RaisedByHer (Donnica & Ro Nita)

About RaisedByHer (Donnica & Ro Nita)

Ro Nita and Donnica Hawes-Saunders are the mother–daughter team behind Raised By Her, a podcast that blends generational storytelling with candid conversations on family, identity, leadership, and resilience.

Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders is the former CEO of the internationally acclaimed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC), where she led the organization to global recognition, innovative partnerships, and national awards including the New York Dance and Performance Award (“The Bessie”). Before her career in the arts, she was one of fewer than ten African-American women in the U.S. to found and build a broadcasting company from the ground up, earning the prestigious Marconi Radio Award and being named one of Radio Inc.’s Top 25 African-American leaders in radio. A lifelong advocate for cultural storytelling and community empowerment, Ro Nita has been recognized with numerous leadership and service honors, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Dayton.

Donnica Hawes-Saunders is the Founder and CEO of The Averity Group, a nationally recognized public affairs firm named one of the top reputation management agencies in the U.S. by Design Rush. A political and social impact strategist with more than a decade of experience on Capitol Hill and in Fortune 500 companies, Donnica has shaped policy, communications, and advocacy at the highest levels. She has been named one of Yahoo Finance’s EMpower 100 Global Future Leaders, a Business Journal Forty Under 40 Honoree, and one of D.C.’s Top Lobbyists and Influencers by Lawyers of Color. She has spoken globally at the Aspen Institute, SHRM Executive Institute, Concordia Summit, and more, and currently serves on several nonprofit and cultural boards.

Together, Ro Nita and Donnica bring a rare multigenerational perspective that resonates with audiences of all ages. As podcast guests, they offer compelling stories and actionable insights on confidence, voice, parenting, leadership, and the cultural shifts shaping work and family today. Their dynamic as mother and daughter makes for conversations that are authentic, heartfelt, and deeply relatable.