Q: Why did you start Butterfly Rising Institute?
TD: The idea for Butterfly Rising Institute (BRI),came to me during a major life transition in 2020—yes, right in the middle of the pandemic. My son had just graduated high school and was preparing to leave for college, and I found myself stepping into the role of an empty nester. I’ve always been passionate about supporting women, especially single mothers, and I had previously launched a ministry at my church called And Still I Rise: The Making of a Butterfly, which focused on helping women escape domestic violence and equipping their families with tools to offer support.

While leading that ministry, I began integrating tools from my business background to help women set and achieve personal goals. That’s when the vision for BRI was born—an acronym and framework centered on helping women take intentional steps toward lasting change. With a background in conflict resolution, facilitation, and program development—and a master’s degree focused on communication for professional women in work-life crises—I created BRI to empower women to rise through intentional change and lead with purpose in both their personal and professional lives.

Today, BRI is a passionate community and coaching organization, which uses change-management principles from the business world along with a personal touch to help working mothers facing challenging times through life-changing transformation. Our systematic approach uses educational tools from the business change management world to learn how to take actionable steps toward making big changes. BRI’s ultimate vision is to empower women to rise through intentional change and lead with purpose in their personal and professional lives. 

Q: Can you tell us about your upcoming Three-Day Event: Hope in Her Steps and the Butterfly of Hope Gala?
TD: Hope in Her Steps and Butterfly of Hope Gala will shine a light on gynecologic cancers while raising funds for two nonprofits, The Lenelle Foundation for gynecologic cancers, and for ECANA - The Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African Americans. The Lenelle Foundation is named after my mother, who passed away last year from Uterine cancer after a year-long battle. My mother was a vibrant, healthy woman in her seventies who brought joy to everyone around her. Her diagnosis was shocking, and as one of her primary caregivers, I walked alongside her through every appointment, treatment, and hopeful moment—while also navigating my own pregnancy and supporting my college-aged son through personal challenges. These three days will honor her legacy and the strength of caregiving women everywhere.

Gynecologic cancers affect the female reproductive system, including the cervix, ovaries, uterus, vagina, and vulva. Anyone with female reproductive organs is at risk for these cancers. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 108,000 women in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with gynecological cancer in 2026, and about 32,000 will die from one. Each type of gynecologic cancer carries its own signs, symptoms, and risk factors. Although the factors are different, one commonality is the importance of awareness, early detection, and support. Any woman is at risk, especially as she ages. 

The three-day event begins with The Experience on Thursday, Dec. 4th, with Hope in Her Steps: The Caregiver’s Compass from 6 to 8 p.m., at Shorter Community AME Church, 3100 Richard Allen Ct., Denver, CO. 80205. This workshop will provide resources, guidance, and encouragement for those supporting women impacted by gynecological cancers. 

On Friday, Dec. 5th, the community will come together for Hope in Her Steps: Lift Her Light from 6 to 8 p.m., also at Shorter Community AME Church, for a lantern release and candlelight ceremony honoring lives touched by cancer and symbolizing the power of hope and remembrance. 

The event concludes on Saturday, Dec. 6th, with the Butterfly of Hope Gala at the PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St., Denver, CO. 80211, from 6 to 10 p.m., featuring, dinner, dancing, powerful stories, special guests, and an opportunity to advance advocacy, education, and the research of gynecological cancers.

As part of the event, BRI and the Lenelle Foundation will present two $1,000 awards: the Wings of Grace Award to honor a woman from the “sandwich generation” who is caring for a parent with cancer while raising her own family, and the Butterfly Impact Award, to recognize a woman-owned small business in healthcare that is creating lasting waves of support and healing for women impacted by cancer. 

More information is at: Hope In Her Steps

Q: What gratifies you most about this work?
TD: The most gratifying part of this work comes from a promise I made to my mother during our last conversation. She told me that she loved me, and I told her that I loved her too—and that I would not let her name be forgotten. That moment became the heartbeat behind everything I do today. Our family’s experience with the healthcare system was incredibly difficult. My mother battled a rare form of uterine cancer, and we often felt lost searching for answers about her diagnosis and prognosis that few doctors could clearly explain. As her caregiver, I didn’t have many resources or a community that truly understood what we were facing. Friends meant well, but there is a difference between receiving advice and connecting with someone who has lived the same experience.

