PODCAST EPISODES
BC054: Dr. Dédé Tetsubayashi
Building Inclusivity in the Tech Industry
It’s no secret that the tech industry has a diversity problem. Dr. Dédé Tetsubayashi, a product equity, inclusion and tech ethicist, joins to discuss how the lack of representation within tech adversely impacts product equity and user experiences, and how tech companies can be more inclusive. Dr. Dédé also shares how she educates and empowers individuals, groups, and communities through incluu, a Black-woman-owned consultancy transforming organizations to be more inclusive in product design and processes.
BC053: Jackie Glenn
The Immigrant Experience: Challenges, Opportunities, and Impact
From a newly immigrated nanny to CEO, Jackie Glenn has embraced life’s challenges with boldness and humility, always being true to herself and giving back to those who come after her. It’s this commitment to helping others, which led Jackie to write her instructional biography, Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl’s Journey Through Corporate America. Jackie discusses how she climbed her way up the corporate ladder and the character gems that brought her and other immigrants professional success in the American workplace.
BC052: The FLI Collective
Overcoming Barriers to Career Advancement as a Woman of Color
Women of color face unique gender and racial barriers to their professional advancement and are less likely to move into leadership roles. This bonus episode features the women of The FLI Collective, a lifestyle podcast that deals with the experiences of being first generation and low income in academia. We examine some of these challenges and discuss strategies for advancing women of color, including when we should pursue stretch opportunities and how we lead and bring others along with us. Welcome Drs. Marlette Jackson, Edritz Javelosa, Nidia Ruedas-Gracia, Miranda Stratton, and Courtney Pena!
BC051: Beth Diana Smith
Turning Your Side Hustle into Your Full Time Gig
Stuck on how to turn your passion project into so much more? After more than a decade in accounting and finance at companies like Morgan Stanley, Viacom, and Johnson & Johnson, Beth Diana Smith left her six-figure salary and the corporate world to launch her own interior design firm, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design. Her style is modern and eclectic with luxurious finishes and custom furnishings. Beth chats about how she turned her side hustle into her full time gig.
BC050: Imari Smith
The Elusive Black Middle Class
With rising costs of living, steadily increasing debt, and stagnant wages, middle class Americans may find themselves living paycheck to paycheck. But is there even a Black middle class? Imari Smith, a doctoral student at Duke University, argues that the Black middle class is a “subaltern middle class”, just one tier of a marginalized group. The Black middle class has never reaped the benefits of their middle class status and continue to be subjected to the same harms faced by Black Americans of lower economic status.
BC049: Dr. Nina Banks
Valuing the Work We Do: Black Women's Unpaid Labor
Each year women perform thousands of hours and trillions of dollars of unpaid work. You’ve likely heard of the invisible daily household work women perform, but what about unpaid community activism performed by Black and Brown women? Dr. Nina Banks, an Associate Professor of economics at Bucknell University, argues that this collective activism places additional burdens on women of color that often go unrecognized and uncompensated. In this episode, we chat about the many ways Black and Brown women contribute to their communities and how we can place value on that labor.
BC048: Prof. Stacy Hawkins
Discriminatory or Simply Burdensome? Workplace Dress Codes
Many employers require their employees to follow workplace dress codes. Employers can regulate employees’ clothing, makeup, hairstyles, nails, and more. Your employer might even be able to regulate your weight. Although the line between discriminatory and simply burdensome may seem blurry, Professor Stacy Hawkins, Vice Dean and Professor of Law at Rutgers Law School, explains just how far a company dress code can go before crossing into unlawful discrimination.
BC047: Doreen Pierre
The Problematic Politics of Style and Gender Identity in the Workplace
After spending over a year working from home, returning to the office and readjusting to your company dress code can be challenging. In this episode, Doreen Pierre, a Brooklyn based fashion writer, visual content creator, and events producer, chats about how restrictive dress codes inhibit us from bringing our true Selves to work. Doreen’s work centers people of color and queer communities and has been featured in The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Virgin Media, DapperQ and more.
BC046: Dr. Maxine Davis
Disrupting Patterns of Oppression in the Workplace
Are you guilty of performative allyship? Today’s guest, Dr. Maxine Davis, a scholar, activist, and author, breaks down the pitfalls of performative allyship and how even well-meaning professionals can perpetuate oppression and social harms in the workplace. In early 2021, Dr. Davis authored an article in Nature Human Behavior, Anti-black practices take heavy toll on mental health. We chat about Dr. Davis’s own experiences with anti-black practices in the workplace and recommendations for a more inclusive workplace.
BC045: Dr. Marlette Jackson
Does Your Definition of Leadership Exclude Women of Color?
