Break Concrete: Black Women At Work

It's no secret that the tech industry has a diversity problem. Dr. Dédé Tetsubayashi, a product equity, inclusion and tech ethicist, joins to discuss how the lack of representation within tech adversely impacts product equity and user experiences, and how tech companies can be more inclusive. Dr. Dédé also shares how she educates and empowers individuals, groups, and communities through incluu, a Black-woman-owned consultancy transforming organizations to be more inclusive in product design and processes.  Topics Covered: How Dr. Dédé got started in the field as a technologist Causes for gender and racial gaps in the tech industry Barriers to entry for black women in tech Resources to support your professional development in tech The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) in our everyday lives How AI perpetuates racial and gender biases How to make AI systems more inclusive Why Dr. Dédé founded incluu How incluu addresses gender and racial biases in the tech industry How incluu helps organizations develop trusting relationships with communities of color The business argument for diversity and inclusion Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc054. Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

From a newly immigrated nanny to CEO, Jackie Glenn has embraced life's challenges with boldness and humility, always being true to herself and giving back to those who come after her. It's this commitment to helping others, which led Jackie to write her instructional biography, Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl's Journey Through Corporate America. Jackie discusses how she climbed her way up the corporate ladder and the character gems that brought her and other immigrants professional success in the American workplace.  Topics Covered: Why Jackie decided to write Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl's Journey Through Corporate America Workplace challenges Jackie faced as an immigrant in the U.S.  How your accent can impact you in the workplace Defining authenticity How to turn your unique attributes into an advantage Jackie's experience moving to the U.S. as a young single Black woman from a predominantly Black country Confronting microaggressions in the workplace Getting out of your head Resilience in the workplace How to address being passed over for a promotion Soliciting feedback from others Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc053. Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Women of color face unique gender and racial barriers to their professional advancement and are less likely to move into leadership roles. In today's bonus episode, we speak to the women of The FLI Collective, a lifestyle podcast that deals with the experiences of being first generation and low income in academia. We examine some of these challenges and discuss strategies for advancing women of color, including when we should pursue stretch opportunities and how we lead and bring others along with us. Welcome Drs. Marlette Jackson, Edritz Javelosa, Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, Miranda Stratton, and Courtney Pena! Topics Covered: Defining FLI - first generation, low-income college graduate Navigating privileged spaces as a class migrant What stops women of color from applying to jobs Why women discount their qualifications when job hunting The power of networking Defining stereotype threat What women of color should do when considering a new job How women of color lead and navigate leadership Recognizing the invisible labor women of color managers undertake Why women of color are not promoted into senior positions How to self-advocate in the workplace Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc052. Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Stuck on how to turn your passion project into so much more? After more than a decade in accounting and finance at companies like Morgan Stanley, Viacom, and Johnson & Johnson, Beth Diana Smith left her six-figure salary and the corporate world to launch her own interior design firm, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design. Her style is modern and eclectic with luxurious finishes and custom furnishings. Above all, her work is client-centric as she helps each homeowner hone in on their own style and create a space that inspires them and enhances their lifestyle. Beth chats about how she turned her side hustle into her full time gig.  Topics Covered: Cultivating your skills and passion in a different industry while working full time How Beth transitioned from a career in accounting and finance to interior design Steps to take when launching a new company Lessons Beth learned in launching Beth Diana Smith Interior Design Planning for entrepreneurship Where Beth gets inspiration for her designs Developing your personal style Identifying design faux pas Tips for working with clients during the coronavirus pandemic Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc051. Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

