Some leaders are born not of ambition but of an unwavering calling a silent power which is molded by self-control, empathy, and an unrelenting search for meaning. Among these leaders is Davena Longshore. Her early teachings weren’t taught; rather, they were experienced in a household where brilliance is valued and helping others is a way of life. She is already exhibiting the qualities of a leader long before she was given titles or honors: listening while others remained mute, acting when others were turning away, and remaining steadfast when others backed off.
Her tale is not traditional or linear. Her journey is defining expectations and subtly redefining what it means to be a leader, from coordinating crisis management for one of California’s most difficult prisons to counselling six-year-old high school pupils. She has been working in the fields of education, public service, psychology, and justice, but her philosophy is always the same: leading with compassion, speaking clearly, and never sacrificing integrity for a position.
Her remarkable accomplishments stem from the belief that leadership is about making room so that others can succeed. Not because they are in style, but because they are essential, she is advocating for openness, emotional intelligence, and decisive action. Her conviction is that success is determined by the beneficial impact of change rather than by recognition is influencing every position she has held.
True leadership can be difficult to find these days, but Davena Longshore is a visionary and grounded presence. Her story is not only inspirational, but also a model for others who think that genuine intent is the first step towards long-lasting influence.
Roots of Excellence
In Orangeburg, South Carolina, Longshore’s path to excellence was paved early. As the daughter of a school superintendent and a business owner, her childhood was a meticulously orchestrated symphony of academic rigor and enrichment.
“My father believed children should never be idle. This philosophy meant year-round schooling and a packed schedule of extracurricular activities playing piano, drums, saxophone, singing, and basketball that built the foundation for my future achievements.” she says.
By the age of 12, she had begun high school through a special pilot program, completing all required courses by 15. This accelerated education was complemented by exceptional mentorship opportunities, including sessions with a local university chemistry professor who would pay the six-year-old Longshore to solve complex math and chemistry issues.
“He would visit me when I was six years old and pay me to solve complex math and chemistry problems. I also attended his science camps during the summer, which sparked my interest in becoming a doctor and scientist.” she says.
Her mother’s influence was equally significant. Beginning at six, Longshore was required to read the dictionary and write reports on encyclopedia articles, an unusual task that developed her exceptional communication skills. However, perhaps more importantly, her mother showed compassion through community service.
“She was actively involved in the community, helping to feed the poor and caring for the disabled and elderly. Her kindness, compassion, and desire to help others inspired me to do the same early on.” she says.
This early inspiration manifested in young Davena listening to the problems of others, protecting girls from bullies, and even bringing less fortunate peers’ home to provide them with clothes and personal care—early signs of the leadership qualities that would define her career.
Her father, an educator, civil rights activist, and researcher, taught her that helping others ultimately leads to success. “He taught me to be an advocate and instilled in me the understanding that as a Black female, I would need to work twice as hard to excel in our social climate,” she explains.
Finding Her Calling
Longshore’s professional journey has been anything but linear. Her natural ability to understand human behavior began at a young age by six, high school students were calling her home to seek relationship and life advice.
“I always had a natural ability to understand human behavior. My father often told me I had the wisdom of someone much older. Initially, I channeled this gift into the religious ministry for over 15 years. However, a crucial realization shifted my trajectory. I soon realized that some individuals seeking help through religion needed more clinical support,” she explains.
This insight, coupled with her understanding that mental health remains a barrier in many communities, particularly among ethnic minorities, led her to pursue clinical psychology.
Many ethnic minorities tend to seek help from those they can relate to, and discussing psychology is often considered taboo in my community, she reflects. Her diverse background—spanning education, finance, government, and information technology, combined with her understanding of psychology, made her uniquely qualified to bridge these worlds.
This rare combination of expertise eventually led to her selection to lead a pilot research program supporting law enforcement—a role that would leverage her full spectrum of skills.
Balancing The Scales
The challenge of maintaining work-life balance struck Longshore when her kindergarten-aged son completed a Mother’s Day project. Asked what his mother does for fun, he wrote simply: “work.”
At that moment, I realized that she needed to find more balance. This challenge intensified after her divorce, when she became the primary caregiver for her three children. Her strategies for balancing personal life while managing work demands are both practical and profound: prioritizing tasks, practicing clear communication, and involving her family in her professional journey.
