and call it “professionalism.” That’s not a nurturing environment; that’s survival.

Nurturing leaders reject the idea that professionalism means erasing yourself. We embrace equity by allowing people to bring their whole selves to the table. We don’t need carbon copies—we need diversity in thought, appearance, and experience to thrive. Nurturing leadership says, “Take off the mask, put the nose ring back in, and bring your whole, fabulous self to the team.” And here’s the thing: when people feel accepted as they are, that’s when you get the best work out of them.

Nurturing Leadership in Theoretical Conversation

Let’s talk theory for a minute. On one hand, we’ve got transformational leadership (Burns), which focuses on developing people and motivating them to reach shared goals. This is the leadership style most of us admire. On the other hand, we’ve got Weber’s transactional leadership—yawn. It’s the “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine” kind of deal. It’s the kind of leadership we often see in real life, where rewards and punishments are the name of the game. But where does nurturing fit in?

Nurturing leadership doesn’t just fit in; it takes over. It combines the development focus of transformational leadership with a deeper commitment to equity and empathy. Nurturing leadership says, “I see you, and I want you to grow—authentically, without limitations.” It’s a form of resistance, honestly. Resistance to a society that tells people to conform and fit into neat little boxes. Nurturing leadership kicks down those boxes and says, “Grow wild, grow free, grow you.” It’s about giving people the space to flourish and, more importantly, giving them permission to do so.

A Call to Action: Be a Nurturing Leader

So, here’s the challenge I’m throwing out to you: Don’t be just any leader. Be the leader who nurtures. Be the leader who removes the barriers standing in the way of others’ success. Create spaces that are safe for people to fail, learn, and thrive. And most importantly, be intentional about planting the seeds of greatness in those you lead today, so they can be tomorrow’s nurturing leaders.

We need leaders who care about the person, not just the project. Leaders who know that emotional liberty is just as important as social or economic liberty. In a world that’s desperately trying to claw its way back to the “good old days”—days full of discrimination and narrow-mindedness—let’s be the ones who lead with joy and equity. Let’s be the leaders who say “no thanks” to the status quo and “hell yes” to nurturing spaces where everyone can thrive.

Because at the end of the day, nurturing leadership isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the revolution we’ve been waiting for.