BsquaredC Podcast: The Black Woman Corporate Career "Brownprint"

My guest from last week Brittany Ray and I have in common being Employee Resource Group`(ERG) leaders at our respective company. In the light of events in the last few months that ignited the fight against racism, a lot of people of color who did not have these spaces in their companies have been thinking about how to activate on this topic.  Brittany shared some brilliant advice on the podcast episode last week and in this episode I share my experiences as well from starting and running a successful ERG at my current company, Philips. Two and a half years ago, I founded a women's network in my company called Philips Women Lead(PWL). It is a bottom up movement that is empowering women for their personal and professional growth. With now over 1000 people signed up to our mailing list across the company and new chapters activating across Philips offices globally each month, PWL is more than just a platform. It's a movement that is emboldening women to challenge the status quo of male leadership in the corporate world and meeting our leadership in the middle, in the work to make our company more inclusive.

 My top three learning from this journey:

 1. Never underestimate the power of one 

2. Have a clear mission and value proposition for your ERG 

3. Secure executive sponsorship for your ERG 

Have a listen to the episode and read up on the importance of ERGS in the article that I reference from the organization Catalyst below. https://www.catalyst.org/2015/11/19/busting-myths-about-ergs-one-resource-at-a-time/

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

On this week's podcast I talk to one of the most beautiful humans I know, Brittany Ray. Based in Amsterdam working at Booking.com, Brittany is an icon who approaches life with positive energy, curiosity and boldness. From moving her life from New York to Amsterdam, to travelling solo at times around the world to being being an Diversity and Inclusion champion at Booking.com where she works, Brittany lives life on her terms with a touch of #blackgirlmagic. In this episode Brittany shares a wide range of her experiences from what motivates her, what living abroad as a black American  is like and the experience of race in America vs Europe. She also shares excellent insights and advice on what being an employee resource group leader is like especially in the last few months broaching racial conversations in the workplace. 

Three takeaways from this episode 

When forming an ERG, have a business angle- a business angle always connects to leaders more 

Be bold and fearless in asking for what you need- The worst someone can say is no and you can pivot

 Do not lose your voice-  In your professional or personal life and even in your head. Treasure your intuition, you know more than you think. 

Article about black professionals moving abroad that we discuss: https://fortune.com/2020/08/10/black-african-americans-leaving-us-moving-abroad-professionals-race-opportunity-careers/

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

Last week I brought you a conversation with Rachael Gatling, a woman who is an incredible representation of where I want to go in leadership in my current company. This episode was a moment of validation of my dreams and something a lot of people of color do not have the privilege to experience. There are so few of us showing up positively and realizing our full potential because of the historical chokehold of racism on our dreams. It was then so surreal that in the same week, Chadwick Boseman died. Best known for his portrayal of the lead role, King T'challa in the iconic marvel superhero movie Black Panther, Chadwick's death shook all of us, especially black people. Black Panther was a pantheon of positive representation of black people and we saw ourselves reflected positively for the first time on the big screen at scale. Have a listen to my expanded thoughts on this topic in this episode. Rest in Power Chadwick Boseman #wakandaforever

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

In this episode I share my thoughts on the weight of showing up authentically for POC in the corporate world, how we cope and what organizations can do about it. The norms of the corporate world have explicitly and implicitly not made POC feel like they belong for a long time, and a coping mechanism to counter this for POC is a practice called code switching. This is when we change the way we present ourselves, in language, dressing, looks and interests to be more palatable in certain environments and situations. A study found that often this does achieve positive results for POC of being perceived as more professional and gaining advancement opportunities. However code- switchings comes at a psychological cost that leads to burn out and eventually exodus of POC from the corporate world. Ultimately organizations need to build environments in which people feel psychologically safe to be who they are and feel like more than just being included, they belong there. In feeling belonging people are their best creative selves and organizations can reap the long promised benefits of diversity in the workplace.

 Articles referred to in the episode:  The costs of code switching: https://hbr.org/2019/11/the-costs-of-codeswitching 

New Dove Study Confirms Workplace Bias Against Hairstyles Impacts Black Women's Ability To Celebrate Their Natural Beauty: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-dove-study-confirms-workplace-bias-against-hairstyles-impacts-black-womens-ability-to-celebrate-their-natural-beauty-300842006.html 

Belonging In The Workplace: A New Approach to Diversity And Inclusivity: https://www.forbes.com/sites/pragyaagarwaleurope/2019/08/26/belonging-in-the-workplace-a-new-approach-to-diversity-and-inclusivity/#460e7f497a66

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

Ru Nyambuya is a banker based in New York who is passionate about development in Africa and she immerses herself in this topic both at work and personally. Professionally she is at Standard Bank in New York selling Africa to corporate clients. Personally she is the fundraising chair of Education Matters Africa Foundation, an organization that we both came from,  dedicated to grooming future leaders of Zimbabwe through access to quality educational opportunities. Education matters is currently fundraising for a new school in Zimbabwe and you can find information about it on the links below.

Ru has a seemingly simple guiding light for how she has shaped and continues to shape her life and it is doing what she loves. She believes when you go after what you love, whatever is thrown your way is bearable and it is all worth it. We however disagreed on one thing though, while she attributes a lot of what has happened on her path to luck, I think actually it is more grit than luck. Especially as an immigrant black woman not born with the privilege to do what you want with your life, it takes a certain level of perseverance to go after what you love the way she has. People around Ru are drawn to that, including her passion and authenticity that comes with it, and that is really the secret sauce to her success.