With rising costs of living, steadily increasing debt, and stagnant wages, middle class Americans may find themselves living paycheck to paycheck. But is there even a Black middle class? Imari Smith, a doctoral student in Duke University's Joint Program in Sociology and Public Policy, argues that the Black middle class is a "subaltern middle class", just one tier of a marginalized group. The Black middle class has never reaped the benefits of their middle class status and continue to be subjected to the same harms faced by Black Americans of lower economic status. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc050. Topics Covered: Defining middle class and wealth The hollowing of the middle class  Drivers of increasing household debt Defining the "subaltern middle class" How middle class status insulates from adversity Barriers Black families face to accumulating wealth Closing the wealth gap  Building Black Americans' assets and wealth Identifying who should benefit from reparations Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Every year women perform thousands of hours and trillions of dollars of unpaid work. You've likely heard of the invisible daily household work women perform, but what about unpaid community activism performed by Black and Brown women? Dr. Nina Banks, an associate professor of economics at Bucknell University, argues that this collective activism places additional burdens on women of color that often go unrecognized and uncompensated. Through recognizing how Black women challenge racial oppression in their communities, we can reconceptualize Black women's labor and their impact on the economy. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc049. Topics Covered: How the lack of diverse economists impact theories around social outcomes How Black economists contribute to the field  Understanding women's invisible work Acknowledging Black women's hidden and unpaid work and why it has been overlooked Examples of Black women's unpaid work Recognizing community activism as work Dr. Banks's research about the first African American economist, Sadie T.M. Alexander Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Many employers require their employees to follow workplace dress codes. Employers can regulate employees' clothing, makeup, hairstyles, nails, and more. Your employer might even be able to regulate your weight. Although the line between discriminatory and simply burdensome may seem blurry, today, Professor Stacy Hawkins, Vice Dean and Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School, joins to explain just how far a company dress code can go before crossing into unlawful discrimination. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc048. Topics Covered: Defining authenticity The importance of bringing your whole Self to the workplace How authenticity impacts productivity and company culture Identifying discriminatory workplace dress codes Hair discrimination in the workplace How workplace standards of professionalism discriminate against women of color How companies can embrace employee authenticity instead of conformity Promoting authenticity in the workplace Leading with authenticity Deciding when to conform to workplace norms How employees can hold their companies accountable for promoting authentic workplaces Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

