An Interview With Pirie Jones Grossman
Empowerment Through Vulnerability: Sharing your authentic struggles can inspire others to be open about their own.
Stronger Team Connections: When your team sees that you genuinely care, they become more loyal and motivated.
Increased Creativity: Authentic leadership encourages diverse ideas because team members feel safe to speak up.
Sustainable Success: When you lead with integrity, your impact lasts because it’s built on trust.
Personal Fulfillment: Authentic leadership means you never have to pretend, making leadership both effective and personally rewarding.
In today’s dynamic world, the concept of leadership is continuously evolving. While traditional leadership models have often been male-dominated, there is a growing recognition of the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring to these roles. This series aims to explore how women can become more effective leaders by authentically embracing their femininity and innate strengths, rather than conforming to traditional male leadership styles. In this series, we are talking to successful women leaders, coaches, authors, and experts who can provide insights and personal stories on how embracing their inherent feminine qualities has enhanced their leadership abilities. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jasmine Kemp, Miss Black Maryland USA 2025. A talent acquisition leader, nonprofit founder, and advocate for economic dignity, Kemp embodies what it means to lead with both expertise and empathy — turning systemic challenges into opportunities for collective uplift.
With 13+ years in HR and recruiting, Kemp has dedicated her career to breaking barriers in the workplace, ensuring diversity and inclusion translate into tangible employment opportunities. But her advocacy extends far beyond corporate spaces: As founder of Forming Stability, she combats homelessness by addressing its root cause — systemic unemployment — through resources, mentorship, and direct support for marginalized communities.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about authentic, feminine leadership, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?
My journey began in human resources, where I spent over 13 years as a Talent Acquisition Manager. I found fulfillment in helping individuals secure jobs, especially those facing barriers like homelessness. This passion led me to create Forming Stability, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting the unhoused with sustainable employment. Alongside this, I entered the world of pageantry, where I currently hold the title of Ms. Black Maryland USA 2025. My platform focuses on fighting homelessness and advocating for stable employment — a cause that perfectly marries my professional expertise and personal mission.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?
One of the most memorable experiences was hosting a resume-building workshop at a local community center. It wasn’t just about resumes — it became a moment of transformation. I remember a woman who arrived feeling defeated. By the end of the session, she was not only confident in her resume but walked away with a job interview. This was a powerful reminder that when you empower people, you can change lives.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Forming Stability stands out because it’s not just about providing jobs — it’s about restoring dignity. Our programs don’t just teach skills; they rebuild confidence. Recently, a young man who had been unhoused for years not only secured a job through our network but has now become a peer mentor, helping others find work. This ripple effect of empowerment is what makes us unique.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
1. Resilience: Competing in pageants while balancing my career and nonprofit wasn’t easy. But resilience kept me going, even when sponsorships were hard to secure or when facing personal challenges.
2. Empathy: Whether I’m interviewing candidates or mentoring aspiring professionals, I lead with empathy. I remember connecting with a young woman who felt she had no chance of finding work. With encouragement and tailored coaching, she secured a job within two weeks.
3. Authenticity: In pageantry and business, I have always been true to myself. When I launched Forming Stability, I didn’t follow traditional nonprofit models. Instead, I created a space where job readiness is paired with personal growth, which has been key to our success.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.
One of the hardest decisions I made was choosing to focus Forming Stability solely on employment support rather than expanding into general social services. While we had the opportunity to offer broader services, I recognized that our impact would be greater by becoming experts in job placement. It was a tough decision, but it allowed us to create lasting change for those we serve.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a personal experience where embracing your unique leadership style, which might not align with traditional expectations, led to a significant positive impact in your organization or team?
In a world where many leaders prioritize strict hierarchy, I have always led with collaboration. I remember a team meeting where a junior staff member hesitated to share an idea. I encouraged her, and her suggestion became a core component of our job readiness program. By embracing a leadership style where every voice matters, I’ve built a team that feels valued and engaged.
In your journey as a leader, how have you balanced demonstrating resilience, often seen as a masculine trait, with showing vulnerability, which is equally powerful, but typically feminine? Can you give an example where this balance created a meaningful difference?
