Christopher Bylone grew up on a New Jersey family farm where no one was above mucking stalls, and lending a hand wasn’t optional. His grandfather, decades ahead of his time, taught him that inclusion wasn’t a corporate policy; it was just what decent people did.

Those lessons stuck. They carried Christopher from agriculture to analytics to becoming a respected voice in diversity, equity, and inclusion. When his company’s diversity metrics stalled, he spoke up, “We have no strategy.” That bold truth redirected his entire career toward DEI leadership. He went on to build a team from zero headcount and zero budget into a million-dollar operation. On paper, he was thriving. But inside? He was the four letter “fine.”

Working at Krispy Kreme, he loved the mission but dreaded the grind. Seventy-five percent of his time was spent executing instead of shaping strategy. Then came the layoff. And with it, the uncomfortable truth that “fine” had become his hiding place.

That pattern didn’t stop at work. After years of insisting he could lose weight on his own, Christopher realized grit wasn’t enough. Well-meaning people told him to “just diet harder,” but he made a different choice and underwent bariatric surgery. It was a turning point that forced him to evaluate not only his habits but his relationships as well.

Now, 90 pounds lighter with 30 left to go, he’s learned that accepting help isn’t weakness: it’s wisdom. The people you surround yourself with can either hold space for your growth or keep you stuck in the old story. As a lifelong gardener, he’ll tell you not everything that looks like a weed needs to be pulled. Sometimes, it just needs to be moved.

Through therapy, reflection, and better boundaries, Christopher discovered that true friends don’t have to agree with your decisions but they do have to respect them enough not to stand in your way.

Christopher’s hype song is “Proud” by Heather Small.

Resources:

• Christopher Bylone’s website: https://www.innovationunbiased.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbylone/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbylone/
• Listen to Christopher’s podcast I Know I Belong When: https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart leaders know trust is the backbone of a thriving workplace, and in today’s hybrid whirlwind, it doesn’t grow from quarterly updates or the occasional Slack ping. It grows from steady, human communication.

Plenty of companies think they’re doing great because they host all-staff meetings, keep “open door” policies, and throw the occasional team-building event. Meanwhile, leaders who truly care about culture are choosing better tools.

That’s where I come in. Forward-thinking organizations bring me in to create internal podcasts that connect people through real stories, honest conversations, and genuine community—your old printed newsletter reinvented for the way people actually work now.

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.