What Rules!?: A career podcast for women of color

Hello, Rulebreakers!

We're hard at work behind the scenes on some new ideas for Color Forward and that means looking back at some of our favorite moments from the past two years. In lieu of new content, we thought we'd share those moments with all of you, along with our thoughts about why these conversations still resonate so much. If you missed these episodes when they first aired (and even if you didn't), you're in for a real treat!

We hope you enjoy our 2022 Summer Series and feel as excited as we do for the future of our amazing, multicultural community of changemakers!

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Notes for Part 1:

Did you know there's actual research that indicates that most people like you more than you think they do? Well, Dr. Marisa G. Franco knows it, which is why she's writing a book all about how to make friends as an adult. Listen as Alisa and Merary discuss what real friendship looks like in their professional and personal lives.

"There's a point at which the desire to protect yourself becomes a harm. When you're rejecting people before they reject you and you're not experiencing the feelings of connecting with other people, the feeling of being replenished and rejuvenated, the feeling of being seen and known. All of those are something that you might be missing out on in your journey to self protect." – Dr. Marisa G. Franco, PhD

Topics discussed in episode 28:

• The Liking Gap
• Underestimating first impressions
• Making friends takes work
• You're more likable than you might think
• Self-protection vs. self-harm
• Being intentional about making friends
• Racial preferences and unconscious bias
• The highest honor of friendship

The Highest Honor of Friendship is an excerpt from a post on Wonderoak by Jess Johnston.

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Notes for Part 2:

Have you ever had to break up with a friend? How do you know when it's time to let them go? Or what if it's not time but you're not sure how to have a conversation to find out?

This week, Alisa, Rosa, and Merary go deep into their own theories about what healthy friendship looks like and what to do when you're ready to say goodbye.

"As human beings, if we've invested a lot of time into something, we're more likely to want to continue the relationship. Just because we've invested a lot, we assume that we should continue this relationship when that's not necessarily true. And I think we need to normalize outgrowing relationships with people." – Dr. Marisa G. Franco, Friendship Expert

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Creating a framework to let friends go
• Ambiguous loss
• Reciprocity Theory
• Other theories on compartmentalizing friendships
• Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
• Three factors to stay in a relationship

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More from Dr. Marisa Franco: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Psychology Today

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon:

What happens when the story being told is not your own? When the advice being given is not only unhelpful but dangerous? Join Rosa, Alisa, and Dr. Merary this week as they discuss the issue of advice that misses the mark on intersectionality with Dr. Carey Yazeed.

Dr. Carey Yazeed’s viral blog post, “The Dangers of Courage Culture and Why Brene Brown Isn’t For Black Folk”, discussed the issue of why Brene Brown’s push toward vulnerability is not safe advice for everyone.  

“What is it about being true to who you are? and so that means that we're all different and we're all unique you know, everybody has a different kryptonite, but also everyone has a different superpower. And what works for one person may not work for another person.” – Dr. Carey Yazeed

In today’s episode:

• Intersectionality
• the issues of whitewashing self-help
• the power of protecting ourselves
• women of color in the workplace
• workplace culture

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More from Dr. Carey Yazeed: LinkedIn

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

We're back with another round of insights on owning your achievements. It's SO important that we couldn't fit it all into a single episode.

Listen as Rosa and Dr. Merary chat with Head of Federal Government Business for Siemens, Brandy Gonzales Henson, about owning the narrative on your achievements. If you don't do it, no one else will.

"I don't like the fake it til you make it rule... because it is not fake that you achieved that. You may feel uncomfortable accepting it but for me at least, I'm like 'I didn't fake it. I did achieve it.'" – Dr. Merary Simeon, Activator of Talent | Kingdom Work Advocate | Human Resources Executive | Speaker | Co-Founder of Color Forward | Best Selling Book Author | Non-profit Board Member | Bilingual

In this episode:

• breaking down barriers
• building new paths
• the power of self-celebration
• celebrating where you’ve been to guide you to where you’ll go
• multicultural perspective
• women celebrating women

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Brandy Henson: LinkedIn

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

Working toward a goal is important, but what happens when you reach that goal is equally important! Stopping to reflect on our achievements gives us an opportunity to really see how brightly we are shining.