Far too often, we operate in workplaces where women of color leaders are lacking. However, that’s not because we lack leadership skills. Nor is it because we lack interest. Break Concrete kicks off Season 4 with Dr. Marlette Jackson, a scholar, author, and diversity, equity, and inclusion expert who interrogates common leadership values and norms and how they exclude women of color.
BC044: MOTHER'S DAY SPECIAL
Tomi Akitunde -
Motherhood Comes in Many Different Forms
Motherhood and mothering can be complicated, but Tomi Akitunde has built a much needed resource for Black moms: mater mea also known as Black Mom Google. Tomi is an award-winning journalist who founded mater mea, the #1 destination for thoughtful, high quality content that celebrates, supports, and empowers Black moms. mater mea helps Black moms get the answers to their motherhood, life, and career questions through sincere storytelling, expert advice, and community. In this relatable episode, Tomi opens up about her experiences with infertility, why she decided to create an online space for Black moms, how she confronted insecurities as the founder of mater mea, and more.
BC043: SEASON 3 FINALE
Jasmine Marie -
Deepening Our Inhales, Lessening Our Stress
“Oftentimes we lend the power of knowing our body to other people and I want us to own that more.” Understanding that Black women experience higher rates of chronic stress and anxiety, Jasmine Marie, a breathwork practitioner, founded black girls breathing, a safe space for Black women to nurture their mental, emotional, and spiritual health through guided meditation, breathwork, and community. In this final episode of Season 3, Jasmine shares how she helps women own their bodies and reclaim their power to heal themselves through black girls breathing.
BC042: Kishshana Palmer
Confronting Biases within Philanthropy
Problems around diversity, equity, and inclusion permeate all sectors, including the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Whether it’s disparate funding for Black and women-led organizations, failure to promote women of color to leadership, or foundations using money as a weapon to dictate the direction of organizational efforts, Kishshana Palmer breaks it all down. Kishshana is an international speaker, trainer, and coach with nearly two decades of experience in fundraising, marketing, and talent management. She is the founder of The Rooted Collaborative, a global community focused on the holistic evolution and advancement of female leaders of color in the social impact sector.
BC041: Krysta McGowan
Tailoring Your Image
Dressing the part is only one step in your journey toward professional success. Equally important is understanding and controlling your image, which includes your communication, your personal brand, your wardrobe style, and more. In this episode, Krysta McGowan, the founder and visionary behind Critique Consulting, an image consulting firm, discusses how an image consultant can positively impact your career.
BC040: BONUS EPISODE
Rayya Ansari and Sumayah Ansari
The Rise of Modest Fashion and The Black Women Behind It
Cries for equal treatment and representation billow across all fields, including the fashion industry, and especially in the booming modest fashion industry. Yet, although Black women have made significant contributions (in fact, some may argue that they are the backbone of modest fashion), many go unrecognized and unseen. In this bonus episode, sisters Rayya and Sumayah Ansari, join to discuss how they have created spaces for themselves and other Black Muslim women in fashion. Rayya is a popular modest Muslim fashion blogger and influencer who speaks about current events and style. Sumayah is the owner of A.SumayahShop, which offers modest chic clothing for the contemporary woman.
BC039: Vanessa Taylor
The (In)Visibility of Black Muslim Womanhood
“As a Black Muslim woman, it gets very exhausting to exist in a world that projects onto you.” In this episode, Vanessa Taylor, a Philadelphia-based writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of the Drinking Gourd, a Black Muslim literary magazine, discusses the paradox of Black Muslim womanhood – being simultaneously hypervisible and invisible. Within that nuance, Black Muslim women carve out spaces where they embrace their multiple identities as Black, Muslim, and women while resisting the impulse of others to reduce their multi-dimensionality. Vanessa chats about this spirit of resistance: how Black Muslims challenge anti-Blackness within the Muslim community and Islamophobia within the Black community, and how she, as a Black Muslim woman, navigates her multiple identities to take up space and create spaces where she and other Black Muslim women can thrive.
BC038: Dr. Marcuetta Sims
Selfishness: The Ultimate Act of Self Love
From as early as childhood, we have been taught to be generous with our time and energy. Any hint of selfishness is frowned upon. Even with our careers, we learn that being a team player is critical to our success. Today, Dr. Marcuetta Sims, a licensed psychologist, discusses the costs of this generosity. Dr. Sims has created an online platform empowering Black women to care for themselves, The Art of Being Self-ish. We chat about setting boundaries in personal and professional settings, addressing violations of those boundaries, and reframing underlying beliefs that cause us to deprioritize ourselves.
