In this episode of Candid Conversations, Chris and Candice sit down with Tekita Bankhead, a global DEI strategist, writer, speaker, and educational consultant who currently serves as the Director of Access and Community at the Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Tekita brings a multidimensional background in nursing, student affairs, mental health advocacy, and educational leadership to the conversation, sharing insights from her decade-long journey at Illinois and beyond. Her path into higher education was unplanned but deeply meaningful, revealing how moments of failure can lead to unexpected transformation and purpose.

Tekita recounts her pivot from nursing to higher education, sparked by a semester setback and the guidance of a mentor. This moment catalyzed a lifelong passion for helping others recognize and develop their leadership potential—especially those who may not traditionally see themselves as leaders. She discusses pivotal roles, such as her tenure at the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center and the Counseling Center’s ACE IT program, that honed her skills in community building, large-scale programming, and crisis management during the pandemic. These experiences, coupled with her lived identity, have deeply shaped her people-centered, grace-first leadership philosophy.

Throughout the conversation, Tekita reflects on how her background in nursing and advocacy has fostered a trauma-informed, human-centered approach to leadership. She challenges conventional workplace norms, advocating for authenticity, trust-giving, and a redefinition of belonging as a default rather than something to be earned. Her metaphorical insights—like comparing DEI to elevators in a penthouse—help illuminate the universal benefits of inclusive design and the importance of access for all. She also dives into the complex dual role of education as both an oppressive and liberating force, calling for greater transparency, diverse narratives, and early exposure to multiple perspectives.

In more personal moments, Tekita opens up about her deep commitment to therapy, her spiritual grounding, and her creative passion for writing. She shares the origin of her initiative, The Pedestal Project, which uplifts Black women through writing and communal healing, born from a powerful counseling session that inspired her to reimagine self-worth. Her reflections on feedback, particularly learning to "speak less and listen more," serve as practical wisdom for emerging leaders. The episode closes with a resonant message inspired by Toni Morrison—that true freedom and power are best used to help liberate and empower others.