For LaDonna Boyd, leadership is a family affair — one that dates back generations.
Her great-great-grandfather, the Rev. Dr. Richard Henry Boyd, founded the National Baptist Publishing Company — now known as the R.H. Boyd Company — in 1896. Committed to education, faith, literacy and economic empowerment, the organization celebrates African-American perspectives that have historically been disenfranchised.
“R.H. Boyd is one of the foundational businesses in Nashville,” says LaDonna. “It is rich in heritage and culture, and it has preserved the story of Nashville and the faith community.”
LaDonna, a fifth-generation leader, is now publisher and CEO of the business she grew up in. She’s also the first female president in R.H. Boyd’s 130-year history. “Family conversations frequently centered around the business, our mission and our responsibility to serve others,” she says. “As I grew older, I realized I wasn’t simply leading a company. I was stepping into purpose.”
LaDonna creates immersive experiences to give others opportunities. She founded the Legacy Ball in 2022, a highly attended black-tie gathering in support of the R.H. Boyd Family Endowment Fund. The fund is a living memorial for R.H. Boyd’s founder, providing scholarships and grants that help develop the next generation of leaders, educators and philanthropists.
Initiatives like the Legacy Ball remind LaDonna that preserving history requires an active community — and each year, she honors the outstanding organizations and individuals who shape our city. This year, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, the Nashville Public Library’s Civil Rights Room, the Urban League of Middle Tennessee and author Alice Randall all received awards.
“There are not many institutional and familial stories like mine,” LaDonna says. “I am hopeful that my work helps make Nashville a more inclusive and elegant place to gather.”
Outside R.H. Boyd, LaDonna brings her strategic and operational expertise to Citizens Savings Bank & Trust, where she chairs the holding company. She has previously served on the boards of the National Museum of African American Music and Nashville Ballet and acted as commissioner of the Historic Zoning Commission for Metro Nashville.
When not leading a company, planning events or serving on a board, LaDonna dives into passions like storytelling, design, history, luxury and fragrance, which she believes inform her leadership style — one driven by creativity and legacy. “The most enduring legacies are like great fragrances,” she says. “They linger long after we’ve left the room.”
Top: LAPOINTE satin cape tee (Gus Mayer)
Pants: LAPOINTE satin relaxed pants (Gus Mayer)
Shoes: Model’s own
Earrings: Model’s own
Bracelets: Diamond eternity bangle (Patricia Marie Fine Jewelry), open heart bracelet (Patricia Marie Fine Jewelry), model’s own
Watch: Model’s own
Ring: Model’s own
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