BC037: Dr. Marilyn Gaston and Dr. Gayle Porter -
Improving Health Outcomes with Black Doctors
Research suggests that Black patients experience better health outcomes when treated by Black doctors. In this episode, Dr. Marilyn Gaston, a physician and researcher, and Dr. Gayle Porter, a clinical psychologist, join to chat about their trailblazing careers spent working to improve the physical and emotional health of families, especially those who are poor, minority, and underserved. They are the authors of the groundbreaking book, Prime Time: The African American Woman’s Complete Guide to Midlife Health and Wellness and have designed Sister Circles, which have proven effective in helping Black women develop stress management techniques, improve nutrition, and increase physical activity.
BC036: Bianca Shaw - This Is How Your Workplace Is Killing You
Recognizing that traditional workspaces cause mental, physical, and financial harm for many Queer Transgender Black and Indigenous People of Color, Bianca Shaw, a Licensed Social Worker, co-founded TRIBE Co-Create, a cooperative business focusing on connecting Black and Brown small business owners, creatives, and doers in the Bronx, New York. We chat about how traditional workspaces and values around productivity may cause harm and why Bianca believes people of color, particularly Black people, need their own spaces.
BC035: Latisha Roberson - Navigating Being the Only in the Room
If you’re a woman of color, you have more than likely experienced being the “only” in a professional setting. Perhaps, you were the only woman in a male-dominated boardroom or the only person of color on your company’s professional staff. Latisha Roberson, a Human Resources Executive, chats about some of the unique challenges of being an only and how she has leveraged her status as an only in the workplace to her advantage.
BC034: Dr. Daphne Watkins - Black Don't Crack and Other Tales They Told Us
We’ve all heard the expression “black don’t crack,” referring to Black women’s youthful appearance and ageless beauty. But underneath this beautiful exterior, Black women are aging much faster than their peers of other races. In today’s episode, Dr. Daphne Watkins, a Diversity and Social Transformation professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, joins to discuss the impact of stress on Black bodies and reconsiders how we approach the concept of “black don’t crack” to embrace our vulnerabilities and humanity as Black women.
BC033: Dr. Tega Edwin - Finding Your Fulfilling Career
Feeling stuck in your career? Unclear about next steps? It’s 2021 and it’s time to find fulfillment in the work you do. Through Her Career Doctor, Dr. Tega Edwin helps women who are unhappy at work get clarity about who they are so they can find a fulfilling career that allows them to live on purpose, thrive in their zone of genius, and get paid their true worth. We discuss how women can identify their values and define their interests to find careers that are aligned with who they are.
BC032: Dr. Natalia Peart - Success is a Lifestyle, Not a Destination
Anxious about next steps in your career? Treading water financially? Can’t seem to achieve the right balance between personal and professional success? Life can be unpredictable. After we’ve reached one pinnacle, there seems to be yet another challenge ahead. Break Concrete is kicking off Season 3 with the brilliant Dr. Natalia Peart, who is also the author of the powerful book, Future Proofed: The New Rules of Success in Work & Life for our Modern World. Dr. Peart presents a roadmap to gain clarity and thrive in a fast paced world. Start living a life of true happiness, fulfillment, and self-defined success today.
Season 3
Break Concrete is back for a third season starting Tuesday, January 19, 2021 with more dynamic speakers and discussions exploring how Black women navigate race and gender in the workplace. We are kicking off the season with the brilliant Dr. Natalia Peart and will be releasing episodes every Tuesday starting next week. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Google Play Music, Stitcher, or Spotify. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @breakconcrete.
BC031: SEASON 2 FINALE
Dr. Adia Gooden -
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Cultivating Unconditional Self-Worth
Are you an only in the workplace? Do you often confront stereotypes about your gender or race at work? Are you balancing a hyper-competitive and unforgiving work environment? Workplace triggers making you feel like you are not good enough or do not belong abound. In this final episode of Season 2, Dr. Adia Gooden, a clinical psychologist, discusses what imposter syndrome is, how it shows up and holds us back from reaching professional success, and strategies that we can use to overcome imposter syndrome and cultivate unconditional self-worth.
BC030: Danielle Slaughter - Gatekeeping White Supremacy and Patriarchy
Are you gatekeeping white supremacy and patriarchy without even realizing it? In this episode, Danielle Slaughter identifies three ways in which most people unintentionally serve as gatekeepers. Danielle is a doctoral student (on hiatus) in the Rhetoric and Composition program at Georgia State University, the founder of Mamademics, a blog sharing Danielle’s experiences navigating motherhood and academia, and the creator of Raising an Advocate, a social justice advocacy resource website. We discuss harmful impulses to access power, privilege, and resources, which in turn uphold systems of oppression.
