Breaking Free: Najmah Ahmad on Achievement Addiction, Nonprofit Burnout, and the Journey to Wellness
In the latest episode of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, host Dr. Asia Lyons sits down with Najmah Ahmad, an educator, consultant, and advocate who has spent nearly two decades supporting people through life’s biggest transitions. From working in higher education and nonprofits to navigating the politics of school districts and national education policy, Najmah’s journey is one of resilience, hard truths, and ultimately, self-liberation.
This episode takes a deep dive into racial battle fatigue, burnout culture in nonprofits, the myth of achievement addiction, and what it truly means to be well as a Black educator. If you’ve ever felt trapped in a system that demands everything from you while giving little in return, this conversation is a must-listen.
"The System Isn’t Broken—It’s Doing Exactly What It Was Designed to Do."
One of the most eye-opening moments in this episode comes when Najmah shares a truth many of us know deep down but struggle to accept—the education system is not broken; it’s operating exactly as designed.
For years, Najmah fought to change the system from within, working across multiple education sectors to improve outcomes for Black and Brown students. She launched mentorship and leadership programs, created career readiness curriculums, and worked with national policymakers. But at every level, from nonprofits to school districts to federal education organizations, she hit the same frustrating reality: the system isn’t failing by accident—it was built this way.
This is a truth that many Black educators, nonprofit leaders, and social justice workers wrestle with. We enter these fields because we believe in change. We believe in the power of education. We believe that if we just work harder, advocate louder, and push stronger, we can fix it. But what happens when we realize that the system isn’t designed to be fixed?
💬 "I kept thinking if I could just find the right space, I could make a real impact. But every time, I hit the same walls. The same resistance. The same burnout. At some point, I had to ask myself—at what cost?"
The Plantation Orientation: Navigating Anti-Blackness in the Workplace
Najmah’s journey in education took her from grassroots nonprofit work to district-level leadership and finally to national education policy work in Washington, D.C. It was there that she experienced one of her most surreal moments—a "Plantation Orientation" warning from a Black colleague.
"He walked into my office and said, ‘Let me give you the Plantation Orientation.’ And I was like… excuse me? What did I just sign up for?"
She soon learned what he meant.
- Black employees were watched if they gathered in groups.
- Leadership was overwhelmingly white and resistant to change.
- Speaking out was tolerated—until you pushed too hard. Then, you became a problem.
This wasn’t just her experience in national policy—it was a pattern she saw across all of her roles. From higher education to nonprofits, the expectation was the same: Black women, in particular, were expected to overwork, undercompensate, and accept the status quo.
"We Didn’t Need Another Open Bar. We Needed Real Investment in Our Well-Being."
One of the most relatable moments in this episode is when Najmah discusses the burnout culture in nonprofit spaces.
🚨 Sound familiar? 🚨
- Your organization claims to fight for equity and justice—but refuses to take a stance on real issues.
- Leadership preaches about self-care—but expects you to work 60-hour weeks.
- Instead of higher pay or wellness support, you get happy hours, company swag, and free snacks.
💬 "They wanted to keep us pacified. You’re overwhelmed? Have an open bar. You’re underpaid? Here’s a $25 Starbucks gift card. We needed real investment in our well-being, not a distraction from our exhaustion."
This is the hidden struggle of nonprofit work—especially for Black and Brown professionals. The mission is powerful. The impact is real. But the burnout is relentless.
Najmah realized that no amount of free drinks or swag bags could compensate for the fact that she was exhausted, undervalued, and slowly losing herself in a system that did not care for her well-being.
Breaking Free: The Journey to Healing and Self-Liberation
So how do we escape this cycle? How do we step away from toxic work environments, overachievement culture, and the myth that we have to sacrifice ourselves to create change?
For Najmah, the answer was therapy, self-reflection, and a radical redefinition of success.
💬 "Achievement addiction is real, and as Black women, it’s rooted in survival. We’re taught to work twice as hard, to be perfect, to be everything to everyone. But at some point, we have to ask—at what cost?"
✅ She left traditional education spaces.
✅ She launched her own consulting business, The Chisholm Group.
✅ She prioritized her well-being for the first time.
And she’s not alone. Many Black educators and nonprofit professionals are realizing that the system will drain them until there’s nothing left—unless they choose to free themselves first.
💬 "To be well is to be free. And freedom is our birthright."
Final Thoughts: What Does Wellness Look Like for You?
This episode of The Exit Interview challenges all of us to rethink our relationship with work, wellness, and liberation.
✨ What does being well look like for you?
✨ What are you carrying that’s weighing you down?
✨ Are you staying in a system that’s harming you because you feel obligated to “fix” it?
We’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or join the conversation on social media.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube!
🔗 Watch the full conversation on YouTube - https://youtu.be/Njd3J-Qs3sQ?si=TZNjmK9W1jzpz1tW
🔗 Subscribe for more real conversations on education & wellness → https://black-educator-be-well.kit.com/fbb2124668
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