Nadia Bennett | Guest: The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators

Dr.

Dr. Nadia A. Bennett is the founder and CEO of When Brown Girls Lead®, a consulting firm dedicated to creating equity-driven schools and districts nationally. Through culturally relevant leadership development, she empowers educators to cultivate anti-racist schools. Her expertise is backed by a proven track record: as a former charter superintendent, she doubled ELA scores, revitalized a struggling district, and improved outcomes from attendance to staff retention.

Prior to that, as a principal, Nadia turned around Simon Gratz Mastery High School, boosting performance so significant that the school topped the Philadelphia Charter School ranking during her tenure. Her focus on data-driven decision-making, effective teacher development, and restorative practices led to tangible results for students, staff, and the community.

Fueled by a deep passion to dismantle barriers for marginalized students, Nadia earned degrees from Dillard University and Howard University, further honing her skills in the Urban Superintendents Academy through AASA. She also completed her doctoral studies, embodying her lifelong commitment to educational excellence.

Nadia Bennett is committed to closing the opportunity gap. Through her consulting, coaching, and leadership development, she works tirelessly to create schools where all children have the chance to thrive.

June 9, 2026

Community, Calling & The Climb with Dr. Nadia A. Bennett

Dr. Nadia A. Bennett doesn't just talk about leading; she's lived it, from an air mattress on the floor of a Philly apartment to founding her own national education consulting firm, When Brown Girls Lead. In this episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, I sit down with Dr. Nadia for a raw, spirit-filled conversation about what it actually takes to climb the educational ranks as a Black woman. Dr. Nadia shares the unlikely moments that shaped her path: a stranger's advice in a retail store, the loss of a beloved cousin, and a woman in a Howard cohort who looked her dead in the eyes and said, "You're called to this." She talks openly about the grief of leaving a school where she poured everything, the tokenism she faced as a charter superintendent, and why she walked away from a six-figure leadership role without a plan. This episode is just as much about what comes after the exit. Dr. Nadia breaks down how she built a thriving consulting firm powered largely by B…

Guest: Nadia Bennett

Listen to the Episode