Canerow: Threads of Intergenerational Leadership is a storytelling series capturing the wisdom, resilience, and vision of Black women leaders across generations. Rooted in the Canerow project, these reflections explore leadership, legacy, and community through the voices of those shaping the future. The full interviews will be included in a print publication and released for Black History Month 2025.
Interview with Barbara Gray by Shanell Johnson
Leadership Roots, Perspectives, and Influences
Reflecting on her own beginnings, Barbara attributes her leadership journey to her mother’s unwavering belief in her potential, emphasizing inclusivity as especially important: “Leadership can emerge from any individual committed to moving something forward. It’s not confined to titles; anyone can take the lead; it’s just being willing to do what’s needed.” She makes a clear distinction between formal authority and grassroots activism, pointing out that leadership can emerge from anyone, including children. Anyone who shares their thoughts and ideas, inspiring others with another perspective, contributes to or makes change happen.
Barbara’s approach is firmly rooted in asset-based community development, inspiring and facilitating individuals and communities to bring about the change they want to see. She is keen to point out that “Throughout my career working with local authorities, I have seen how community engagement can redefine leadership.” and adds that “Asset-based community development creates an environment where children, young people and adults in the community are empowered to state their own values, realise and use their skills and experiences and deliver the right solutions for themselves. When we build relationships and uplift each other, the results are impactful and sustainable.”
She describes her experiences collaborating with communities as being “like watching butterflies emerge from a chrysalis, the transformations of people and their impact I witness is extraordinary. I never know what will happen next, but it is always uplifting and amazing. Real power lies with individuals and communities being inspired and stepping into their power, as individuals, working in collaboration and as a grassroots development.”
Maya Angelou stands out as a significant influence. Barbara recalls, “…she told us to be true to ourselves, to collect and tell our stories. That advice drives connection.” She is also inspired by her child, Megan, who is a Masc presenting leader in HR and Founder of the podcast ‘Megtalksonline’.
“I’m awed by Megan’s confidence and unapologetic authenticity in a world that often challenges such freedom,” she says.
As a young woman, she learned that self-belief was powerful and that barriers are merely obstacles when you remain stubbornly focused on the end goal. Reflecting deeply on the kind of roles she wanted and always being conscious of her values and sticking to them has given her a clear direction. Whilst there were easy choices to make along the way, it was the hard work and persistence that opened doors. Some of the projects she has spawned include the Lewisham Mayor’s apprenticeship scheme, providing careers for hundreds of young people, Urban Dandelion, inspiring communities to bring about the change they want to see and KINARAA CIC, working to achieve community wealth building of Black led organisations.
Unexpectedly becoming Mayoress of Lewisham made it possible “to reach anyone I wanted to.” That role provided the opportunity to have direct conversations with people who have responsibility and the power to make things happen locally, across London and nationally. “It was very impactful. That is what surprised me the most. I used it to empower the community.”
One of Barbara’s proudest leadership moments was developing and leading a significant international economic development project over 18 months with South Africa, displaying the power of Black female leadership. “We surprised many by our presence and our impactful initiatives.”
Race and Systemic Challenges
Reflections on Barbara’s upbringing and experiences as a Black woman reveal deep-rooted issues around race. “I grew up with racism, just as my parents did, and now, I wish I could share the lessons
learned from their struggles. My mother faced challenges daily, yet she persevered.”
She recalls her own mother’s struggles with the education system in the 1960s and 70s. A report produced by the Caribbean community at the time, and more recently Steve McQueen’s film ‘Education’, highlighted how the discriminatory practice of wrongly placing Black children in “Educationally Subnormal” (ESN) schools affected generations of Black children.
When asked to support a mother whose five year old child was being labeled as a failure, Barbara was struck with the parallels.
“I thought, ‘no, this cannot still be happening again in 2022. With the parent, I attended a meeting with the teacher and the child’s reading level quickly soared well above average.”
Her deep sense of racial injustice after witnessing similar struggles “again” 50 years later underscores the ongoing impact of inequality and echoes her belief that for the community she is part of “the system doesn’t change…We still do not have equal access to the opportunities, to be wherever and whoever we want to be…Evidence shows the system’s policies define who we are, what we are capable of and what our aspirations should be, cementing…what, in many cases, we ultimately achieve and who we become.”
Gender Dynamics
Barbara’s journey and her reflections on female leadership emphasize the importance of authenticity and the necessity for women, particularly women of colour, to navigate their leadership paths with self-acceptance. Her experience developing and leading an international project in Lewisham Council involving two other women—one Black and one white—further illustrates the power of female solidarity in overcoming preconceived notions about race and gender in leadership roles both in the UK and in post-apartheid South Africa.
Sharing Wisdom
Offering pearls of wisdom to younger Black Women Leaders, Barbara advises: “Set your vision and stay focused. Life is not a straight path.” She also suggests that they should “keep to your truth…be informed,” because, in the end, “…. purpose leads to fulfilment.”
Barbara advises aspiring Black women leaders to carry a backpack of wisdom including:
- Be yourself.
- Realise and embrace your unique gifts.
- Prioritise self-care and personal space.
- Stay informed and engaged.
- Bring people with you and create for others coming behind.
- Make time to support others to identify their path.
- Celebrate the power of being a Black woman and all that entails.
And she quotes from the Maya Angelou poem ‘Still, I Rise’:
‘Does my sassiness upset you?/Why are you beset with gloom?/Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells/Pumping in my living room’
These words portray a sense of self-assuredness, confidence, and independence, suggesting inherent worth and self-sufficiency. Barbara says “that’s how I go about in the world” encouraging others to feel the same about themselves.
However, she also reflects, “I wish I had been told when I was younger that things would work out in the end. The stress of overcompensation is real, but perseverance pays off.”
Conclusion
Barbara Gray’s insights deeply illuminate the intersections of race and gender in leadership. Her narrative serves as a reminder of the strength found in authenticity, storytelling, and communal support, as well as the transformative potential of inclusive leadership. Systemic racism and gender inequality require ongoing dialogue and action aimed at fostering environments where diverse voices can thrive. Effective leadership is not only about authority but about uplifting others and creating spaces for collective growth and empowerment.
This image of Barbara Gray was illustrated by Tinuke Fagborun and commissioned by The Ubele Initiative.
