Black women are carrying weight in coaching spaces that was never theirs to lift, and today, we’re finally naming it.

Black women aren’t just showing up to coaching spaces to learn. Too often, we’re asked (directly or indirectly) to educate, soothe, translate, and “keep the peace.”

In this episode of Three Black Women and Their White Coach, hosts Catryce Sutson and Breanna LaShell unpack the invisible, unpaid, and unspoken emotional labor Black women are expected to shoulder in the coaching industry.

Catryce (your mixed-race internet bestie + serial entrepreneur) and Breanna (your biracial nonprofit coach for impact-driven leaders) break down how emotional labor shows up in masterminds, group programs, and community spaces, especially when you’re the only Black woman in the room.

In this episode:

A clear definition of emotional labor—and how it lands uniquely on Black women in coaching spaces

The hidden costs: burnout, nervous system dysregulation, therapy bills, and reputational risk

What true allyship from white coaches can look like: paying Black women for their expertise, not centering guilt, and holding the space you’re actually being paid to hold

Heart Check:

For Black Women:

Where have you been holding emotional space that no one asked you to hold?

And what would it look like to gently put that weight down?

For White Coaches:

Where are your Black counterparts showing up in ways you aren’t and what would it mean to create a space where they don’t have to?

And what boundaries or structures would create true safety for everyone involved?

Keep the Conversation Going

Share your reflections and stories with us on Instagram, we want to hear from you. https://www.instagram.com/threeblackwomenpod

If this episode resonated, leave a 5 star review so more women (and coaches) can find these conversations.

Tag a friend, a client, or a coach who needs to hear this one.