On February 24, 2012, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson emailed a small group of colleagues from her United States Naval Academy Network to share her vision of connecting an intergenerational and multi-ethnic community of leaders for personal encouragement and professional development, while passing their wisdom and understanding on to the next generation. She wanted to grow a collaborative, educational, and encouraging community of like-minded individuals who have a strong passion for mentorship, education, leadership, public service, and Christian faith, and who were committed to intentionally investing in the next generation, while serving their local communities, and making a global impact.

Among the small online community, six alumni of the Naval Academy answered the call and committed to praying and dreaming together for three years. From that point of entry, Natasha continued to lead the team and use her passions, skills, research, strategic mind, and relational capacity to cultivate what has become the Leadership LINKS Network, the secret sauce of individuals and organizations that sustain the work of Leadership LINKS, Inc.    

Dr. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson is a Black girl from the small rural town of Orangeburg, South Carolina (hometown of two Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Claflin University and South Carolina State University), and a beneficiary of mentoring through the Helen Sheffield Federated Girls Club (an organization of the National Council of Negro Women). As a graduate of a Title-1 public school, she became a scholar, competitive athlete, and leader because her family and village cultivated a meaningful life filled with love; positive affirmation; character, spiritual, and leadership development through skill-building like self-discipline, hard work, determination, and integrity.