Brandi Liberty: Redefining Success Through Sovereignty, Service, and Strength
- Nov 12
- 5 min read
When you meet Brandi Liberty, you instantly feel her presence—a grounded power that’s both commanding and compassionate. As the CEO and Founder of The Luak Group, a 100% Native woman-owned consulting firm, Brandi’s leadership radiates from a place far deeper than ambition. It’s born of legacy, love for her people, and an unshakable belief that true success is measured not by profit, but by purpose.
An enrolled member of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and a descendant of the United Houma Nation of Louisiana, Brandi carries her heritage like armor and compass. Her life’s work—spanning over 16 years and more than $135 million in successful federal and state grants—is dedicated to advancing sovereignty, capacity, and self-determination for tribal communities across Indian Country.
But to understand Brandi’s success is to understand her why—a story rooted in the strength of generations before her, and the resilience it took to rebuild her life after surviving narcissistic abuse and systemic barriers that often silence Native women.
A Legacy Rooted in Service
For Brandi, leadership began at home. “I come from a line of strong Indigenous women,” she says. “My grandmother spent her life serving our people, helping tribal members navigate systems that were never designed for us. The Luak Group is my way of carrying that forward.”
Her journey began modestly—writing grants for her tribe and coordinating community programs. “Back then, I didn’t think of myself as a CEO,” she laughs. “I just wanted to make a difference.”
What started as one woman with a vision evolved into a movement. Over the years, Brandi founded multiple companies before uniting them under The Luak Group—a full-service consulting firm offering business development, housing support, compliance, and strategic planning to more than 100 tribal nations across the U.S.
Each project, she emphasizes, is personal. “I don’t just write grants—I help communities build infrastructure, restore housing, and create opportunities for their people. Every award represents families being housed, elders being cared for, or tribal nations reclaiming control over their futures.”
The Power of Persistence
The numbers alone—$135 million secured, multiple national board roles, and recognition as one of the top five grant writers in Indian Country—are remarkable.
But what makes Brandi’s story extraordinary is what it took to get there.
“I built everything from scratch while raising two kids and healing from abuse,” she says. “I didn’t have investors, a big team, or a safety net. Just faith, grit, and a belief that my purpose was bigger than my pain.”
That purpose guided her through countless 16-hour workdays and cross-country flights to meet with tribal councils. It fueled her through nights of self-doubt and seasons of silence. “For years, I couldn’t even call myself a CEO,” she admits. “I thought that title was reserved for people who looked different, had capital, or had power. But then I realized—I was already leading, already building impact. I just needed to own it.”
And own it she did.
Today, Brandi is not only the CEO of The Luak Group but also serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Vice President of Research Wild, and a monthly columnist for Verite News in New Orleans, where she writes about Indigenous culture and policy. She’s been featured in High Country News, Associated Press, and now—Success Savvy Magazine.
Leading with Heart and Heritage
Brandi often says that leadership, for her, begins with listening. “Leading with heart means showing up with empathy, humility, and respect for sovereignty. It means understanding that every tribal nation has its own rhythm, its own way of decision-making.”
She doesn’t shy away from the complexities of navigating federal systems that often overlook Indigenous ways of working. “It’s a balancing act,” she explains. “I have to speak the language of policy and compliance while honoring ceremony, kinship, and tradition.”
That means building bridges—not just between governments and tribes, but between past and future. “When we integrate culture into our systems—whether that’s through tribal housing design, policy development, or education—we create solutions that are sustainable because they’re authentic.”
This philosophy has guided her through projects like the Iowa Tribe’s broadband expansion, the Northern Ponca Housing Authority’s elder development, and dozens of other initiatives that have reshaped the economic and social landscapes of Native communities.
Authenticity Over Expectation
Being a Native woman in leadership often means defying expectations—and Brandi has never shied away from that challenge. Growing up urban but staying connected to her reservation roots, she’s had her identity questioned, her expertise tested, and her presence underestimated.
“I once had someone tell me I wasn’t ‘really Native’ because I didn’t grow up on the reservation,” she recalls. “It was painful, but it taught me one of my first leadership lessons: authenticity isn’t about proving who you are—it’s about standing in your truth without apology.”
That truth now fuels everything she does.
Her forthcoming book, Native Women Lead: Strength, Sovereignty & Survival, explores the intersection of identity, trauma, and leadership through the voices of Indigenous women reclaiming power in every field—from governance to the arts.
“It’s time our stories were told on our terms,” she says. “We’re not monolithic. We’re multifaceted, powerful, and deeply connected to our communities.”
Representation with Purpose
Beyond policy and consulting, Brandi’s advocacy also extends into fashion and media—spaces where Indigenous representation has long been limited or misrepresented.
As a model and sponsor for shows like the RES Fashion Show and the Walk of Generations, she sees fashion as an extension of sovereignty. “When I walk that runway in designs by Indigenous creators, I’m honoring generations of Native women who were silenced or invisible. I’m showing our daughters that Indigenous beauty, strength, and leadership belong everywhere.”
Through storytelling—whether in writing, fashion, or public speaking—Brandi is shaping a new narrative for Indigenous excellence: one rooted in pride, not pain.
The Mentorship That Changed Everything
Every great leader stands on the shoulders of those who believed in them, and for Brandi, that person was Joey Nathan, former Executive Director of the Northern Ponca Housing Authority.
“Joey saw something in me before I saw it in myself,” Brandi shares. “I was going through one of the hardest times in my life—leaving an abusive marriage, raising my kids alone—and she gave me grace, flexibility, and trust. That mentorship changed everything. My first consulting contract was with her organization.”
Today, Brandi pays that gift forward, mentoring Indigenous women who are launching businesses or stepping into leadership. “I tell them: you don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to start. Your lived experience is your superpower.”
What’s Next: Expansion and Impact
Brandi’s next chapter is one of deepening her reach. Alongside leading The Luak Group, she recently joined Nuweh LLC, an enterprise of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, as Senior Tribal Corporate Relations & Resource Acquisitions Executive—a role that focuses on sovereignty, sustainability, and intertribal economic development.
She’s also exploring a Ph.D. in tribal housing policy, focusing her research on creating trauma-informed housing systems for survivors of domestic violence—merging her personal and professional missions in a powerful way.
“Survivors deserve safety, dignity, and community,” she says. “If we can build housing and policy systems that honor those values, we can change lives.”
The Redefinition of Success
For Brandi Liberty, success is not defined by accolades or revenue—it’s measured in the communities she uplifts, the stories she honors, and the legacy she continues.
“I’m not just building a business,” she says. “I’m building a future where Indigenous people don’t have to fight to be seen, heard, or respected. A future where sovereignty and sustainability coexist—and where women like my grandmother are never forgotten.”
With grace, grit, and a heart rooted in culture, Brandi Liberty is more than a CEO. She’s a bridge builder, a truth teller, and a living example that success isn’t about rising above—it’s about rising together.
Connect With Brandi
Instagram:
Personal: @nola_ioway_girl
The Luak Group: @the_luak_group
Brandi Liberty Author: @brandi_liberty_author
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