In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Nicole Johnston for a thoughtful conversation on her intersections and key insights on invisible labor, workplace expectations, leadership, and the hidden experiences that shape how women navigate work and life.

Nicole shares how growing up with two educator parents—working at opposite ends of the educational spectrum—shaped her understanding of difference, support, and human potential early in life. She also reflects on navigating the workplace with hearing loss in one ear, and how invisible identities often influence professional experiences in ways people may never fully see.

Together, Lola and Nicole explore the concept of the “mental load” and the invisible work expectations that women disproportionately carry at home and at work. From emotional labor and non-promotable tasks to organizational bias and sponsorship, this conversation unpacks how high-performing professionals can become exhausted even as they are overlooked for leadership opportunities.

Nicole also shares insights from her book, Slightly Taboo Topics: Things Women Should Talk About But Don’t, and offers practical strategies for recognizing hidden labor, setting boundaries, and building stronger sponsorship relationships within organizations.

Nicole Johnston is a former global sales and marketing executive with more than 30 years of experience leading within major organizations across international markets. Today, she works in executive coaching and leadership development, helping professionals navigate leadership, visibility, communication, and organizational growth. She is also the author of Taboo Topics: Things Women Should Talk About But Don’t.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace. Through reflective conversations and personal storytelling, Dr. Lola Adeyemo highlights the experiences of professionals navigating layered identities across corporate, entrepreneurial, and leadership spaces.

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Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Hanna Curman to explore how identity, lived experience, biology, and leadership intersect—especially under pressure.

Hanna shares how her own journey was shaped by family history, entrepreneurship, creativity, motherhood, and years of working in male-dominated corporate environments. She reflects on what it meant to feel like an outsider, the cost of trying to fit into systems that were not built around her natural way of thinking, and how those experiences shaped the work she does today.

Through this conversation, we learn more about her intersections and leadership journey, and we also explore a bit of Hanna’s work—BrainShift, nervous system regulation, and the idea that culture is not just strategy—it is biology in action.

A central theme in this episode is presence under pressure.

What happens when leaders operate from survival mode?
How does pressure shape communication, decision-making, and culture?
And what becomes possible when leaders learn to notice their own internal signals before reacting?

Hanna offers a powerful reminder that leadership is not only about performance or strategy. It is also about presence, self-awareness, trust, and the ability to lead from a regulated place.

Hanna Curman is an international speaker, founder of BrainShift, certified in brain-based coaching, and an author on leadership and mental health. Her work helps leaders and organizations understand how pressure, nervous system regulation, and behavior shape transformation, culture, and sustainable performance. Connect with her on LinkedIn HERE.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace. Through thoughtful conversations, Dr. Lola Adeyemo invites leaders to reflect on how their layered identities shape how they navigate, lead, and create impact. Connect with her on LinkedIn HERE.

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Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Rachel Edmondson Clark to explore how identity, lived experience, and internal patterns shape how we lead—especially under pressure.

Rachel shares a deeply personal journey, from growing up observing human behavior in her mother’s salon to quickly rising through corporate leadership roles—and eventually experiencing burnout that forced her to pause and rethink how she was showing up in her work and life.

Through this conversation, we explore how intersectionality shows up not only in visible identities but also in internal drivers like high standards, people-pleasing, and the pressure to perform.

A central theme in this episode is the distinction between capability and capacity.

Many leaders focus on building skills and doing more—but often overlook the importance of restoring energy, recognizing internal signals, and creating the conditions for sustainable leadership.

Rachel offers a powerful reframe:

"Sustainable leadership isn’t just about what you can do.
It’s about how well you can continue to show up."

Rachel Edmondson Clark is a UK-based executive coach, facilitator, and founder of Elevar, a leadership development consultancy focused on sustainable high performance that serves people, performance, and the planet.

With over two decades of experience, her work sits at the intersection of energy, identity, and behavior—helping leaders understand how their nervous system, lived experience, and internal narratives shape their leadership.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace.

Through conversations and reflections, Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive—but truly thrive.

Each episode invites leaders to reflect on how their layered identities shape how they navigate, lead, and build impact within organizations.

• Share with a colleague or leader
• Leave a review to help others discover the show
• Continue the reflection on Substack for a deeper dive

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Yosi Kossowsky to explore how identity, lived experience, and internal belief systems shape how we lead.