Three takeaways from this episode: 

-Lift as your climb- take other people with you as you progress and it will give you so much purpose and make your success sweeter

-Do what you love- to the extent that you can do what you love and any strife you go through doing it, will be worth it

-You are your best marketer- Toot your  own horn! Be out there telling people who you are and what you are doing. It matters to your success. 

About Education Matters: http://www.edmattersafrica.org/

Donate to Education Matters: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/build-the-usap-community-school-in-zimbabwe/

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

Since women started showing up on the professional ambition circuit, there has been a hanging question of whether we can have it all. The high flying career and still raise a family being the going definition of "all."  My deeper question lately is, WHAT IS ALL? Can we let women define what ALL means for them outside of convention? In this episode I contemplate this question and share my experiences with this topic including how being a professionally successful woman affects my dating life. Have a listen to the episode on here!  

Article on why high achieving women struggle to find love: https://www.insider.com/modern-dating-coach-explains-why-high-achieving-women-struggle-to-find-love-2019-3

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

 Mayealie Adams is a Sierra Leonean multiple-degreed 16-year veteran of government affairs based in Washington DC. Her career choices have been guided by giving every opportunity she got her all and the kind of impact she wants to have. When she is not politicking, she pours her soul into inclusion and diversity work which brings her so much energy because it is setting up a better future for her kids. In this episode, Mayealie shares her career path and in particular what has been happening in the last few months on her job and personal front. The last few months of a global health and racial crisis she has found herself working a lot in a challenging environment where action is paramount, and on the personal front being more introspective about her parenting choices, given she has raised her kids in a more advantaged circumstances which gives them access to diverse experiences as black kids. She shares stories about her kids and how they have been more intentional about teaching them about diversity and their place in it using books and other opportunities. 

Three takeaways from this episode

 1. You cannot do it all- For the parents out there, it's ok to not do it all, especially now with COVID. As long as your kids are healthy and happy, they will survive.   

2. Give every opportunity you get your all - You never know where it will take you so show up and show out to your opportunities 

3. Kids reflect the reality you expose them to- Kids are a blank slate and it is up to parents to raise them thoughtfully and responsibly to be more empathetic adults 

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

All my guests so far, including Melanie from last week, have brought up mentoring and sponsorship as a key part of  their success in the corporate world. However, it is a very elusive resource for most women of color because they do not have the same  life experiences as most people in leadership who look for people like them when looking to mentor and sponsor, as noted by a McKinsey and LeanIn study from 2019. In this episode I share the lessons and tactics I have learnt along the way that has gained  me mentors and sponsors who want me to win. My three big bits of wisdom  to superpower your approach to mentoring relationships are as follows: Be bold and get into the practice of asking for what you need Secondly be strategic about who you ask and what you are asking them and two elements to this are be clear on the value you are bringing to the table, and your goals for the relationship Lastly leverage your peers; they are a goldmine of advice support. This is probably not the last time I will cover this topic but enjoy for now :)

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

Melanie Okuneye, is a dynamic British Nigerian girl in investment banking  at Goldman Sachs in New York by way of London. 

When in London she was part of starting an organization called Women in the City Afro Caribbean Network that helped black female students by providing honest and targeted insight into being successful women in corporate careers in London  (Law, Banking, Professional Services etc.). Melanie is a strong believer in safe spaces for people of color, something that is important to her even in her career at GS where she is involved in the Firmwide Black Network. What is remarkable about Melanie is that her career is marked by an openness to make bold choices and stepping into new experiences where she applies her talent in ways that have served her well on her path. I cannot wait to see what she is going to do next!  

Three takeaways from the episode:

1. You are not alone-  Lean into the sisterhood  of other women of color. Although disparate, there are so many of us black women out there doing this corporate dream thing so always go out and find your people and your spaces. 

2. Be the best- Work on your craft, do not give anyone a reason to doubt you or your talent.

3. Be open to opportunities to apply yourself- Your career path is not set in stone, embrace opportunities to make bold moves and apply yourself differently on your journey

Link to the Women in the City Afro Caribbean Network based in London. 

http://www.wcan.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR1yNgTOqJDK8nTT18QdaD1LTK8yt4j7lvGbATNorCaIIdCT7oQ47oBFlwQ

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

In this episode I share my personal stories around immigration and some of what being a desperate immigrant who is still stubborn to dream beyond their circumstances is like.  I got thrown out of America by getting my work visa denied and at the time it was one of the worst things that could have happened to me. I had done everything right chasing the American dream including enduring lots of sleepless nights in libraries, braving the brutal  Chicago winters and having a job with no health insurance.  All this amounted to nothing when post MBA I was denied the right to live in America and chucked out. However i reinvented myself successful to the point of rejecting a chance to get back to America. I realized the American dream was never all there is to my potential and I am more than a job title. I also learnt to find my happiness.  My heart goes out to everyone immigrant fighting for their dream out there and I am living proof, even if life throws at you its worst, even if privilege does its worst to you, those experiences do not define you or the size of your dreams and ambitions. I am living proof of this. The most that can happen is your dream will be deferred but its never gone as long as you keep your eye on the north star. 

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