Hermence Matsotsa uBuntuSpeaks

06/19/2026

Today, in honor of Juneteenth, I am honored to share a conversation that was both professionally and personally meaningful to me.

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of interviewing the legendary Les Brown for a Black History Month Special on behalf of the Black National Speakers Association.

For decades, Les Brown has inspired millions around the world to believe in their potential, embrace discipline, and pursue their greatness. Yet what struck me most during our conversation was not just his wisdom, but his unwavering commitment to investing in others.

As someone whose work is grounded in the philosophy of Ubuntu, "I am because we are," I see in Les Brown a leader who embodies that principle fully. He reminds us that greatness is not measured by how high we rise, but by how many people we help rise with us.

In honor of Juneteenth, a day that reminds us of the ongoing pursuit of freedom, possibility, and human dignity, I invite you to watch this powerful conversation on leadership, legacy, coachability, storytelling, and unleashing the greatness within.

🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/FsL9td9xdcw?si=owfG6HnED4m91Kie

We would love to hear your biggest takeaway.

In honor of Juneteenth (June 19, 2026), I am honored to share this ...

06/19/2026

Today, June 19th, I am holding Juneteenth with deep reverence.

Not just as a day on the calendar, but as a sacred reminder of the enslaved Africans who breathed life into the United States soil with their bodies, souls, and spirits. Those who resisted, endured, prayed, were forced to wait for a universal and God-given right - FREEDOM, and still found ways to hope.

I think about the ancestors who carried pain they did not ask for, strength they should not have had to summon, and dreams they may never have seen come to life. I think about the generations who kept going so that we could stand, speak, lead, love, and build.

Juneteenth reminds me that freedom is not only something we celebrate. It is something we must protect. It is something we must practice in how we see one another, how we lead one another, how we listen, and how we create spaces where every person’s humanity is honored.

Ubuntu, the South African philosophy of interconnectedness, teaches us that our humanity is intrinsically connected to one another; therefore, I am because we are.

Today, I honor the past. I sit with the truth. I celebrate resilience. And I recommit to doing my part to build a more just, loving, compassionate, and human-centered future for all.

What are you doing?

06/02/2026

Have you ever sat in a workplace meeting and thought, “We are talking, but we are not really saying what needs to be said”?

Have you noticed your team, ERG, or organization needing more trust, a deeper connection, clearer communication, or a safer space for honest conversation?

That is why I created the uBuntuSpeaks Power Hour Facilitation Services.

These 60-minute facilitated conversations are designed for ERGs, employee communities, leaders, and teams who are ready for more than another meeting.

Rooted in UBUNTU, “I am because we are,” each Power Hour helps people feel seen, heard, and re-engaged to lead, connect, and contribute with greater intention.

Power Hours can be delivered virtually, in person, or hybrid.

Explore the Power Hour Experiences here:
https://powerhour.ubuntuworkforce.com/

What conversation does your workplace, team, or community need to have right now?

Turn your next Employee Business Resource Groups, Employee Networks, and Workplace Community gathering into a space where people feel seen, heard, and re-engaged to lead, connect, and contribute.

05/25/2026

Today, on Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States.

One of the earliest known and historically significant Memorial Day observances took place on May 1, 1865, in Charleston, South Carolina. Newly freed African Americans, along with others in the community, gathered to honor Union soldiers who had died in captivity at the Washington Race Course. They gave them a proper burial, created a cemetery known as the “Martyrs of the Race Course,” and decorated their graves with flowers.

That history matters.

Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never something to take lightly. It is carried by the courage, love, and sacrifice of people and families whose names we may never know, but whose impact we continue to live under every day.

It also reminds us that remembrance is not only about looking back. It is about honoring the courage, sacrifice, and humanity of those whose lives made freedom possible for others.

As we gather with family, rest, travel, or simply enjoy a quieter day, may we also take a moment to reflect with gratitude.

For those who have served, those who have lost someone in service, and the families who continue to carry that sacrifice, we honor you today.

What is one way you pause, remember, or honor the meaning of Memorial Day?

05/18/2026

My heart is still full from this past Saturday’s in-person book launch for Better Than Yesterday: How to Take Intentional Steps to the Self You Envision here in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

What took place was so much more than a book event. It was a gathering rooted in reflection, vulnerability, laughter, healing, connection, and love. Seeing and listening to women openly engage in conversations about becoming, self-trust, grace, Ubuntu, and what it truly means to take intentional small steps toward the self we envision reminded me exactly why I wrote Better Than Yesterday in the first place.

These pictures capture only a glimpse of what we shared together that evening.

