About Roots to Results
Welcome to Roots to Results, a podcast about the roots of leadership. Hosted by Danielle DeRuiter-Williams, each episode digs into the personal stories behind the leaders we admire, because how we lead has everything to do with what we carried into the room long before we got the title.
We go deep into the early stuff: childhood memories, family dynamics, and the patterns we pick up along the way, like perfectionism and codependency. Through candid conversations with inspiring leaders, we look at how those formative experiences shape both our strengths and our growing edges.
Whether you lead now, you're working toward it, or you're simply curious about the stories behind leadership, you'll find something here worth reflecting on. Pull up a chair and listen in.
Episode 4 - From Roots to Resilience with Patrick Brown
In this heartfelt episode of Roots to Results, Danielle DeRuiter-Williams sits down with transformative leadership expert Patrick Brown. Patrick shares his profound journey from growing up on Chicago's South Side to pioneering impactful leadership training programs across nonprofit and private sectors. They explore how childhood loss, community activism, and complex family dynamics shaped Patrick’s empathetic leadership style. Dive into the insightful conversation on mindfulness, the transformative power of clarity, and navigating racial identity with authenticity in leadership roles.
Episode 3 - Reclaiming Life and Leadership with Monique King-Viehland
Join host Danielle DeRuiter-Williams for a powerful conversation with Monique King-Viehland, founder and owner of Zithande, LLC, as they explore what it means to reclaim life, leadership, and liberation on your own terms. Monique shares her deeply personal journey—from growing up amidst poverty in Trenton, New Jersey, to becoming an influential leader and entrepreneur focused on housing justice and racial equity.
Episode 2 - Life, Leadership, and Legacy with Dasarte Yarnway
Join host Danielle DeRuiter-Williams in conversation with Dasarte Yarnway, former wealth manager turned startup founder, as they explore how our roots shape our leadership approach and success. In this powerful episode, Dasarte shares how his West African heritage informed his understanding of community and purpose, while revealing the personal cost of entrepreneurship and his journey to reclaim parts of himself lost along the way.
Episode 1 - Dismantle Systems with Grace: Clair Minson’s Leadership Evolution
In this engaging episode, Clair shares her journey from growing up in the Bahamas to becoming the founder of Sandra Grace, a racial equity consulting firm working at the intersection of workforce development, mental health, and systems change. She reveals the pivotal moments, family influences, and spiritual grounding that shaped her leadership philosophy—centered on courage, conviction, and the belief in doing it afraid.