From that pain and uncertainty, a greater purpose began to form. This work is deeply gratifying because it allows me to help other women navigate their own difficult transitions while keeping my mother’s name and spirit alive through the impact we make. Out of that season, our board created The Lenelle Foundation, named in my mother’s honor, to raise awareness and serve as a connector for women impacted by gynecological cancers. I wanted to ensure that no woman, mother, or daughter would have to walk through that journey alone. Part of our mission is to help women recognize potential warning signs early on, rather than assume that symptoms are simply related to menopause. We caught my mother’s disease too late, and I am determined that her story will help prevent that outcome for someone else.

That same spirit of purpose and transformation carries through my work with BRI. My deepest gratification comes from helping women make incremental, meaningful changes in their lives—whether they are navigating motherhood, career transitions, or grief. Through BRI, we combine the structure of business change-management principles with the heart of personal transformation. It’s about teaching women how to take actionable steps toward healing, growth, and confidence. Our vision is simple but powerful—to empower women to rise through intentional change and lead with purpose in every area of their lives.

Q: What advice can you give to other working mothers?
TD: My greatest advice to working mothers is to give yourself permission to evolve. Motherhood and career are not competing priorities; they are parallel paths of growth that require grace, flexibility, and reflection. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you do not have to prove your worth by overextending yourself. Your value is not found in perfection but in your persistence and purpose.

From my own experience and through years of research on leadership and change management, I have learned that transformation happens when we slow down enough to acknowledge where we are and what we need. Change management models, like ADKAR, remind us that awareness and desire come before any lasting change. As mothers, we often skip those steps because we are focused on holding everything together. But healing and progress begin when we pause to check in with ourselves.

That is the heart of the BRI: to help working mothers navigate personal and professional transitions with structure, compassion, and community. My encouragement is this: do not let hardship make you hard. Let it refine you. Rebuild when you need to. Communicate through conflict. And remember that your journey is sacred, your voice matters, and you are becoming the woman you were always meant to be, one intentional change at a time.

Q: What is one word of advice you can offer to young women who want to reach your level of success?
TD: Hardship doesn’t disqualify you; it refines you. Every challenge you face has the power to strengthen your wings and prepare you for what’s next. Success isn’t just about what you achieve; it’s about what you’ve had the courage to overcome. Remember to block out the noise and stay focused on your goals, because they are not meant for everyone else to understand. Stay confident in adversity, but humble enough to admit when you are wrong. Growth comes through grace, reflection, and resilience.

At the BRI, we believe transformation happens when you learn to communicate even in the eye of conflict. That is where you find your true strength when you rise above chaos with clarity and compassion. Keep trusting your process, spreading your light, and remembering that every season, even the hard ones, is preparing you to soar.

Q: Can you tell our audience one of your most memorable moments of your career?
TD: One of the most memorable moments of my career has been leading the design and implementation of a nationally recognized training academy at Denver International Airport, the sixth busiest international airport in the world. This project was both complex and deeply rewarding. I was responsible for aligning and motivating more than 20 stakeholders toward a shared vision set by our CEO, a vision that required not just coordination but transformation. To accomplish this, I developed a specialized change management model that helped move the initiative from concept to national recognition. Seeing it come to life and watching people grow through the process was incredibly fulfilling.

My experience with BRI became the foundation for the model I later applied at Denver International Airport. BRI served as the training ground where I developed my trademark change management framework for creating sustainable and manageable transformation. That experience inspired me to continue creating change management tools that empower people in different contexts.

Through BRI, I have led workshops, events, and leadership series that help women rise through their own transitions. One of my proudest accomplishments has been launching a quarterly leadership series for single mothers within government and small business sectors. Witnessing their breakthroughs, both personally and professionally, reminds me why I do this work. Each story of transformation is a reflection of purpose in action.

Q: At the start of your career, what do you wish you had known? 
TD: At the start of my career, I wish I had known that detours don’t destroy your destiny—they often define it. I began in public accounting at PriceWaterhouseCoopers with a promising future, but when I became pregnant during my senior year of college, everything changed. I faced financial hardship, a toxic relationship, and the exhaustion of single motherhood while trying to maintain a demanding professional life. I remember going without food just to afford diapers and milk for my son—too many dollars over the income limit for assistance, yet miles away from stability.

Eventually, I transitioned into the government sector and rebuilt my career from the ground up. But what I truly needed then, a system, a support network, and space to think through the chaos—didn’t exist. So, I built it. Butterfly Rising Institute was born from that vision: to help women, especially working mothers, navigate change with courage, structure, and community.

