Standing Tall in Every Room with Mildred J. Mills

In this episode of Revolutionary Leadership, Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown welcomes author, former corporate executive, and founder Mildred J.

Mills. Mildred shares her powerful journey—from growing up on a 60-acre cotton farm in Alabama as the third of 17 children to breaking barriers in male-dominated corporate IT spaces and launching her own publishing and media platform.

Together, they examine the foundational strength inherited from family, the power of community care, and what it truly means to build on your own terms. Mildred offers key insights on overcoming rejection, the realities of revolutionary mothering, and approaching leadership with resilience, intentionality, and generational wisdom.

What this Episode Covers The Power of Rejection: How a soft rejection from a traditional publisher became the catalyst for self-publishing, building an independent brand, and moving forward without hesitation. Generational Resilience & Leadership: Lessons learned from growing up on a farm—understanding when to pivot, how to adapt, and holding your head high through internal and external adversity.

Community Care as Infrastructure: Viewing independence not as isolated struggling, but recognizing when to allow help, learn from teaching moments, and build an enduring legacy. Revolutionary Mothering: Exploring the multi-layered, often heavy realities of motherhood across three literary projects focused on family, children, and the maternal dynamic.

The Blueprint: Core Leadership & Transition Principles Stand in Your Power : Walk into any room, even one not built for you, knowing you belong there. Do the Best You Can With What You Have Right Now : Don't wait for perfect conditions or permission.

Start with what you have. Build Intentionally : Like a farmer who knows when to plant and when to change crops, build with purpose and structure.

Tap Into the Village : You don't have to carry everything alone. Learn from the women who came before you.

Where to Find Mildred J. Mills Website: Social Media: Search for Mildred J.

Mills on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Podcast : My Cotton Patch Moment Books : Daddy's House: A Daughter's Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs & Rising Above Her Roots Actionable Blueprint & Calls to Action Embrace the "No" : A rejection can point you toward a yes on your own terms. Consult the Village : Seek out seasoned mentors and older women willing to share what they know.

About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Dr. Kerry Mitchell Brown, CEO of kmb Consultancy and cultural architect specializing in revolutionary leadership and organizational transformation, and author of Revolutionary Leadership: A Power Playbook for Black Women (August 2026) .

Drawing on her entrepreneurial experience and a career spanning nonprofits, academia, and Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Kerry equips leaders across industries to thrive in systems not designed for them, amplify their strategic power, and create environments where equity and innovation flourish.

Connect with her here . Join the Conversation: Have you been inspired by this episode?

Dr. Kerry invites you to: Leave an honest review sharing how this episode impacted you Share this podcast with a revolutionary leader in your life - we all know someone who needs to hear they're building tomorrow's blueprints Let's Connect: 🌐: ✉️: DrKerry@ Substack: https://substack.com/@revolutionaryleadership Social Media: @RevolutionaryLead Credits: Intro and outro music: "Feeling Free" by Jesse Lawrence (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup production