BsquaredC Podcast: The Black Woman Corporate Career "Brownprint"

Nyaradzo Dzvova or “Nyarie” is a microbiologist  based in the Bay area, who long term wants to apply her talent to finding new therapies for infectious diseases.

Driven by a love for mysteries and science Nyarie was drawn to a career in science where she got her undergraduate degree in Germany and her PhD in Texas. On this episode Nyarie and I chat about how she is navigating her career in science as a black woman in a space you do not see a lot of women of color. We also chat about what following our dreams as black immigrants in America is like and ponder whether it is worth it.

Top 3 takeaways from the episode:

1. Always try to find your tribe, or have a support system, it helps you survive the experience of being the only one of you in the spaces you are in when chasing your dreams
   
2. Don’t dilute yourself, show up as your full self so others coming after you can have the confidence to do the same
   
3. For scientists, besides being good at your lab work also learn how to present and sell your work through internships and other opportunities that build soft skills
   

The article from metro UK that we talked about https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/12/emotional-impact-watching-white-people-wake-racism-real-time-12839920/

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In this episode I share some reflections and personal stories on a theme from last week's episode with Jennifer Juma on holding down side gigs while chasing your corporate dreams.  I am a serial entrepreneur with 4 ventures under my belt now. They are all focused on creating an equitable world in which people like me, with marginalized identities, have a fair shot at their dreams. People arrive at entrepreneurship in different ways and in my journey, I had to be nudged in that direction by necessity. I was inspired into entrepreneurship in moments where I needed to survive. However I have since realized new benefits to my entrepreneurship in enhancing my  skills, knowledge and network in a way that benefits my corporate career dreams. This is something I  got to hear about in a Harvard Business Review Ideacast podcast episode called Smarter Side Gigs.   

Have a listen to my thoughts on this episode  and the HBR Ideacast episode: Smarter Side Gigs: https://hbr.org/podcast/2020/05/smarter-side-gigs 

If you loved this episode, buy me a coffee on here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BsquaredC

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Jennifer Juma or  ”Jen” is a senior associate at Goldman Sachs and a serial entrepreneur who has always had a side hustle since she was 18.

Inspired by her mother and grandmother, Jen always hustled on the side next to following her corporate dreams, starting out with bootlegging clothes out of her car after church, to making cupcakes and making soaps with African ingredients. She brings all this experience and learnings from her entrepreneurial journey to her job managing real estate and risk at Goldman Sachs. In the fall Jen will be starting her MBA at Chicago Booth, a journey  that is a long time coming and inspirational. 

Top 3 takeaways from the episode:

1.Side hustles can be creative outlets where you can augment your overall skills profile towards your corporate job success

2.Be open minded to new experiences and trail blaze for other women of color

3.Have mentors/ “ventor"  that you can freely speak to and they do not have to be of the same race

Check out Jen’s story on this episode.

f you loved this episode, buy me a coffee on here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BsquaredC

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In this episode I share some reflections and personal stories on a theme from last week's episode with Ruvarashe Chinyemba on getting comfortable with being the transitional generation.

While it is noble to not be afraid to be the only one of us in the rooms we are in and embrace being the transitional generation, it is also  a very emotionally and physically demanding responsibility. Especially in the time we are in right now with black people around the world. Black professionals are used to code switching; checking our race, feelings and troubles at the door when coming to work and pretending that everything is ok.  But the tide seems to be shifting as more of us are speaking out about how we are feeling as a black professional in the time of #blacklivesmatter. Listen to this episode for how I am doing and some reflection on the weight of being the only one of me in predominantly white spaces.

Read my blog post on being a black professional in the times of #blacklivesmatter https://www.bsquaredc.org/post/blacklivesmatter

f you loved this episode, buy me a coffee on here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BsquaredC

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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsquaredc

Sign up for the BsquaredC mailing list on my website https://www.bsquaredc.org/

Ruvarashe Chinyemba or ’Ruva” is  based in Belgium and  is a firebrand of a woman, currently trailblazing a career in cocoa sustainability at one of the biggest cocoa and chocolate manufacturers in the world.  A conversation I had with Ruva over mimosas a year and a half ago birthed the idea of this platform, with us spending time together commiserating about our jobs and impostor syndrome and realizing we did not know of any platforms that talked about our stories. That idea evolved into BsquaredC and I always get endless inspiration from connecting with her.

 Top 3 takeaways from the episode: 

1.You never know when your next opportunity comes along- Be your best self at all times and be authentic

2.Seek out unconventional sources of mentorship- Books and online resources are great ways of finding inspiration that you can apply to your life 

3.Be comfortable with being the transitional generation- Be ok being in places where you are the only one who looks like you.

 Have a listen to Ruva's seminal talk at LeanIn Switzerland, "Breaking barriers for women of today and tomorrow." on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeuJGLnN2cs&t=54s.  If your organization every needs a speaker on women empowerment or sustainability you can contact Ruva through her website on this http://ruvachinyemba.com/

If you loved this episode, buy me a coffee on here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BsquaredC

Also follow BsquaredC on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b_squaredcpodcast/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsquaredc

Women of color are a rare sight in the corporate world, even more so in leadership positions, but we exist and are out here striving to reach the highest tables in our industries! However the challenges we face are enormous and specifically informed by the intersection of race and gender. Tune in every Thursday to hear stories from interviews with some badass women of color and the experiences of your host Nancy about their careers in the corporate world. 

If you loved this episode, buy me a coffee on here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BsquaredC

Also follow BsquaredC on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/b_squaredcpodcast/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bsquaredc