Redefining Success And Leading With Intention: Authors Laysha Ward And Alexis Barber Inspire At ESSENCE Fest 2025

“Titles are rented. The thing that will be my love letter to life will be the impact I had,” said Laysha Ward, author of Lead Like You Mean It and a distinguished C-suite executive.

During Destined for Greatness: The Purpose-Driven Life, a conversation held on the Authors Stage at the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, Ward and fellow author Alexis Barber reflected on defining success, preventing burnout, and maintaining a sense of joy as you accomplish your goals. Drawing from personal experience, both women offered practical strategies for staying grounded in purpose.

What happens when you land the career of your dreams—and it still doesn’t feel like enough?

Barber, who attended a top university and rose quickly in her career, helped launch YouTube Shorts during her time at Google. But despite those achievements, she felt unful src="https://www.essence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EFOC25_Wellness_-6-2-scaled.jpg" alt="Redefining Success And Leading With Intention: Authors Laysha Ward And Alexis Barber Inspire At ESSENCE Fest 2025" width="400" height="266" />Laysha Ward, author of Lead Like You Mean It and a distinguished C-suite executive, speaks on the ESSENCE Authors Stage at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans during ESSENCE Fest 2025.

Ward, like many Black women, had to confront the difficulty of giving herself permission to be human—and to ask for help. Her journey included dismantling the “strong Black woman” trope, which often leaves Black women burdened by others’ expectations and their own silence.

“I need to give myself permission to take care of my pain or it’s gonna take care of me,” she said, recalling a business call that brought her to tears after someone simply asked how she was doing. “So just recognizing that and giving yourself permission to step away and ask for what you need, take the time that you need.”

Both authors shared ways they’ve built burnout prevention into their routines. While pursuing her MBA at Wharton, managing a wellness company, and working with brands as a content creator, Barber said it was a call from her younger sibling that stopped her in her tracks—they hadn’t spoken in months. That realization prompted her to reprioritize her mental health and education, taking a step back from other responsibilities.

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