In this episode of Just Between Us Girls, we’re joined by 1st Assistant Chief LaShonna Potts of the Columbus Police Department for a powerful conversation about identity, self-expression, and the often invisible expectations placed on women—especially in uniform.

LaShonna opens up about the journey that led her into law enforcement, and what it’s meant to carve out space in a profession that asks for conformity before authenticity. From balancing authority with empathy, to pushing for progress in spaces that value order over change, she brings both candor and clarity to the challenges of showing up fully when the role demands you wear more than just a badge.

Together, we unpack the tension between professionalism and personal expression, and how style, voice, and femininity can exist right alongside strength and structure. This episode is for anyone who's ever been asked to tone it down, fit in, or check pieces of themselves at the door in the name of “respectability.”

LaShonna reminds us that being “built for the work” doesn’t mean abandoning who you are—it means knowing that your presence as you are is part of the power you bring.

Topics Covered:

Navigating leadership in roles rooted in structure and uniformity

Identity, expression, and the silent codes of “professionalism”

Holding space for authenticity in male-dominated fields

The emotional labor of challenging norms

Leading with humanity, softness, and unapologetic strength