According to Forbes, Black women hold 4% of management positions and only 1% hold high-ranking executive titles. Cantu Beauty, award-winning multicultural hair care brand, and Women Empowering Nations, (WEN) a non-profit dedicated to accelerating Black women’s path to executive leadership, collaborated to create Girls Leading Our Nation (GLOW). GLOW, an immersive leadership program for minority women, selected young women from seven countries worldwide. From thousands of applicants, exemplary Xavierite and rising junior Youma Diabira was one of 50 women chosen for GLOW’s 2023 global cohort.  

Diabira, an English major with a double concentration in education and creative writing, has enjoyed her Xavier experience as she’s had exposure to opportunities like GLOW and fostered strong relationships with peers and student leaders. She discovered the GLOW opportunity through the 86th Miss Xavier, Kirsten McGowan, a mentor and friend who encouraged her to apply. Throughout the application process, Diabira discussed her passions, goals, and learned more about the program’s impact. 

“Their main goal is wanting to create a network of women leaders who offer each other support throughout their leadership journey because it can be both fulfilling and draining,” said Diabira.  

GLOW’s 10-week program offers over 100 hours of brand and skill development, career, networking opportunities, and leadership training for young, Black women. It also provides exposure and mentorship contributing to their personal and professional development. 

Diabira’s selection for GLOW helped build and strengthen her self-assurance.  

“It gave me confidence in my abilities. I’m passionate, driven, and I’m constantly surrounded by other amazing, driven people at Xavier. It reminded me that I'm in this environment because I’m part of and contribute to it,” she said.   

Throughout the program, Diabira’s had the opportunity to participate in various workshops, learning all that encompasses the world of Black women in leadership. She and her fellow cohort have spoken to powerful, influential women across the African diaspora who run organizations, and discussed difficulties that’ve had in leadership and fostering leadership sustainability.  

“We’ve gotten feedback from Black women leaders on how we can pour into ourselves and pour into other Black women,” she said. “There’s been a lot of great relationship building. My cohort and I have become very involved in each other’s lives and support one another. This experience has emphasized sisterhood and knowing that wherever you are, there is a network of women rooting for and supporting you.” 

As a cohort member, Diabira participates in virtual group sessions with the global cohort, including smaller sessions with others from her region. They’ve had in-depth conversations about leadership, and complete activities and team building exercises. GLOW also serves as a bridge to other opportunities; last year, the cohort visited Ghana, West Africa. 

What excites Diabira most about GLOW are the women’s honesty and transparency, allowing them to nurture close relationships with one another. She also shared the significance of Black female representation in leadership positions.  

“In GLOW, we’re able to work through things we may be struggling with or difficulties we find in the spaces we’re in as Black, women leaders who have voices and goals. It’s very open and creates a safe space to be real about our experiences,” she said. “Statistically, Black women are the most educated demographic of people in the nation. It’s important in leadership to have people who are committed to education and growth because they’re always open to learning and growing.” 

Diabira expressed programs like GLOW that cater to Black women are important given the intersectionality between race and gender. She shared sometimes Black women aren’t afforded the same privileges as white women or males.  

“Spaces that cater to nurturing, supporting and sustaining the overall well-being of Black, women leaders meet us at the intersectional piece of our identities. It's important because oftentimes Black women are laying the groundwork, creating platforms, and are playmakers for a lot of major changes you see,” she said. “It’s also important to get more spaces comfortable with welcoming Black, women leaders and Black, women leaders creating their own. You have to make space for us because we’re going to take up the space regardless.”  

Xavier University of Louisiana, which instills a mission to promote a more just and humane society in its graduates, has embedded in Diabira the value of service and how her actions serve others. The support from her fellow Xavierites and the university has fostered her development as a leader and individual.  

During her sophomore year, Diabira served as vice president for the sophomore class counsel. She had the opportunity to experience various leadership approaches and gain comfortability in her own leadership style. She was recently elected as deputy chief of staff to Xavier’s Student Government Association (SGA) and looks forward to helping current and incoming Xavierites gain their own personal growth and experiences.  

“I feel surrounded by people who care about me. The leadership we do at Xavier engulfs you in a space of people who know what you’re experiencing, push you, and have similar goals,” she said.  

In the future Diabira plans to become an educator, a lifelong goal she’s held since first grade. She wants to become a high school teacher and later an education professor, pouring into the next generation as others have poured into her.  

“Education makes my heart sing. It’s one of the most important professions and one of the biggest ways you can serve society is through education,” Diabira said.

She is ready and determined to contribute to diversifying the workforce and increasing the representation of strong, impactful, influential Black women in leadership roles and global society.