Today, as the Founder and Chief Transformation Officer of BRI and Manager of Business Learning and Development at Denver International Airport, I know success isn’t just what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. To my younger self, I would say: You are not behind. You are becoming.

Q: Which woman inspires you and why? 
TD: There are many incredible women who have supported me along my journey, but the foundation of who I am today was built by one woman—my mother. She passed away in December 2024, and her influence remains the most profound in my life. She was my greatest supporter, attending every event, offering invaluable insight, and always cheering me on.

From a young age, my mother instilled in me the importance of being a strong, independent woman, especially in spaces where women, and particularly Black women, are often underrepresented. She taught me the value of a dollar, showing me that success isn’t about “Keeping up with the Joneses,” but about making smart, intentional choices. She instilled in me the belief that God and family come before all else, a principle I still live by.

As I progressed in my career, I was fortunate to have a network of remarkable Black women mentors who helped shape my professional identity. In my 20s, I hadn't yet mastered the art of listening first and speaking with intention. One of my mentors gently showed me how to read a room, how to use my voice with purpose, and how to advocate for those whose voices often go unheard.

Through over 15 years in servant leadership, I’ve found balance in the strength my mother gave me and the grace and empathy I learned from my mentors. Together, their guidance has taught me not only how to lead, but how to truly see people, especially those just starting out, like I once was.

In honor of my mother’s legacy, I’m partnering with cancer organizations that focus on women’s cancer research. Through these partnerships, I’m raising awareness and funds in her name, so that other women and families facing similar battles have greater hope, support, and resources.

Q: What advice would you give to young women who want to succeed in the workplace?
TD: My advice to young women is to define success on your own terms and stay grounded in who you are as you grow. In the workplace, it can be tempting to conform or shrink yourself to fit expectations, but authentic leadership begins with self-awareness. You do not have to mirror someone else’s path to be effective; you have to understand your own value and lead from that truth.

Success is not just about climbing the ladder. It is about aligning your purpose, your values, and your growth. At BRI, we remind women that hardship does not disqualify you; it refines you. Stay focused on your goals, communicate with confidence and compassion, and surround yourself with people who both challenge and uplift you. Real success is not measured by titles or recognition but by how boldly and authentically you lead through every season of your life.

Q: Can you tell us how you manage your work life balance?
TD: There’s no such thing as perfect balance, it’s all about rhythm. Some seasons demand more from your career; others call you closer to home. I’ve learned to give myself grace, set priorities, and release the pressure to do it all.

Being a working mom means living in the tension of deadlines, daycare, and doing your best every single day. True balance isn’t about splitting yourself evenly, it’s about shifting your mindset:

From guilt to grace.

From hustle to harmony.
From superwoman to sustainable woman.

Motherhood and career will always be messy, but they don’t have to feel impossible. The real transformation begins when you stop chasing perfection and start honoring your own rhythm.

Five Things About Tanya Davis

1. What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee? 
I would love to share a cup of coffee with Viola Davis. Her story reflects everything I value about resilience, authenticity, and purpose. She rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful voices in film, all while staying true to herself. 

What inspires me most is her courage to speak openly about struggle and self-worth. Her journey reminds women that strength and softness can coexist, and that true success is about owning your story — scars and all. I imagine our conversation would be filled with truth, laughter, and grace.

2. What was the last book you really got into? 
The last book I really got into was ADKAR: A Model for Change in Business, Government and Our Community by Jeff Hiatt. It reshaped how I view change, both personally and professionally. The ADKAR model reminds us that transformation begins with awareness and builds through action and reinforcement. I have applied its principles to my work at Denver International Airport and within BRI, where I help working mothers navigate transitions with structure and grace. The book reaffirmed that something deeply believe meaningful change is never just about systems, it is about people and purpose.

3. What TV shows did you watch when you were a kid? 
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Saved by the Bell, Family Matters, and Rugrats 

4. Are you a morning person or a night owl? 
I’m definitely a morning person. My brain feels sharpest in the early hours, and that’s when I have the most energy and focus. Mornings give me a sense of clarity and calm before the world starts moving. It’s my time to reflect, plan, and set the tone for the day ahead.

5. Cake or pie? 
Definitely cake. There’s something joyful and celebratory about it. My favorites are carrot cake and confetti cake — one feels rich and comforting, the other playful and full of life. Whether it’s for a birthday, a milestone, or just a quiet moment at home, cake reminds me to pause and savor life’s sweet moments. Every season deserves a little celebration.