leadership conference for 1st time black & brown women leaders
They gave you the title. Now choose your route.
Intentional Leadership Conference 2027
February 26–28, 2027 | San Diego, CA
A 3-day leadership experience for Black and Brown women navigating leadership for the first time and organizations investing in their next generation of leaders.
Learn how to lead people, navigate the workplace, build authority and grow as a leader without losing yourself in the process.
THE TITLE WAS JUST THE START.
You got promoted. Now you're leading people, navigating workplace politics, having difficult conversations and figuring out what kind of leader you want to be. Nobody really prepared you for this part. ILC was created to help you navigate it.
THIS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE.
Built around the leadership moments nobody really prepares you for. From Peer to Leader Difficult Conversations The Unspoken Rules of the Workplace Know Your Rights: HR & Workplace Rights Your Name Enters the Room First: Personal Brand & Leadership Reputation Who’s in Your Passenger Seat? KEEP DRIVING: When the Road Changes Meet Your Road Guide: Mentor/Mentee Experience Leading With AI Identity Leadership™: Own Your Lane
Meet Your Guide: Candice Miles, CEO & Founder
Candice Miles (Coach C) founded No Gap Consulting because she lived the gap.
As a Black woman navigating leadership for the first time, she experienced:
→ The isolation of being "the only one" in the room
→ The exhaustion of code-switching through every interaction
→ The frustration of excelling but not advancing
→ The burnout of trying to lead without a blueprint
She refused to believe this was the only path.
So she built a different road.
Today, Coach C has:
✓ Coached 100+ leaders through first-time management transitions
✓ Facilitated leadership development for Fortune 500 companies
✓ Hosted the Intentional Leadership Conference (launched 2024)
✓ Created the "Roadtripper Community" for ongoing support
✓ Pioneered Cardio Hip Hop Confidence Classes (embodied leadership)
Her approach?
Leadership development that doesn't ask you to leave yourself at the door.
No Gap. No Limits. Just Leadership Our Way.
Coach C believes:
The best leaders don't code-switch their way to success.
They show up fully, lead intentionally, and build community along the way.
That's what ILC is all about.
Meet The ladies helping navigate the road
Nicole Milner
Nicole Milner, MPH, EMBA, is an executive strategist, entrepreneur, and community leader who turns bold ideas into meaningful action. She leads operations and strategy for a woman-owned construction company and founded Thrive As One Consulting to help nonprofits and mission-driven organizations strengthen their operations and grow sustainably. As Co-Founder and Chief Visionary of Black Women Adventures, she also creates opportunities for connection and community. Drawing on experience in business, public health, and nonprofit leadership, Nicole brings clarity to complex challenges and builds systems that move organizations forward.
Kisha Norris
Kisha Norris is a registered nurse dedicated to closing the health education gap in the Black community, with a special focus on Black women in their forties. With more than a decade of nursing experience, she combines clinical expertise with compassionate care to make chronic disease and women’s health information clear and accessible. Through education and encouragement, Kisha helps women better understand their bodies and make informed decisions about their health.
Chantel Baylor
Chantel Baylor is a sales leader, mentor, and creator of Speak Peak Shine, a confidence and communication workshop for young people and business owners. With 15 years of corporate sales experience and multimillion-dollar deals behind her, she helps others find their voice, connect authentically, and speak with confidence. Her message is simple: confidence is a skill you can build, and your voice deserves to be heard.
Tijera Wright
Tijera Wright is the Founder and Charcuterie Experience Officer of Board & Boujee, a San Diego company bringing people together through elevated catering and interactive workshops. After leaving corporate consulting at Ernst & Young, she built a business rooted in joy and connection. Today, she inspires others to let go of perfectionism, bet on themselves, and turn purpose into action.
Michelle maxey
Michelle Maxey is a financial services leader and former track coach who has held Vice President and Assistant Vice President roles, with a career that includes LPL Financial. Combining business expertise with a coach’s mindset, she brings a practical, people-centered approach to mentorship, developing talent, and helping others grow as leaders.
3 DAYS. ONE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY
FRIDAY | RELEASE
6:00–7:30 PM
Before we talk leadership, we're releasing the week. Move, reset, connect and make room for what's coming next.
SATURDAY | LEAD
The Main Route
Panels. Curator experiences. Real conversations. Practical leadership tools. Mentor/Mentee Speed Matching. Road Guides. Pit Stops. Community.
SUNDAY | REFLECT
The Brunch Pit Stop
Brunch, mental wellness, reflection and conversation about taking care of the woman behind the title and deciding what comes with you into your next season.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STUFF LEADERSHIP TRAINING LEFT OUT.
BUILT FOR THE WOMAN BEHIND THE TITLE.
ILC is for you if you're:
A first-time manager.
A newly promoted leader.
An emerging leader.
A Black or Brown woman navigating Corporate America.
Or simply asking:
“How do I become the leader I want to be without becoming someone I'm not?”
You belong in this room.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT LEADERSHIP ALONE.
Meet experienced women leaders through our Road Guide Mentor/ Mentee Experience. Build relationships with women who understand the road you're navigating and can help you think about what's next.
ORGANIZATIONS, INVEST BEYOND THE PROMOTION.
Promoting someone doesn't automatically prepare them to lead.
ILC gives first-time managers and emerging Black and Brown women leaders access to practical leadership development, mentorship and workplace conversations they can take back to work.
Designed for organizations looking to invest in:
Emerging Leaders • New Managers • Black & Brown Talent • Women Leaders • ERG Members • High-Potential Talent
Ideal for HR, Learning & Development, Talent Development, Employee Resource Groups and organizational leaders developing the next generation of leadership.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THE ROOM
Hear what past Roadtrippers had to say.
Additional Options
PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE
Split your investment into 3-4 payments
Apply at checkout - no credit check required
GROUP RATES (5+ Attendees)
Bring your team and save 15%
Perfect for: HR departments, leadership cohorts, ERG groups
Contact: [email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Limited scholarships available for emerging leaders
Financial need should never be a barrier to growth.
Apply by emailing [email protected]
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUNDS
Work with your HR or manager about a professional employee budget to have them cover the cost.
NOW CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE.
KEEP DRIVING.
February 26–28, 2027
San Diego, California
Our Past Sponsors
Impact can't be done alone, thank you to our past sponsors who said yes to INTENTIONALLY impacting each leader and ally for ILC