What if the most radical act of leadership is learning to trust yourself again? In this powerful episode of "I Know I Belong When...", host Christopher Bylone sits with Dr. Jade Singleton, culture strategist, researcher, and systems-change architect, to explore how belonging in the workplace is shaped not only by policies and practices, but also by our inner world.

This conversation moves beyond surface-level inclusion to name what many struggle to describe: workplace gaslighting, erosion of self-trust, and the pressure to perform rather than belong. Dr. Singleton brings clarity and grounded leadership insight to help listeners recognize harmful patterns, reclaim their reality, and turn personal rebellion into sustainable systems change.

Through first-person storytelling, this episode gives language for belonging. It connects love and belonging needs to authentic leadership, human-centered innovation, and strategic inclusion. Whether navigating belonging in remote teams, building an inclusive culture, or searching for another word for belong that fits your lived experience, this episode offers validation and direction.

This is essential listening for anyone asking how to create a sense of belonging at work without losing themselves. Belonging is not a slogan. It is the outcome of intentional IDEA work grounded in truth, trust, and systems change.

Must-hear insights and key moments

• How rebellion becomes self-sovereignty and fuels systems change
• What workplace gaslighting sounds like and why confusion is a warning sign
• Why belonging in the workplace starts with belonging to yourself
• The difference between belonging vs inclusion and why it matters
• Practical ways leaders can document reality and protect psychological safety
• Why DEI work changes systems, not manages individual pain
• How nervous system awareness reveals a true sense of belonging at work

Dr Singleton’s Standout Quotes

• “If the battle is not won from the inside, it is very difficult to affect systems on the outside.”
• “The point of gaslighting is to abandon yourself and rely on someone else for your reality.”
• “There is a feeling of confusion that comes after gaslighting. That confusion is a symptom.”
• “Authenticity has to be a true reflection and a true embrace of who you really are.”
• “When I realized I did not have to perform and there was no fallout, I knew I belonged.”
• “Your role is not to change hearts and minds. Your role is to change systems.”
• “I know I belong when my nervous system tells me I belong.”

Why this episode matters

Many organizations talk about inclusive culture yet struggle to create a true sense of belonging at work. Dr. Singleton reframes belonging as the outcome of strategic inclusion and authentic leadership, not a standalone initiative. By connecting personal experience to systems change, this conversation equips leaders, practitioners, and employees with language to recognize harm, resist distortion, and build belonging that lasts. It is a guide for anyone navigating belonging in the workplace during uncertainty and change.

Who should listen

HR, DEI, and team managers—including those with remote teams—who shape employee experience and want real workplace belonging through system change. If you face trust or confusion at work, you will find affirming language and practical strategies here. The discussion covers belonging versus inclusion, and ways to meet love and belonging needs credibly. Anyone committed to authentic leadership and building an inclusive culture will benefit.

An Innovation Unbiased Production

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