Qiana Daniels
Co-founder and Co-Executive Director, Kindred Bakery BK
đź“ŤNew York, United States
What qualities do you think leaders need to have in today’s world?
Leaders today need empathy, collaboration, and a deep commitment to creating opportunity for others. Throughout my career as an educator in the New York City public school system, I have focused on ensuring that students with disabilities and learning differences have access to meaningful education and the opportunity to thrive.
I personally interview every family before enrollment, calls parents with updates, celebrates student milestones, and creates an atmosphere where every participant feels seen and valued. Leadership, to me, is about listening, building trust, and creating spaces where people feel seen and valued. When people feel supported, they gain the confidence to grow and contribute in ways they may not have imagined.
If you had to describe your leadership style in one word, what would it be and why?
Nurturing. As a lifelong educator and Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Kindred Bakery BK, my leadership style is rooted in creating environments where people feel supported as they learn and grow. At Kindred, we work with neurodiverse young adults who are too often excluded from traditional workforce programs. Through our curriculum, which blends artisan baking, education, and employment training, we focus on helping participants build skills, confidence, and pride in their work. My goal is to create an atmosphere where every participant feels seen, valued, and capable of thriving.
How does your company’s Pledge 1% program help shape the kind of workplace culture you believe in?
Pledge 1% reflects the kind of culture we strive to build at Kindred every day. As Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Kindred Bakery BK, I designed a curriculum that blends artisan baking, education, and employment training for young people who are often excluded from traditional workforce programs.
My background in special education and literacy, my experience as a mother, and my lived understanding of inequity shape every aspect of Kindred’s teaching and mentorship. Our work is rooted in community and mentorship, and we believe that businesses can play a meaningful role in creating opportunity. Programs like Pledge 1% reinforce the importance of generosity, collaboration, and investing in the communities we serve.
This year marks the 7th year of Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead campaign. How can companies champion and support female leadership?
Companies can champion female leadership by creating environments where women’s experiences and perspectives are valued and trusted. As the mother of a young adult with autism, I transformed my personal journey into a broader mission of building a space where young people with disabilities can gain confidence, skill, and belonging through meaningful work.
At Kindred, that commitment shapes how we lead and how we care for our community. Families who participate in our program often describe Kindred as “a family,” which reflects the culture of care we work to cultivate. When companies support women in bringing their full experiences into leadership, they create stronger and more inclusive communities.
If you could write a note to your younger self on her first day of work, what would it say?
Remember where you come from and let it shape how you show up for others. Growing up in public housing in Queens gave you a firsthand understanding of the barriers many families face when navigating systems that were not built with them in mind. One day, your journey as a mother, especially raising a neurodiverse son, will deepen that understanding even more.
Stay grounded in that purpose and trust the path ahead. The work you do will grow into a community where young people and their families feel seen, supported, and experience a true sense of belonging.