Yosi shares a deeply personal journey—one shaped by early experiences of being labeled as “not enough,” navigating limiting beliefs, and ultimately transforming those experiences into a foundation for curiosity and growth.

Through this conversation, we explore how intersectionality extends beyond visible identity—into the internal narratives we carry about ourselves, our capabilities, and what we believe is possible.

From his early career in technology to executive leadership roles and eventually into coaching, Yosi’s journey highlights how technical expertise, emotional awareness, and behavioral understanding intersect to shape leadership.

A central theme in this episode is curiosity.

What happens when we shift from assuming we understand—to questioning what we might be missing?

This conversation challenges leaders to rethink how assumptions, communication styles, and cultural differences influence workplace dynamics—and how greater awareness can transform how we lead.

Yosi Kossowsky is a seasoned executive coach with over 18 years of experience, complemented by more than 30 years in executive leadership roles, including Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director of Talent Management.

He specializes in leadership development, personal growth, and effective communication, integrating neuroscience and organizational development principles to help leaders navigate complex challenges, build high-performing teams, and drive meaningful change.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace.

Through conversations and reflections, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive—but truly thrive.

Each episode invites leaders to define intersectionality in their own words and reflect on how their layered identities shape how they navigate, lead, and build impact within organizations.

• Share with a colleague or leader
• Leave a review to help others discover the show
• Continue the reflection on Substack for a deeper dive

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Dr. Julie Pham to explore how identity, lived experience, and leadership are shaped across cultures, systems, and personal history.

Julie shares her journey as a Vietnamese-born refugee raised in the United States, and how that experience continues to shape how she understands belonging, communication, and opportunity in the workplace.

Through her story, we explore the intersection of refugee identity, culture, and leadership—and how these layers influence the way professionals navigate environments that are not always designed with them in mind.

This conversation also introduces a powerful shift in how we think about migration through the lens of “push and pull” factors, offering a deeper understanding of how and why people move—and how those experiences show up in the workplace.

Julie also reframes code-switching as strategic communication, and shares insights from her work on the “Seven Forms of Respect,” highlighting how respect is not universally defined—but shaped by lived experience.

Julie Pham is a Cambridge-trained social scientist, TEDx speaker, and founder of CuriosityBased. She works with organizations to build stronger workplace cultures through curiosity, communication, and a deeper understanding of respect.

Her TEDx talk: Curiosity as a Practice

Video Resource: 15-min overview on 7 Forms of Respect

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace—helping professionals move from navigating systems to shaping them.

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• Leave a review
• Continue the reflection on Substack — where I share a deeper perspective on this conversation

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Daniel Hodges to explore how leadership is shaped through layers of identity that are often unseen—and frequently misunderstood.

Daniel shares his journey growing up with limited socioeconomic resources, navigating life as someone who is blind, and managing invisible disabilities including chronic pain and mental health challenges. Together, we unpack how these overlapping identities shaped not only how he experienced systems—but how he now works to transform them.

Through his story, we explore the intersection of disability, socioeconomic background, faith, and leadership—and how these layers influence access, opportunity, and the way people are perceived in professional spaces.

This conversation also challenges common assumptions about who experiences barriers—and how those barriers show up. What may not be visible on the surface often carries the most weight.

Daniel reflects on navigating education systems that were not designed for him, building a career despite significant access barriers, and ultimately founding the Peaces of Me Foundation to address the root causes of exclusion through community education and systems change.

At its core, this episode is not just about accessibility.

It is about how we define capability.
How we interpret difference.
And what it truly means to create environments where people can thrive—not in spite of their identities, but through them.

Daniel Hodges, JD, MHA, is a thought leader on accessibility and authentic inclusion of people with disabilities. He is the President and Co-Founder of the Peaces of Me Foundation, a nonprofit focused on transforming society through community education, professional training, and resource connection to break the stigma surrounding disabilities.

Living with multiple disabilities himself, Daniel brings both lived experience and professional expertise to his work—helping organizations build solutions that are sustainable, practical, and human-centered.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace. Through conversations and reflections, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive—but truly thrive.

Each episode invites guests to define intersectionality in their own words and reflect on how their layered identities shape how they lead, navigate systems, and create impact.

Learn more about Daniel’s work: https://www.peacesofme.org/ 

Connect with Daniel Hodges.