“I have always told my children that while you can make more money in life, you can never get back lost time. This philosophy guides my approach to time management, minimizing activities that don’t add value to her goals.” she says.
She was once called ‘weird’ because she did not binge-watch television. However, when she compares the value of binge-watching to learning a new skill or reading a book to gain knowledge, it becomes clear that binge-watching is a time-consuming activity that doesn’t help her achieve my goals.
She has mastered the art of setting boundaries through “open, honest, and transparent communication” both at work and home. “I have learned that people-pleasing can hinder your potential and that saying ‘no’ is a powerful tool,” she observes.
As a single parent, she developed insights into each child’s individual needs. She discovered how each of them individually views love and how to express it to them. This understanding has helped her manage how much time each child needs to have their emotional and psychological needs met.
Teaching her children independence and involving them in her work has created mutual benefits. When her children were younger, she taught them to be independent and to help around the house. For example, she wanted to build a snack bar for my employees. My children accompanied me to the shop for snacks and helped me construct the bar at work.
Leadership Defined by Empathy
Longshore’s leadership philosophy stems from personal experience with poor management. “I have worked on jobs where my contributions were not rewarded, where the pay was not enough for me to provide the basic necessities for my family, where I was being bullied and harassed with no assistance from management, and where I was not allowed to grow and be promoted. I vowed to never treat employees this way when I ascended into leadership.” she says.
Her distinction between leadership and mere management is crystal clear. Leaders make decisions based on the best interests of others. They are not self-seeking and realize that doing what’s best for others will ultimately benefit them.
This people-first approach hasn’t always served her immediate interest in a competitive system. “Putting others before myself was not always beneficial, especially in a capitalistic system. I watched those who were selfish and self-serving get promoted before individuals like myself,” she acknowledges. But she stands firm on her morals and have always believed that the last will finish first.
Her success, she believes, stems from this care for others combined with her extensive educational credentials. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with the right people. She believes, You are who you surround yourself with. The wrong voices can sabotage your career, and toxic employees can run away with superstars. She has learned to hire superstars and leaders.
Achievements And Legacy
Longshore’s professional achievements are remarkable graduating summa cum laude from her doctoral program, developing the first residence education program at a historically Black college, contributing to high-profile legal cases, and receiving recognition from the California State Senate for her contributions to mental health.
Perhaps most notably, during her time with the California Department of Corrections at a Level 4 double-max security prison, she led the critical incident response team managing inmate suicidality—never losing a victim to suicide during her tenure. The Department of Justice described her as an “invaluable asset” to the California Department of Corrections.
Personally, her greatest pride comes from her children’s success. As a single parent, she guided her son to graduate with academic scholarships and complete studies at Los Angeles Film School, while her daughter skipped a grade, began dual enrollment in college during her junior year, and secured a full state scholarship.
The Path Forward
When asked what advice she would give to aspiring leaders, Longshore offers wisdom that reflects her journey: lead by example, communicate effectively, embrace continuous learning, build strong relationships, be decisive, encourage innovation, practice empathy, set clear goals, delegate effectively, and continuously reflect and adapt.
Her personal mantra distills her philosophy into its essence: “I am my own competition. Every day, I strive to be better than I was the day before. Comparison can be detrimental and limits one’s ability to excel. Keeping your goals in mind, stay focused on your own path without looking to the left or the right. Continuously work on improving yourself and remain dedicated to your purpose.”
As our interview concludes, Longshore reflects on what she once identified as her greatest weakness—the tendency to stay in the background. She has discovered that as she chooses to step into the forefront and take up space, those around her tend to do the same. Embracing her journey forward benefits their collective advancement.
It’s clear that Davena Longshore has definitively stepped into the foreground. With her unique combination of academic excellence, practical experience, and profound empathy, she represents the kind of visionary leadership our complex world desperately needs—leadership defined not by title or authority, but by the positive impact it creates in the lives of others.
For her, success is not measured in accolades or recognition, but in the ripple effect of positive change she creates—a standard that makes her truly one of the most impactful and visionary leaders to watch in 2025 and beyond.
