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Giving Voice In Society and In Our Companies - an Interview with Johnita Due, Executive Vice President of Integrity and Inclusion for CNN and TNT Sports

diversity and inclusion integrity voice Apr 09, 2025

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the privilege of speaking with Johnita Due, the Executive Vice President of Integrity and Inclusion for CNN and TNT Sports. Johnita’s story is one of purpose, resilience, and deep conviction. She spoke about using her voice—and helping others find theirs—at the highest levels of media and corporate leadership.

Johnita’s foundation was shaped early by her parents, both civil rights leaders. Her mother led the first jail-in during the movement, and her father, a “freedom lawyer,” modeled activism through law. Inspired by their work, Johnita pursued law with a vision to create change—not just in courtrooms, but in boardrooms and newsrooms.

Her journey into media law allowed her to amplify underrepresented voices through journalism and storytelling. Now, as a leader overseeing both integrity and inclusion, Johnita helps CNN and TNT Sports foster cultures of trust, truth, and equity—internally and externally.

She offered candid reflections on being a “double only” in executive spaces, and shared her hard-won wisdom on owning your value, advocating for yourself, and never self-eliminating from opportunity.

Key takeaways from the interview:

0:01:01 – Johnita’s fierce drive to make a difference was shaped by her parents’ activism during the Civil Rights Movement.
0:03:10 – Her mother empowered her to pursue impact in boardrooms and classrooms—not just the courtroom.
0:05:05 – Media law became her unexpected but perfect path to support truth, access to information, and representation.
0:08:37 – Her journey was not linear; mentors and early exposure to diverse perspectives shaped her leadership rise.
0:14:26 – Giving voice means creating a safe space for employees to share ideas, feedback, and concerns.
0:15:54 – The shift from “giving voice to others” to “empowering others to use their own voice” was a powerful mindset change.
0:16:51 – Building a culture of voice and inclusion starts with a clearly stated, company-wide commitment—and accountability.
0:20:59 – Generational diversity brings critical insight; young professionals must be encouraged to speak up and share fresh ideas.
0:22:57 – Companies that deprioritize voice and inclusion risk disengagement, stagnation, and lost innovation.
0:25:15 – Her advice: don’t self-eliminate. Advocate for yourself, know your worth, and never let a third party define your value.

If you’re interested in being featured on the Fearless Female Leadership podcast, or you’re a leader looking to gain clarity on "what’s next," how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Cheering you on always!
– Sheryl