To every woman and SisterFriend who showed up, supported me, purchased a book, participated in the reflection activities, shared your heart and stories, and embraced the loving-kindness meditation with such openness and courage, thank you. I see you. I see, value, and love you. And I am deeply grateful we were able to share space together.

A very special thank you to my SisterFriend, Deven whose love, vision, care, and intentional planning made this entire event possible. Your belief in me, your support, and your commitment to creating a beautiful experience that allowed women to feel safe, seen, heard, and connected made this event a success. I could not have done this without you. Thank you for being YOU!!!

Saturday night confirmed something deeply for me: this is only the beginning.

I want to continue bringing these kinds of intentional gatherings and Better Than Yesterday experiences to women across the country, spaces where we can pause, reflect, heal gently, and remind one another that none of us are meant to become alone.

So if you would like me to bring a Better Than Yesterday book gathering, reflection experience, or loving-kindness event to your city, please DM me or email me at [email protected].

And stay tuned… another city is coming soon. ✨

If you would like to purchase a copy of Better Than Yesterday: How to Take Intentional Steps to the Self You Envision, it is available on Amazon- See the link below.

Before you leave, I would love to hear from you:

What is one intentional small step you are taking toward the self you envision?

Better than yesterday.

And enough, exactly as you are.

UBUNTU- I am who I am because we are!

05/09/2026

Atlanta-area women… I would LOVE to invite you into the room for something deeply special 💜✨

After years of reflection, growth, healing, journaling, and taking intentional small steps toward the woman I envisioned… my book *Better Than Yesterday* is here.

And now, I get to celebrate this moment WITH YOU.

Join me for an intimate afternoon of conversation, connection, reflection, community, and celebration as we gather for my official book launch event in Lilburn, Georgia!

📚 *Better Than Yesterday: How To Take Intentional Small Steps To The Self You Envision*

🗓 Saturday, May 16th
🕟 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Alcove Coffeehouse
4615 Stone Mountain Hwy
Lilburn, GA 30047

This is more than a book event.
It’s a space for women who are becoming…
women who are healing…
women who are learning to return to themselves with grace.

Come sip coffee, connect, ask questions, share reflections, and celebrate this beautiful season with me 💫

Please text me at 202-421-9184 by May 11th to confirm your attendance.

And if you know a woman who is in a season of growth, transition, healing, or rediscovery… invite her too 💜

I cannot wait to hug some of you in person and celebrate together!

05/09/2026

Not just flowers this year…

Give her something that grows with her.

A gift that reflects, encourages, and supports the woman she continues to become.

Better Than Yesterday is more than a book — it’s a companion for growth, one intentional step at a time.

Grab a copy for the mother in your life 💜
https://a.co/d/0b5W4oHN

04/13/2026

Greetings Sis! 🖤

I’m speaking at a FREE virtual panel this Wednesday, and I want you there with me.

The Game Nobody Gave Us — Episode 1
Hostile Environments Are Killing Us

We are finally having the real conversation about what these toxic work environments are doing to our bodies, our minds, and our careers.

📅 Wednesday April 15th | 6PM CT
💻 Free on Zoom

🎁 One lucky attendee wins a FREE 90-minute career strategy coaching session.

Register here 👇🏾
https://www.aliyahsintelligence.com/the-game-nobody-gave-us

Drop this in every group chat you have. Forward it to every Black woman in your phone who needs this conversation. Let’s fill this room.

Once you register, an email with the meeting notice is sent to you!

See you on Wednesday! ✊🏾

04/01/2026

Before this day ends, I want to ask you something…

As we close out Women’s History Month, who are the women in your life that are doing their best… quietly growing… and still showing up every day?

Better Than Yesterday was written for those women.
For the ones navigating growth, self-doubt, healing, and becoming — one intentional step at a time.

If this message resonates with you, I’d love your support in a meaningful way:

✨ Purchase a copy for yourself
✨ Gift a copy to a woman in your life
✨ Share this post so it can reach someone who needs it

Let’s end this month by pouring into each other.

You can grab your copy here:
https://a.co/d/0b5W4oHN

Who is one woman you’re thinking of right now?

03/31/2026

What if becoming better didn’t require pressure… just intention?

Better Than Yesterday was written as an invitation — to pause, to breathe, and to take one small step toward the life you envision.

So many of us are doing our best, yet it still feels like survival. This book is about shifting that… gently, intentionally, and with grace.

If you’re ready to:
✨ Quiet your inner critic
✨ Release perfectionism
✨ Build deeper self-trust

You can start here:
https://a.co/d/0b5W4oHN

And if this message resonates, share it with someone who may need encouragement on their journey.

What’s one small step you’re taking today?