For Genora Boykins, leadership has never been confined to one title, one profession or even one boardroom.
Over a career spanning four decades, the Houston attorney has moved through corporate law, entrepreneurship, higher education and civic leadership, often finding herself in positions where she can help shape institutions and open doors for others. Today, she serves as chair of the board of trustees of The Woman’s Hospital of Texas, bringing years of governance experience and a community perspective to the institution, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
But Boykins doesn’t necessarily view her long list of leadership roles as a collection of accomplishments. She sees them as an extension of how she was raised.
“I just felt like if I had a gift or talents that I needed to use them beyond just for a corporation to make money,” Boykins told the Defender. “And so I’ve always just felt the need to give back.”
Boykins grew up in Prairie View in a family where community involvement was part of everyday life. Her father served for a time on the city council. Her mother was active in her sorority, and both of her parents held leadership roles in church and community organizations. There was no formal lesson about civic responsibility for Boykins and her sister because their parents modeled it.
“They lived it,” Boykins said. “And so that’s what we saw. So I thought everybody did that.”
That foundation followed Boykins to Spelman College, where she graduated in 1982. She had known since childhood that she wanted to become an attorney, an ambition first sparked by watching “Perry Mason” on television. After Spelman, she returned to Houston to attend South Texas College of Law Houston, earning her law degree in 1985 and becoming the first lawyer in her family.
Boykins ultimately chose transactional and corporate law over the courtroom. After working for private firms, she joined Houston Lighting & Power Co. and remained through the company’s evolution, eventually working with NRG Energy as regional assistant general counsel. She stepped away from full-time work in 2018 but continued working part time as counsel for NRG.
Her connection to South Texas College of Law Houston also continued long after graduation. Boykins returned to her alma mater as a member of its board of directors and served four years as board chair – the first Black female to hold that title. During her tenure, the law school celebrated its centennial, conducted a national search that resulted in the selection of a new president and dean, strengthened its governance structure and placed greater board focus on measurable outcomes including bar passage rates, career placement, alumni engagement, advancement and endowment growth.
Boykins also advocated for bringing broader perspectives onto the board, including members who were neither lawyers nor South Texas alumni.
“I believe strong board leadership starts with passion for the institution you’re governing,” Boykins said. “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without my education at South Texas.”
She transitioned to immediate past chair this year, with attorney Randall O. “Randy” Sorrels succeeding her.
Her leadership extends well beyond the legal profession. Boykins’ service has included the State Bar of Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline, Downtown Management District, Pyramid Community Development Corp. and Dress for Success Houston. She previously served on the boards of the Houston Area Urban League and Houston Area Women’s Center. Much of that work has allowed her to advocate for opportunities for women and minorities, including contracting, hiring, advancement and retention.
And then there is the part of her résumé that doesn’t fit neatly into either law or board governance.
In 2010, Boykins and business partner Sharon Owens founded La Maison in Midtown, an upscale bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Houston. The venture added entrepreneur and hospitality owner to Boykins’ already varied career and placed two Black women in a space where they remain underrepresented: ownership in the lodging and hospitality industry.
For Boykins, however, moving between corporate law, community leadership and entrepreneurship has never seemed as disconnected as it might appear on paper. Each has required understanding how organizations work, how people are served and what can happen when people with different experiences are given a place at the table.
“I believe strong board leadership starts with passion for the institution you’re governing.”
Genora Boykins
That perspective is part of what she brings to The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. The board includes physicians, hospital leadership and community representatives, giving the institution voices beyond the medical profession. Boykins joined as one of those community representatives, bringing extensive experience in governance as well as the perspective of someone who had once been a patient at the hospital herself.
“I think the other thing is just having that different perspective that you sometimes can’t get when you have a homogeneous group of people,” she said. “You get to really bring your own perspective to the table.”
Boykins is married to former Houston City Councilman Dwight Boykins, making public and community service a familiar presence in their household. Yet after decades of accepting calls to serve, she acknowledges that she is trying to become more selective about what comes next.
“I’m working toward done,” she said.
Still, sitting home and doing nothing doesn’t appear to be part of the plan. Boykins says the need she sees around her remains too great.
ny” she said. “If I can do anything to assist somebody or help an organization function a little more efficiently, then I don’t know that I’ll ever stop.”