Balancing resilience and vulnerability has been essential in pageantry and leadership. When I was struggling with the financial demands of preparing for the Ms. Black USA Pageant, I openly shared my journey with my supporters rather than pretending everything was perfect. This vulnerability inspired others to support me and even led to new sponsorships. It taught me that strength isn’t just about perseverance — it’s also about authenticity.
As a woman in leadership, how have you navigated and challenged gender stereotypes, especially in situations where traditional male-dominated approaches are the norm? What strategies have you employed to remain authentic to your style?
I challenge gender stereotypes by proving that you can be both a compassionate leader and a decisive one. In talent acquisition, where decisions are often data-driven, I also prioritize understanding each candidate’s story. This approach has not only led to better hiring outcomes but also to a more inclusive team culture.
How do you utilize emotional intelligence and active listening to create an inclusive environment in your team or organization? Could you share a specific instance where these qualities particularly enhanced team dynamics or performance?”
Emotional intelligence is at the heart of my leadership. In one situation, I noticed a team member who was becoming withdrawn. Instead of assuming poor performance, I had a private conversation with her. She shared personal struggles, and we worked together to adjust her workload temporarily. As a result, she not only recovered but became one of our most dedicated team members.
What role has mentorship played in developing your authentic leadership style, and how do you communicate authentically to inspire and empower both your mentors and mentees?
Mentorship has been foundational in my journey. I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who taught me to lead with compassion and confidence. Now, as a mentor myself, I focus on empowering others, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, to see their value and pursue their dreams.
Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways Leading Authentically As A Woman Will Affect Your Leadership”? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.
1. Empowerment Through Vulnerability: Sharing your authentic struggles can inspire others to be open about their own.
2. Stronger Team Connections: When your team sees that you genuinely care, they become more loyal and motivated.
3. Increased Creativity: Authentic leadership encourages diverse ideas because team members feel safe to speak up.
4. Sustainable Success: When you lead with integrity, your impact lasts because it’s built on trust.
5. Personal Fulfillment: Authentic leadership means you never have to pretend, making leadership both effective and personally rewarding.
Are there potential pitfalls or challenges associated with being an empathetic leader? How can these be addressed?
Yes, empathetic leaders can sometimes absorb the emotional burdens of their team, leading to burnout. The key is to balance empathy with self-care and clear boundaries. This means offering support without feeling responsible for fixing everyone’s problems.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I would launch a national initiative called “Stability Stations,” offering employment support and life skills training to unhoused individuals in every major city. It would be a network of centers providing not just jobs, but a path to self-sufficiency and dignity.
How can our readers further follow you online?
You can follow me on Instagram at msblackmarylandusa, where I share my journey as Ms. Black Maryland USA 2025, my work with Forming Stability, and my advocacy for fighting homelessness.
Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
About The Interviewer: Pirie is a TedX speaker, author and a Life Empowerment Coach. She is a co-host of Own your Throne podcast, inspiring women in the 2nd chapter of their lives. With over 20 years in front of the camera, Pirie Grossman understands the power of storytelling. After success in commercials and acting. She spent 10 years reporting for E! Entertainment Television, Entertainment Tonight, also hosted ABC’s “Every Woman”. Her work off-camera capitalizes on her strength, producing, bringing people together for unique experiences. She produced a Children’s Day of Compassion during the Dalai Lama’s visit here in 2005. 10,000 children attended, sharing ideas about compassion with His Holiness. From 2006–2009, Pirie Co-chaired the Special Olympics World Winter Games, in Idaho, welcoming 3,000 athletes from over 150 countries. She founded Destiny Productions to create Wellness Festivals and is an Advisory Board member of the Sun Valley Wellness Board. In February 2017, Pirie produced, “Love is Louder”, a Brain Health Summit, bringing in Kevin Hines, noted suicide survivor to Sun Valley who spoke to school kids about suicide. Sun Valley is in the top 5% highest suicide rate per capita in the Northwest, prompting a community initiative with St. Luke’s and other stake holders, to begin healing. She lives in Sun Valley with her two children, serves on the Board of Community School. She has her Master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and is an Executive Life Empowerment Coach, where she helps people meet their dreams and goals! The difference between a dream and a goal is that a goal is a dream with a date on it!
Leading with Heart: Jasmine Kemp of Forming Stability On The Power of Authentic Women’s Leadership was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.