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Navigating Nursing, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship with Dr. Kimberly Madison, DNP

Management and leadership are often used interchangeably, but they represent two distinct approaches to guiding and influencing others. While both are essential in healthcare and beyond, understanding their differences can unlock your full potential in any role. Management focuses on systems, processes, and ensuring stability. It’s about organizing resources, meeting deadlines, and achieving goals efficiently. Managers excel in maintaining order and addressing immediate needs, ensuring tasks are executed with precision. Leadership, on the other hand, is about vision, inspiration, and transformation. Leaders look beyond the present, inspiring others to embrace change, innovate, and work toward a shared goal. Where managers focus on the “how,” leaders focus on the “why,” fostering a culture of growth and empowerment. In this article, I reflect on a recent interview on Sound Leadership with DJ and how I’ve learned that leading with purpose means embracing the best of both worlds.

I had the pleasure of being on the podcast, Sound Leadership with DJ. Demetrius Kirk, DNPc, MBA,MSN, RN, LNHA, LSSGB, PAC-NE, QCP is the Founder of SMK Medical, a good friend of mine, guest star of Becoming: Doctor of Nursing Practice on The Melanin Initiative Podcast, an active member of DNPs of Color, and a nurse entrepreneur who started as a CNA and is now a candidate for his DNP degree.

In this interview, I share my journey as a healthcare influencer, nurse entrepreneur, and founder of Mahogany Dermatology. From my early days in biomedical engineering at Tufts to earning my DNP and creating a platform to mentor the next generation of nurse practitioners, it’s been a rewarding road filled with lessons in leadership, resilience, and community-building. Raised in a Marine Corps household and inspired by my mom’s work as a minister, I learned early on the importance of integrity and service. Those values have guided me as I co-chaired hospital councils, represented my units, and eventually pursued entrepreneurship. Along the way, I’ve leaned into financial literacy and mentorship to empower others in healthcare.

In this episode, I talk about the difference between managing and leading, the power of mentorship, and turning challenges into opportunities. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your leadership skills, I hope my story inspires you to lead boldly and intentionally.

Check out the episode and let me know what leadership means to you! Watch here.

Kimberly Madison, DNP, AGPCNP-BC

I am a nurse practitioner entrepreneur who specializes in dermatology nursing education and research with an emphasis on skin of color. I created this blog to share my journey as a source of motivation and as a blueprint, as you embark on your journey. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to increasing access to dermatology education and clinical training for aspiring and practicing nurse practitioners. I invite you to view the mission and vision statement on the homepage to see how we can best partner to make our dreams align.

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