⭐ Share with a colleague or leader
⭐ Leave a review to help others discover the show
⭐ Reflect on how your own intersections shape how you experience the workplace

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Natalie Holder—employment lawyer, executive coach, and founder of QUEST Employment Initiatives—to explore how workplace experiences, identity, and power dynamics shape the way we navigate and lead in our careers.

Natalie shares her journey as a first-generation professional, a Caribbean African American woman, and a legal expert who has worked across employment law, HR compliance, and diversity leadership. Through her story, we unpack how early career experiences—including moments of exclusion, misalignment, and workplace trauma—can influence not just career decisions, but how individuals see themselves within systems.

This conversation moves beyond surface-level career advice and into the deeper reality of what many professionals experience but don’t always name—how workplace environments can leave lasting impacts, and what it takes to move from survival to intentional reinvention.

Together, we explore how individuals can navigate these moments with more clarity, build support systems that extend beyond traditional mentorship, and make career decisions that align with both identity and long-term impact.

• How intersectionality shapes leadership, adaptability, and workplace navigation
• Natalie’s journey into employment law and how she found her niche in workplace advocacy
• The difference between workplace stress and workplace trauma—and why it matters
• How early career experiences can shape confidence, self-perception, and decision-making
• Why leaving a role doesn’t always break the pattern—and what to address first
• The concept of a “Personal Board of Directors” and how to build one
• Key indicators of broken workplace cultures that professionals should recognize early
• Practical ways to navigate misalignment, career pivots, and workplace challenges
• How to approach career decisions with intention—whether staying, leaving, or pivoting

Natalie Holder is an employment lawyer and executive coach who helps professionals navigate workplace trauma and transition toward more aligned and impactful careers. She is the founder of QUEST Employment Initiatives, where she combines legal expertise, HR insight, and leadership coaching to support both individuals and organizations.

With experience spanning employment law, Chief Diversity Officer roles, and global HR compliance, Natalie brings a unique perspective on how workplace systems function—and how individuals can navigate them more effectively.

🔗 Strategic Pivot Assessment (Free Tool):
A quick 5-question assessment designed to help professionals evaluate their readiness for a career pivot and gain clarity on next steps.  

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace. Through conversations and reflections,host Dr. Lola Adeyemo highlights the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just navigate—but thrive.

Each episode invites leaders to define intersectionality in their own words and reflect on how their layered identities shape how they lead, grow, and make decisions.

• Share it with a colleague or leader
• Leave a review to help others discover the podcast
• Explore more conversations on leadership, identity, and belonging

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Sabrina Parsons to explore how leadership is shaped through identity, lived experience, and the moments that challenge how we see ourselves in the workplace.

Sabrina shares her journey from growing up between Mexico and the United States to leading as CEO of Palo Alto Software, reflecting on how her bicultural identity shaped her sense of belonging, voice, and leadership over time. Navigating spaces where her identity was often misunderstood, she learned to move from questioning where she fit… to owning who she is without apology.

Through her story, we explore the intersection of identity, career decision-making, and leadership development—and how pivotal moments, like choosing discomfort or rejecting expected paths, can redefine the trajectory of a career.

This conversation offers a deeper look at how leadership is not only built through experience, but through how we interpret the environments we move through—and the choices we make within them.

How bicultural identity shapes belonging, voice, and leadership

The experience of navigating spaces where identity is not immediately visible

The shift from questioning identity to owning it unapologetically

Sabrina’s “elevator moment” and how it changed her career path

Why career paths are often shaped by decisions that don’t make sense at the time

The importance of relationships and human connection in career growth

Why showing up consistently is often more important than perfection

How risk-taking early in your career can shape long-term success

The evolving expectations of leadership across generations

Navigating leadership as a working parent without compromising your values

Sabrina Parsons is the CEO of Palo Alto Software, where she has helped millions of entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses. She also serves as Chair of the Oregon Growth Board, contributing to statewide economic strategy.

Born in Mexico City and raised between cultures, Sabrina brings a unique perspective to leadership shaped by her bicultural identity, experience as a woman in tech, and journey as a working parent. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organizations build with intention, clarity, and purpose.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace.

Through conversations and reflections, Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that shape how professionals navigate, lead, and build impact within organizations.

Each episode invites leaders to define intersectionality in their own words—and reflect on how their layered identities influence how they show up in their work.

