meet cessilye
Cessilye R. Spencer is a writer, speaker, maternal justice leader, public health advocate, social entrepreneur, and visionary leader committed to advancing equity, stronger communities, and lasting systems change. Her work sits at the intersection of maternal health, racial justice, leadership, and organizational culture.
As the Founder and CEO of Abide Women’s Health Services, Cessilye has spent nearly a decade creating innovative, community-centered solutions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in historically under-resourced communities. Founded in South Dallas in 2017, Abide has become a recognized leader in maternal health equity, providing accessible, holistic, evidence-based care and support.
With more than two decades of leadership experience, Cessilye brings a unique perspective as a founder and CEO to the challenges of nonprofit and corporate leadership. As a coach and consultant, she is particularly passionate about supporting leaders—especially Black women—as they navigate the complexities and pressures of leadership. She challenges traditional systems rooted in capitalism, extraction, and dehumanizing workplace practices while helping leaders imagine a more human-centered way of working and leading.
Cessilye’s work focuses on helping leaders and organizations cultivate a culture of care, embrace healthy and sustainable work-life balance, and create environments where people can flourish rather than simply survive. She invites leaders to reimagine success, productivity, power, and organizational culture through a restorative and human-centered lens, grounded in the principles of Rest, Resist, and Restore.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Cessilye shares insights on leadership, organizational culture, maternal health, faith, racial justice, and social impact with nonprofits, healthcare organizations, faith communities, educational institutions, policymakers, and national audiences. Her work has been featured by ABC News Nightline, The Dallas Morning News, Black Enterprise, Sojourners, KevinMD, and numerous other media outlets.
Cessilye is a mother, advocate, entrepreneur, and legacy builder who believes we can create a better way of leading—one that honors the humanity of those doing the work and makes room for people and communities to truly flourish.