After spending over a year working from home, returning to the office and readjusting to your company dress code can be challenging. Today, Doreen Pierre, a Brooklyn based fashion writer, visual content creator, and events producer chats about how restrictive dress codes inhibit us from bringing our true Selves to work. Doreen's work centers people of color and queer communities and has been featured in The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Virgin Media, DapperQ and more. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc047. Topics Covered: Exploring the connection between fashion and identity How Doreen embraces the many aspects of her identity through fashion Fashion as protection The importance of authenticity in the workplace How dress codes reinforce problematic standards of professionalism  How company dress codes may exclude workers Supporting employee authenticity Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Are you guilty of performative allyship? Today's guest, Dr. Maxine Davis, a scholar, activist, and author, breaks down the pitfalls of performative allyship and how even well-meaning professionals can perpetuate oppression and social harms in the workplace. In early 2021, Dr. Davis authored an article in Nature Human Behavior, Anti-black practices take heavy toll on mental health. We chat about Dr. Davis's own experiences with anti-black practices in the workplace and recommendations for a more inclusive workplace. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc046. Topics Covered: Defining cultural appropriation and how it shows up in the workplace How cultural appropriation causes harm Distinguishing cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation Defining performative allyship and how it shows up at work Tips for moving beyond performative allyship How professionals in helping professions can perpetuate oppression and social harms Finding a mental health therapist/social worker  How to hold organizations accountable to move beyond performative allyship Dr. Davis's experience with anti-black practices in academia Why it's difficult for some to talk about race and interrogate their practices How institutions can address anti-Black practices Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Far too often, we operate in workplaces where women of color leaders are lacking. However, that's not because women of color lack leadership skills. Nor is it because of a lack of interest. Break Concrete is kicking off Season 4 with Dr. Marlette Jackson, a scholar, diversity and inclusion consultant, and co-author of the Harvard Business Review article, Does Your Definition of Leadership Exclude Women of Color? Dr. Jackson interrogates common leadership values and norms and how they exclude women of color. We talk about how organizations can expand their definition of leadership and assign value to qualities often overlooked or criticized when held by women of color. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc045. Topics Covered: Barriers women of color face in career advancement Understanding invisible labor and how it impacts women's careers Common leadership values and why companies should reexamine attributes of leadership they value Who is left out of common definitions of leadership Expanding our definition of leadership Defining cultural capital, resistance capital, and navigational capital Reimagining the workplace through a communal vs. individualistic lens Challenging problematic norms around leadership and getting buy in Questions organizations should ask when seeking leaders in the workplace Why we should look for unconventional leadership skills when hiring  Problems with seeking company "fit"  How to measure success when diversifying leaders in the workplace Retaining diverse leaders in the workplace Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Motherhood and mothering can be complicated, but Tomi Akitunde has built a much needed resource for Black moms: mater mea also known as Black Mom Google. Tomi is an award-winning journalist who founded mater mea, the #1 destination for thoughtful, high quality content that celebrates, supports, and empowers Black moms. mater mea helps Black moms get the answers to their motherhood, life, and career questions through sincere storytelling, expert advice, and community. In today's Mother's Day special episode, Tomi opens up about her experiences with infertility, why she decided to create an online space for Black moms, how she confronted insecurities as the founder of mater mea, and more. Topics Covered: Why Tomi started mater mea, an online magazine for Black moms How mater mea grew to be known as the "Black Mom Google" Why Tomi created a space for Black moms specifically How mater mea builds community for and empowers Black moms Challenges Tomi faced as an entrepreneur Tomi's experience dealing with infertility  How Tomi has dealt with imposter syndrome and gaslighting culture How for years Tomi had been hiding behind mater mea and why she wrote Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself to confront her insecurities as the founder of mater mea Tomi's relationship with her mom Celebrating Black motherhood   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Understanding that Black women experience higher rates of chronic stress and anxiety, Jasmine Marie, a breathwork practitioner, founded black girls breathing, a safe space for Black women to nurture their mental, emotional, and spiritual health through guided meditation, breathwork, and community. In 2020, as racial tensions mounted and many Black women struggled with higher unemployment rates, increased childcare responsibilities, feeling less supported at work, and the devastating health impacts of COVID19, Jasmine adjusted her business structure to provide free and accessible mental healthcare to hundreds of Black women. In this final episode of Season 3, Jasmine shares how she helps women own their bodies and reclaim their power to heal themselves through black girls breathing. Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc043. Topics Covered: Defining breathwork Understanding the health benefits of breathwork including stress and anxiety reduction How Jasmine was introduced to breathwork and built black girls breathing Barriers for Black women in accessing breathwork and mental health therapy How Jasmine combines breathwork, meditation and community with black girls breathing Incorporating breathwork into your daily routine What to expect when trying breathwork for the first time Deciding whether to try breathwork individually or in a group setting Selecting a breathwork instructor who speaks to your needs Jasmine's crowdfunding campaign to provide free breathwork sessions to Black women for one year How Jasmine collects and uses data about Black women with house of bgb Jasmine's vision for black girls breathing   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

