This chapter explains a strengths-based direction, demonstrating ways in which one African American woman transcended multiple barriers to author's educational attainment from intermediate school years through the attainment of her doctorate in educational leadership over 15 years. Her experience is framed by literature concerning how African American women overcome barriers in education, grounded in an emergent approach called barrier transcendence theory. Compelling research and experiential counter-narratives by African American, Latina, and Indigenous descent women describe common barriers that threaten their educational attainment from primary school through to postsecondary education. Barriers to educational attainment manifest as diminished academic achievement resulting in academic achievement gaps, high drop-out rates, and low graduation rates. Women of color in the United States and particularly African American women, report increased barriers as they seek to attain higher levels of educational attainment. Adding to barriers preventing access to educational degree completion is the shortage of Black women in educational leadership positions.