It’s hard to believe we’re already here.
On Tuesday, December 9, I’ll officially kick off the 10-week countdown to the release of my new book, Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church (Amistad Books/HarperCollins + JVL Media | Feb 10, 2026).
If you’ve been following the journey, you know this book has been years in the making — shaped by history and culture, informed by applied sciences, and grounded in leadership theory that finally gives language to what so many of us have lived.
And now, it’s time to bring you into the heart of it.
What to Expect Each Week
Every Tuesday leading up to launch, I’ll be sharing a short video previewing one of the 10 leadership lessons in the Call & Response Leadership Revival Framework. These messages will take you inside:
the self work,
the relationship work, and
the world work
we all must do to become the emotionally intelligent, courageous and innovative leaders this moment calls for.
It’s a journey I hope leaders in every space—corporate, academic, entrepreneurial, ministry, nonprofit, government, and community—no matter your background, will join.
Because if there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s this:
the way we’re leading now is not sustainable.
Burnout is at an all-time high.
Layoff protocols have become harsher and more transactional.
RTO ultimatums are fracturing trust.
Machine-centered decision-making is replacing human-centered leadership.
People are disengaging and in some cases, disappearing from environments that once felt safe.
We need something different.
Something more grounded.
Something with heart.
A Moment of Deep Gratitude
I’m profoundly grateful to share that Call & Response has received a moving endorsement from Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. She is also currently the only Black woman at the helm of a Fortune 500 company.
Thasunda is a leader who reflects every lesson in this book—courage, emotional intelligence, visionary presence, community-first leadership, resilience, and more. Her belief in this work means the world, and I don’t take her words lightly.
Our Ambassador Community
I’ll also be highlighting some of the voices of nearly 30 Call & Response Ambassadors across the country who have stepped forward to help lead this conversation. They are leaders from business, academia, creative fields, ministry, the arts and beyond. Their perspectives will deepen the dialogue and help carry this message into their own spheres of influence.
Why This Matters Now
This 10-week journey isn’t simply a marketing countdown.
It’s a leadership revival.
Call & Response is more than a title.
It’s an invitation.
A conversation.
A rhythm.
A remembrance.
A return to leadership shaped by humanity, heart, science, culture, and courage.
And I’d love for you to walk with me.
Join the Journey
Pre-order your copy anywhere you buy books.
And share it with someone who is hungry for something more:
👉 https://www.lmichellesmith.com/callandresponse
I’ll also have something very unique for you—a bundle with books, a workbook and audio downloads of my sharing each of the leadership lessons with you—on discounted during the pre-sale timeframe for your team, your small group, your bookclub or your circle. 10 of each so that you can walk through the book together. It’s our miracle number.
More to come on this special Call & Response bundle soon.
I can’t wait to begin the journey with you next week.
In the meantime, leave a comment and tell me with returning to heart-centered leadership means to you.
— L. Michelle