It's no secret that problems around diversity, equity, and inclusion permeate all sectors, including the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Whether it's disparate funding for Black and women-led organizations, failure to promote women of color to leadership, or foundations using money as a weapon to dictate the direction of organizational efforts, Kishshana Palmer breaks it all down. Kishshana is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with nearly two decades of experience in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. She is also the founder of The Rooted Collaborative, a global community focused on the holistic evolution and advancement of female leaders of color in the social impact sector.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc042. Topics Covered: How Kishshana started in fundraising and development Adopting a more collaborative approach to fundraising  Defining donor-centric fundraising and its shortcomings Disparities in funding between white-led, minority-led, and women-led organizations Increasing support for minority-led and women-led organizations Setting priorities when fundraising Using fundraising to build power and amplify marginalized voices Re-centering how we think of money when fundraising Challenges facing the nonprofit sector with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion  Why Kishshana started The Rooted Collaborative and how she hopes to redefine philanthropy      Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Dressing the part is only one step in your journey toward professional success. Equally important is understanding and controlling your image, which includes your communication, your personal brand, your wardrobe style, and more. In today's episode, Krysta McGowan, the founder and visionary behind Critique Consulting, an image consulting firm, discusses how an image consultant can positively impact your career. Through Critique Consulting, Krysta provides services such as brand development, wardrobe styling, and personal shopping to professional women across the country.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc041. Topics Covered: Defining image consulting  How image consultants can help you with enhancing your personal image and wardrobe styling, personal shopping, communications, and professional development Why Krysta started Critique Consulting and how she built her company Understanding your body type and shape Finding clothing that accentuates your body (patterns, prints, shapes) How company culture and corporate aesthetics influence norms around professionalism  How Krysta coaches and empowers women of color to embrace and accentuate their physical attributes in the workplace Natural hair politics in the workplace Developing and defining your personal style Timeless staples for your professional closet Common fashion faux pas that women should avoid Costs to hire an image consultant How Krysta is working with women through COVID-19   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Cries for equal treatment and representation billow across all fields, including the fashion industry, and especially in the booming modest fashion industry. Yet, although Black women have made significant contributions (in fact, some may argue that they are the backbone of modest fashion), many go unrecognized and unseen. In today's episode, sisters Rayya and Sumayah Ansari, join to discuss how they created spaces for themselves and other Black Muslim women in fashion. Rayya is a popular modest Muslim fashion blogger and influencer who speaks about current events and style. Sumayah is the owner of A.SumayahShop, which offers "modest chic" clothing for the contemporary woman.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc040. Topics Covered: Defining modest fashion and misconceptions and myths about modest fashion  The intersection of fashion and religion How Rayya and Sumayah became fashion influencers and how they get inspiration How Rayya created her own space in fashion Why Sumayah opened A.Sumayah shop and how her fashion stands out in the market of modest fashion  Spotlighting Blackness in the modest fashion industry The (in)visibility of Black Muslims What the hijab represents  How modest fashion became a multi-billion dollar industry and the increased visibility of Muslims in fashion  The push for diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry  Contributions of Black Muslim women on trends in modest fashion How Black women have been excluded in the modest fashion industry How Rayya and Sumayah #breakconcrete The pay gap between Black and white influencers   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

"As a Black Muslim woman, it gets very exhausting to exist in a world that projects onto you." In this episode, Vanessa Taylor, a Philadelphia-based writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of the Drinking Gourd, a Black Muslim literary magazine, discusses the paradox of Black Muslim womanhood - being simultaneously hypervisible and invisible. Within that nuance, Black Muslim women carve out spaces where they embrace their multiple identities as Black, Muslim, and women while resisting the impulse of others to reduce their multi-dimensionality. Vanessa chats about this spirit of resistance: how Black Muslims challenge anti-Blackness within the Muslim community and Islamophobia within the Black community, and how she, as a Black Muslim woman, navigates her multiple identities to take up space and create spaces where she and other Black Muslim women can thrive.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc039. Topics Covered: Why Vanessa converted to Islam The history of government surveillance of Black Muslims and Islamophobia in the United States The paradox of hypervisibility and invisibility of Black Muslims  How Muslims have created their own spaces to resist surveillance Questions of authenticity and legitimacy of Black Muslimhood Anti-Blackness within the Muslim community How Black Muslim women navigate their multiple identities (race, gender, religion) to take up and create their own space   Defining modest fashion and Black women's contributions to modest fashion The co-optation of Black Muslim style Why Vanessa developed the Drinking Gourd The meaning of the title the Drinking Gourd How Vanessa breaks concrete   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

