In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Diana Hernández—a trailblazer, advocate, and proud native New Yorker—to unpack what’s truly possible when we challenge the old narratives about wealth, power, and community.

Diana and I revisit the moment over a decade ago when she, my professor at Columbia, first cracked open my mind to who gets to claim the words “wealthy” and “homeowner.” We dig into her journey: from rolling up her sleeves to rehab forgotten buildings in her community in the Bronx, to leading ground-breaking research on energy insecurity, a struggle affecting nearly half of U.S. households but so often hidden in shame and silence.

She shares how ambition isn’t just about accumulation, but about intention: about building until you feel satisfied, and then making space for others. We talk about her new book, Powerless, which not only names but illuminates the deep impact of energy insecurity and how it’s within our collective power to solve it.

If you’ve ever wondered how your story or your community fits in the bigger fight for justice, or how to know when “enough” is truly enough, this conversation is for you. Diana’s wisdom is a gentle invitation to reimagine what’s possible, grounded in lived experience and hope for change.

Let’s open ourselves to new possibilities, honor our own power, and hold space for the voices and solutions that have always existed within our communities.

About Dr. Diana Hernández:

Dr. Diana Hernández, a tenured Associate Professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, is the Founding Principal Investigator of the Energy Equity, Housing, and Health Program and co-Director of the Energy Opportunity Lab at the Center on Global Energy Policy.

Dr. Hernández is a pioneering sociologist and leading authority on energy insecurity, a concept she defined and operationalized through groundbreaking mixed-methods research. Rooted in community engagement and policy innovation, her work addresses systemic barriers to energy access for disadvantaged populations and tests promising interventions. She is author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy (with Jennifer Laird, Russell Sage, April 2025), the first major book on energy insecurity in the U.S.

Where to Find Dr. Diana Hernández:
Website: http://drdianahernandez.com
Instagram: @hotandcold_nyc
Book, Powerless: The People's Struggle for Energy: https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Peoples-Struggle-Diana-Hern%C3%A1ndez/dp/087154914X

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On today’s episode, I’m speaking to my fellow women of color leaders, especially those who know what it’s like to endure toxic work environments or survive in predominantly white institutions. Maybe you’ve found yourself working twice as hard, navigating a maze of microaggressions, and watching others get promoted while you’re left doing the heavy lifting. And now, after finally landing in a position of power, or maybe even creating your own seat at the table, everything suddenly feels heavier than expected.

Let’s talk about overcorrection. I open up about the emotional labor, the struggle to avoid hierarchy at all costs, and how the desire to lead differently can sometimes backfire, leaving you and your team confused or burned out. Together, we unpack why these behaviors are not personal failures, but deeply human and understandable responses to the systems we’ve survived. The tools that protected us before aren’t always the ones that let us thrive now.

You’ll hear stories from my coaching practice, like the leader so committed to protecting her team she ended up isolated, and how clarity (not just care) was what everyone really needed. I walk us through real strategies for shifting from reaction to intention: leading with both empathy and direction, sharing power with structure, and building liberatory leadership rooted in justice and care.

If you’re feeling stuck, know you’re not alone. I invite you to listen in, breathe, and imagine: What could leadership look like if it was shaped by your values, not your wounds?

• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
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• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
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In this mini companion episode, I speak directly to funders whose support is crucial for nonprofits doing equity and justice work—especially in this shifting and sometimes precarious political landscape. If you fund organizations working with communities of color, immigrants, coalitions, or environmental and racial justice causes—this one’s for you.

We’re not sugarcoating it: times are tough. Funders, you’re facing big choices. How you show up in 2025 will either reinforce the status quo or help reshape what’s possible for all of us. Drawing from insights by the Building Movement Project, I share five key leadership shifts nonprofits are making: from certainty to adaptability, individualism to collective power, authority to trust, perfectionism to experimentation, and productivity to well-being.

But here’s where clarity (and hope!) truly come in: your funding approach isn’t just about checklists or deliverables—it’s about building trust and resilience in the communities you care about. I invite you to consider concrete ways to support these shifts, like offering unrestricted, multi-year funding, resourcing well-being as essential, and fostering spaces for collaboration and learning.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of your next move as a funder, let this episode light the path forward. I hope you walk away with clarity—and the courage to fund with care, empathy, and an eye toward liberation. Let’s reimagine what’s possible, together. And as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and keep this conversation going.

Resources Mentioned:
Building Movement Project FAQ: https://email.buildingmovement.org/hubfs/FAQ%20for%20EOs.pdf?hsCtaAttrib=186681037124

• Book a consult for private coaching: https://tidycal.com/malayame/private-consult
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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patti.malaya/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciadayleg/
• Newsletter : https://malaya.myflodesk.com/ub5ick46aa