⭐ Check out Dr. Lolas reflective deep dive on Substack

⭐ Leave a review to help others discover the show

⭐ Share with a colleague or follow for more conversations on leadership, identity, and workplace culture

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Adriana Vaccaro to explore how her leadership has been shaped across identity, culture, and the systems she has navigated over time.

Adriana shares her journey from Bogotá, Colombia, to U.S. corporate spaces and how those early experiences shaped how she learned to communicate, show up, and make sense of the unspoken rules of the workplace.

As her career evolved, so did her perspective—moving from navigating those systems to understanding the human behavior behind them, and eventually to helping organizations think more intentionally about how culture is actually experienced.

Through her story, we explore the intersection of immigrant identity, voice, and visibility, and organizational systems—and how those layers continue to shape the way she leads today.

This conversation offers a closer look at how leadership is not just developed through experience - but shaped by how we interpret and respond to the environments we move through.

Adriana Vaccaro is an entrepreneur and organizational culture strategist, and the Founder and CEO of Culture Redesigned. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, her work focuses on helping organizations align people, performance, and culture through a deeper understanding of human behavior and workplace systems.

Thriving in Intersectionality explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s workplace. Through conversations and reflections, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive in the workplace but truly thrive.

Each episode invites leaders to define intersectionality in their own words and reflect on how their layered identities shape how they navigate, lead, and build impact within organizations.

⭐ Check out Dr. Lola’s reflective deep dive on Substack
⭐ Share with a colleague or leader
⭐ Leave a review to help others discover the show

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.

Leadership journeys are rarely linear. They are shaped by identity, experience, opportunity, and sometimes the courage to step forward when others hesitate.

In this episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with Julia C. Rock — keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and executive coach — to explore how layered identities influence leadership journeys and workplace dynamics.

Julia shares how growing up as a first-generation American with Caribbean immigrant parents from Barbados, combined with her faith background and experience navigating corporate America as a Black woman, shaped how she approaches leadership, visibility, and resilience.

Before becoming an entrepreneur and leadership advisor, Julia built her career in financial services and the energy industry, where she managed global teams and oversaw billions in operational responsibilities. Along the way, she discovered that leadership growth often comes from raising your hand for the assignments others avoid and learning to take up space in rooms where your voice matters.

Together, Lola and Julia unpack powerful lessons about career ownership, sponsorship, burnout prevention, and the future of work.

This conversation offers practical insights for professionals navigating leadership while balancing identity, ambition, and wellbeing.

✔ How immigrant upbringing and faith shaped Julia’s leadership mindset
✔ Why raising your hand for difficult assignments can accelerate your career
✔ The difference between mentors and sponsors — and why both matter
✔ Why visibility and taking up space are critical leadership skills
✔ How burnout often stems from misaligned expectations and lack of boundaries
✔ Practical strategies for advocating for yourself at work
✔ Why leadership in the future workplace requires human skills alongside technology

“You are the CEO of your career and your life. Focus on what you can control, and don’t let the obstacles you can’t control define your path.”

Julia C. Rock is a keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and certified executive coach dedicated to transforming workplace dynamics and helping leaders create environments where employees can thrive.

Julia has managed and scaled global teams across industries, navigating challenges like burnout, disengagement, and inequality. Her work focuses on helping leaders simplify leadership, build strong workplace cultures, and develop practical approaches that improve team performance and retention.

Her personal leadership journey has empowered her to coach and mentor over 1,000 professionals and leaders in building meaningful and fulfilling careers.

🌐 Website:
https://leaduncomplicated.com 

📰 Julia’s Substack: Leadership, Uncomplicated, where she shares daily insights on practical leadership and how organizations can create environments where employees feel seen, heard, and valued.

If this episode resonated with you:

⭐ Follow Thriving in Intersectionality deepdive on Substack
⭐ Rate and review the podcast
⭐ Share this episode with someone navigating leadership in today’s workplace

Thriving in Intersectionality explores the real experiences of professionals navigating the workplace with layered identities — including immigrants, first-generation professionals, working parents, veterans, and more.

Through conversations and reflections, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo uncovers the insights, challenges, and leadership lessons that help professionals not just survive in the workplace — but truly thrive. 

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.

This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.

💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.

❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.

⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.

📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack

🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:
www.immigrantsincorporate.org

Connect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.

Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.