From as early as childhood, we have been taught to be generous with our time and energy. Any hint of selfishness is frowned upon. Even with our careers, we learn that being a team player is critical to our success. Today, Dr. Marcuetta Sims, a licensed psychologist specializing in helping Black women and people from marginalized identities heal from trauma, develop a healthier sense of Self, and enhance their overall wellness, discusses the costs of this generosity. Dr. Sims has created an online platform empowering Black women to care for themselves, The Art of Being Self-ish. She is also the founder of the The Worth, Wisdom, and Wellness Center. We chat about setting boundaries in personal and professional settings, addressing violations of those boundaries, and reframing underlying beliefs that cause us to deprioritize ourselves.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc038. Topics Covered: Defining selfishness How selfishness may serve the collective good and help us to develop a healthy sense of Self Why Dr. Sims started the online platform, The Art of Being Selfish Understanding and setting boundaries Consequences of failing to set boundaries Communicating your boundaries to others Counteracting feelings of guilt when putting yourself first How to say "No" and prioritize your interests Recognizing your limitations and asking for help Addressing violations of your boundaries in the workplace  How remote work can challenge our boundaries  Being selfish about salary negotiations Reframing inhibiting underlying beliefs   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Research suggests that Black patients experience better health outcomes when treated by Black doctors. In today's episode, Dr. Marilyn Gaston, a physician and researcher, and Dr. Gayle Porter, a clinical psychologist, join to chat about their trailblazing careers spent working to improve the physical and emotional health of families, especially those who are poor, minority, and underserved. They also share how they successfully build trusting relationships within communities of color. Drs. Gaston and Porter are the authors of the groundbreaking book, Prime Time: The African American Woman's Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness and have designed Sister Circles, which have proven effective in helping women develop stress management techniques, improve nutrition, and increase physical activity.   Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc037. Topics Covered: Why Drs. Gaston and Porter pursued medicine despite a dearth of Black female doctors Dr. Gaston's contributions to sickle cell research Advancing community-centered medicine Why Black patients may have better health outcomes when treated by Black doctors Building trust in doctor-patient relationships Drs. Gaston and Porter's efforts to educate the Black community about the COVID-19 vaccine Common pre-existing health conditions in Black women and their causes Common stressors affecting Black women How chronic stress impacts our physical and mental health How professional relationships can contribute to stress  Dr. Gaston's and Dr. Porter's experiences being the first and only in academic and professional settings  How Drs. Gaston and Porter have dealt with racism and sexism in the workplace The importance of assertiveness training Why the health of women in mid-life have been overlooked Why Drs. Gaston and Porter decided to write Prime Time: The African American Woman's Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness and how it was received  How Prime Time Sister Circles are helping Black women improve their physical and emotional health    Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

Recognizing that traditional workspaces cause mental, physical, and financial harm for many Queer Transgender Black and Indigenous People of Color, Bianca Shaw, a Licensed Social Worker, co-founded TRIBE Co-Create, a cooperative business focusing on connecting Black and Brown small business owners, creatives, and doers in the Bronx, New York. Bianca has dedicated her career to amplifying the voices and power of marginalized communities and through TRIBE, she has created a healing space for the community that also promotes innovation. We chat about how traditional workspaces and values around productivity may cause harm and why Bianca believes people of color, particularly Black people, need their own spaces.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc036. Topics Covered: How workspaces can be detrimental to our health How capitalism and individualism influence our work structures and views around productivity and value The impact of workplace stress on our health The intersection of race, class, and gender in the workplace Why people of color need their own spaces The healing and transformative potential of Black spaces  Whether spaces exclusively for and by people of color are segregationist The difference between a cooperative and co-working space Why Bianca created TRIBE Co-Create and the challenges she faced Business principles of TRIBE Co-Create How TRIBE competes with gentrification in the Bronx   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.

If you're a woman of color, you have more than likely experienced being the "only" in a professional setting. Perhaps, you were the only woman in a male-dominated boardroom or the only person of color on your company's professional staff. In today's episode, Latisha Roberson, a Human Resources Executive with over 18 years of experience developing and implementing talent programs for non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies, chats about some of the unique challenges of being an only in the workplace and how she has leveraged her status as an only. Latisha is also the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Lead with Latisha LLC, which empowers women to navigate and ascend in their careers with confidence.    Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc035. Topics Covered: Latisha's experience being the "only" in the workplace  Finding and building a supportive professional network and community Building camaraderie in the workplace Responding to offensive conduct and microaggressions in the workplace Managing when or whether to call out microaggressions Setting boundaries at work How to decline participating in workplace diversity initiatives when they detract from your professional responsibilities Navigating internal and external pressures of being the only in the workplace The value of having a business mentor or sponsor  Leveraging your status as the only in the workplace  The impact Kamala Harris's Vice Presidency may have on how corporate America views Black women How companies can better incorporate diverse talent in the workplace Creating feelings of belonging in the workplace   Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/breakconcrete/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BreakConcrete/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/breakconcrete/ E-mail feedback to breakconcrete@gmail.com. If you like this episode, please leave a review and rating.