In this episode, Alisa, Rosa, and Dr. Merary spend time reflecting on their greatest achievements and discuss why taking a moment to cheer yourself on is not only a good practice but psychologically beneficial as well.

“Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.” – Two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion, Mia Hamm

In this episode:

• breaking down barriers
• building new paths
• the power of self-celebration
• celebrating where you’ve been to guide you to where you’ll go
• multicultural perspective
• women celebrating women

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

It’s International Women’s Day!

Alisa and Dr. Merary are joined by return guest, CEO and Strategic Advisor Vanessa Santos, to discuss how breaking the rules can help pave the road to living an intentional life.

“I am like an abstract painting. Not everyone gets me, but once they do, they can totally see my beauty. They see my worth and I can live in that and own that and not care what other people think or whether they get it or not.” – Alisa Manjarrez, Vision Producer

In this episode:

• owning your power
• the power of choosing yourself
• why vulnerability is a superpower
• how biases keep us down
• women supporting women

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Vanessa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

“Intersectionality”, coined by professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, refers to the ways all aspects of our identity intersect and interact. Join the whole What Rules team as they dive into what intersectionality means to them and how understanding your unique identities can help create opportunities for yourself and your community.

“Take a look at yourself, take a look at who you are and what policies are actually not supporting who you are, what laws are not supporting who you are, what is society’s unconscious bias about who you are?” – Dr. Merary Simeon

In this episode:

• intersectionality and identity
• authenticity in the workplace
• how to create opportunities for multicultural women
• building community
• empowering yourself and others
• support systems

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Courtney Copelin: LinkedIn

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

We’re paving our own way, we’re breaking the rules... but what about finances? Isn't it time to start demystifying the financial landscape of entrepreneurship and to shake up untrue beliefs about debt financing?

In this episode, Alisa and Dr. Merary are joined by Virtual CFO and CPA, Christina Sjahli who breaks down financial topics from borrowing responsibly to forecasting cash flow, getting candid along the way about all the financial risks, wins, and in-betweens.

“Feel the fear, because if you want to grow your business, the truth is sometimes you need outside capital it doesn't always have to be equity.” -Christina Sjahli

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In this episode:

• Misconceptions about business financing
• Financial risk assessment: how to borrow with a plan
• How beliefs about money in family of origin impact business decisions
• Reclaiming your power
• Cashflow: how to track it, short-term vs long-term

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Chrstina Sjahli: christinasjahli.com

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

So often we are taught that life is the main road, with little room for detours. This can really get us stuck living a life we think we should be living versus a life of unique fulfillment and curiosity. So how can we do the work of building confidence to pursue more? How can we build a life that is an authentic representation of all the things we love?

Tune in to be inspired as Alisa and Dr. Janice Stain discuss the importance of forging your own path full of all of your life passions and projects.

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“All I have to do is walk my own path and be who I am and do what I think I should do.” -Dr. Janice Stain

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Topics in this episode:

• work/life balance
• pursuing passions with confidence
• interdependence
• faith and wisdom
• morning routines

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Janice Stain: janicestain.com

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

Rose Aviles returns to the show for an update on the mess she was dealing with back in episode 54.

Spoiler... it's still messy but she's still amazing.

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Rose Aviles: LinkedIn

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com

Our obsession with rule-breaking is nothing new. Before podcasting was even a thing, we were out there breaking rules to get ahead in our careers, breaking rules that stemmed from our past, breaking rules that others had for us, and we're finally here. We're rule-breakers... and so are you.

So... what's next?

As we move into a new year full of broken rules and big dreams, Alisa, Rosa, and Dr. Merary sit down with Chief Career Activator, Madelyn Mackie, to find out how believing in possibilities can lead you down the road to career success and happiness.

Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.

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Join our LinkedIn group!

More from Madelyn Mackie: madelynmackie.com

More from Rosa Santos: LinkedIn

More from Dr. Merary Simeon: MerarySimeon.com

More from Alisa Manjarrez: The Happy Cactus

Get transcripts and more at colorforward.com