Black Leaders are Making History
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” –Nelson Mandela
As always, this Black History Month has been a time to elevate and celebrate the history and cultural contributions of Black Americans; a time to learn about and contemplate the achievements, perspectives, struggles, and extraordinary contributions of Black Americans in every field and at every turn. From Harriet Tubman to Booker T. Washington, From Frederick Douglass to Rosa Parks, from Louis Armstrong to Diana Ross, from Malcolm X to Martin Luther King, Jr., Thurgood Marshall to Barack Obama, Clarence Avant to Oprah Winfrey, Mae Jemison to Victor Glover, Maya Angelou to Amanda Gorman, black leaders have inspired generation after generation to move forward and innovate in the face of formidable odds.
At FocusWorks, we’re fortunate to have an inspiring leader in our founder, Roberta Scott Pettis. Roberta was driven by a deep-seated passion for unlocking the potential within individuals and guiding them on their path to becoming impactful leaders. In 2013, she left Corporate America to create a space where learning is celebrated, where individuals discover their unique values-based leadership style, are encouraged to be curious, to challenge the status quo, and to continuously seek growth. This spirit is at the heart of everything we do at FocusWorks, from the customized programs we design to the way we engage with our clients and the community.
At the core of our philosophy is the belief that leadership is fundamentally about people. It’s about understanding the human dimensions of work—the hopes, fears, aspirations, and motivations that drive us. This is why our approach to leadership development is holistic, focusing not just on the skills and competencies that leaders need, but also on their well-being, resilience, and ability to inspire and connect with others.
Whether it’s creating innovative leadership development programs, delivering diversity-related training, or working with teams to promote cooperation and collaboration and increase productivity, Roberta instills a genuine passion for people into her exceptional team and into everything she does at FocusWorks. FocusWorks utilizes their trademarked programs, such as “Leadership That Works” and “Women Excel in Life and Leadership” (WELL) Program.
As an award-winning business leader, a gifted teacher and thought leader, Roberta brings a uniquely personal-and-powerful perspective to the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion conversation. While that conversation can be challenging or uncomfortable, Roberta is adept at defusing potentially tense situations and keeping things on track. For Roberta Pettis and FocusWorks, the overarching goal is always to build a culture of cooperation and respect. Ntrinsx is a patented tool used by FocusWorks that can help generate initial conversations about creating a culture of respect in the workplace, as well as the Pledge for Progress.™
FocusWorks is proud of its status as a black-owned, woman-owned business, and we’re motivated and inspired by Roberta’s leadership every day. FocusWorks provides leadership training programs that teach the essential skills to build and support the most innovative and effective current and future leaders, whether K-12, Higher Education, Government, Non-Profit or Private organizations.