In this episode, Dr. Laura welcomes Dr. Shirley Davis, a leadership development expert, culture transformation thought leader, bestselling author, and President and CEO of Shirley Davis International, to the show for a conversation on workplace leadership and what it means to live, be in leadership, and leave a legacy. Drawing on more than 35 years of experience across HR, executive leadership, and global workforce consulting, Dr. Davis and Dr. Laura explore why so many organizations struggle with inclusive guidance and low employee engagement, and how a strong mindset and trust-based leadership can be built.
Dr. Davis shares insights from her upcoming book, Leading High Performance Teams for Dummies, which offers practical strategies for building excellent teams in today’s changing workplace. Dr. Laura discusses the topics covered in the book: from managing remote and global teams to preparing leaders for the future of work leadership amid AI. There is a difference between managing tasks and truly leading people, and Dr. Davis challenges us to move past fear and self-limiting beliefs to embrace leading with purpose and building a meaningful leadership legacy. Success is redefined in this episode, and both Dr. Laura and Dr. Davis stress that visibility does not equal value. Results, not physical presence, should define success in organizations.
“I always say, too, if you’re a leader and nobody is following you, you’re just taking a walk.” – Dr. Shirley Davis
About Dr. Shirley Davis:
Dr. Shirley Davis is an internationally recognized global workforce expert, culture transformation thought leader, Hall of Fame keynote speaker, and President & CEO of Shirley Davis International, providing transformative and innovative thought leadership through published keynote speeches, books, articles, LinkedIn courses, and workshops. With over 30 years of business experience in Fortune 50 companies, global nonprofits, and government agencies, she has worked in 40+ countries, served over 300 global organizations, and delivers over 100+ paid presentations a year . She’s been featured in nationally acclaimed publications including, but not limited to: Forbes, Fortune Magazine, CEO Magazine, Harvard Business Review, and Oprah Daily.
Dr. Shirley Davis is a best-selling author of Living Beyond “What If?” and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion For Dummies (2022). Her other popular titles include Reinvent Yourself and Inclusive Leadership For Dummies (2024). A LinkedIn Learning author with 9 leadership courses—one of which was named among the Top 20 Most Popular Courses of 2024—she also holds over 10 professional certifications and 4 earned degrees, including a Ph.D. in Business and Organizational Leadership. Dr. Davis serves on the national board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and is a member of the NSA Million Dollar Speakers Group, Women Corporate Directors, and Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. A few of her many accolades include induction into the PGCPS Hall of Fame (2025), the prestigious Toastmasters International’s Golden Gavel Award (2022), induction into Inclusion Magazine’s Hall of Fame (2021), and the national title of Ms. American United States (2000). Driven by a lifelong passion for philanthropy, she co-founded the Dr. Shirley Davis Foundation with her daughter, Gabrielle Victoria, to uplift individuals and businesses through coaching, resources, and strategic development.
Resources:
Dr. Shirley Davis website: DrShirleyDavis.com
“Leading High-Performance Teams for Dummies” by Dr. Shirley Davis
“Inclusive Leadership for Dummies” by Dr. Shirley Davis
Other books by Dr. Shirley Davis
“I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss” by Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett
Dr. Laura on LinkedIn
Where Work Meets Life™ on YouTube
Learn more about Dr. Laura on her website: https://drlaura.live
For more resources, look into Dr. Laura’s organizations:
Pre-order Dr. Laura’s new book today: I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating a Toxic Boss