BC029: Zakiyah Ansari - Championing Black and Brown Voices
For over 20 years, Zakyah Ansari has been a champion for Black and Brown voices. As Advocacy Director with the New York State Alliance for Quality Education, the leading organization working to fight for educational equity in New York State, Zakiyah knows that organizing is a long-term game. We chat about how Zakiyah built a career in organizing, how she drives and sustains momentum, and how she has secured a seat at the table for herself and other Black and Brown parents in state politics.
BC028: BONUS Dr. Erica Holmes - Moving Past Work. Connecting in Love.
Work is what you do to survive. It can’t be what you do to sustain or connect with your intimate partner. As a professional woman, you may constantly be chasing the elusive balance between work and home. In this Bonus Episode, Dr. Erica Holmes, author of Dating With Purpose: A Single Woman’s Guide to Escaping No Man’s Land, talks in detail about how we can gain insights into our dating behaviors and practices to progress towards healthier intimate relationships. Wondering why you show up differently at work than you do in your personal relationships? Perhaps you are a workaholic and work inevitably seeps into your personal life. This Bonus Episode has nuggets for women at every stage in their relationships.
BC027: Jihan Thompson - Swivel Beauty: Catering to Black Hair
Imagine going to the hair salon and not having to endure painfully long waits. Imagine traveling anywhere in the world and finding a skilled stylist knowledgeable about your hair type and texture and who leaves you with a smile and beautiful healthy hair. Jihan Thompson left a successful career as a magazine writer and editor to found Swivel Beauty with her co-founder, Jennifer Lambert, to do just that. Swivel Beauty is a mobile app that enables women of color to discover and book the best stylist and salon for their hair type and desired hairstyle. Since its launch, Swivel Beauty has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Fast Company, and the New York Times.
BC026: Emily K. Graham - Charting Your Path to Corporate Success
Emily K. Graham is a millennial on the rise. She is the first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard, a public relations company. Previously, Emily served as FleishmanHillard’s youngest Senior Vice President and Partner. By age 32, Emily had already charted a trailblazing career, leading communications efforts for companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, and Merrill Lynch. We discuss Emily’s rapid rise in corporate, how she continues to #breakconcrete as a young Black woman in communications, and her commitment to helping other young women advance professionally.
BC025: Mothering Black Children
Let’s talk about the additional work and labor that goes into mothering Black children. In today’s episode, I am joined by a round table of brilliant Black professional women who are also mothers. They share their experiences navigating race and gender for themselves and their children and how they raise their children to show up, take up space in the world, and #breakconcrete.
BC024: Kimberly Mutcherson - Shattering Traditions in Academia
How do we change deeply-rooted traditions that were never intended to serve the interests of marginalized groups? Kimberly Mutcherson, the Co-Dean of Rutgers Law School in Camden, NJ, represents a trifecta of firsts for Rutgers Law: the first African-American, woman, and LGBTQ individual in this role. We discuss her leadership in a predominantly white male institution, diversity in legal academia and the workplace, and how she works to advance justice and fairness while challenging legal traditions.
BC023: Ashlee Wisdom - Prioritizing Black Women's Health
What impact does structural racism have on health outcomes for Black women? In Episode 23, Ashlee Wisdom, the founder and CEO of Health in Her HUE, joins to discuss her mission to eliminate racial health disparities through her digital platform. Health in Her HUE connects Black women to culturally competent healthcare providers and health content that centers Black women’s lived experiences.
BC022: Dr. Cheryl Tawede Grills -
Dealing with Racial Trauma (Emancipation from Mental Slavery)
“We have to defy lies and embrace the truth of our humanity.” In Episode 22, Dr. Cheryl Tawede Grills, a clinical psychologist and the past president of the Association of Black Psychologists, joins to discuss how we can recognize and cope with racial stress and trauma at work and beyond. We talk about the impact that racial stress and trauma has on our mental, emotional, and physical health, as well as on our relationships with others, and how we can emancipate ourselves from ubiquitous messaging regarding Black inferiority.
BC021: Erika Stallings -
Embracing Uncomfortable Conversations
Erika Stallings is no stranger to uncomfortable conversations. In fact, she invites them as she fearlessly confronts workplace and healthcare inequities and leads the dialogue around hereditary breast cancer for Black women. Erika is a writer, health advocate, and attorney. She has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, O Magazine, and NPR. Her most recent article appears in The Cut, Racism at My Job Literally Gave Me PTSD. We chat about Erika’s advocacy on behalf of Black women both in the workspace and in healthcare, and her article, When Black Women Go From Office Pet to Office Threat.
BC020: Jessica Hylton-Leckie -
Changing Careers and Pursuing Your Passion
Ready to change your day to day? Jessica Hylton-Leckie shares how she left a career in law to pursue her passion to become an award-winning photographer, videographer, and home chef. Jessica is the CEO and creator of Jessica in the Kitchen, a food blog that focuses on sharing hundreds of nutritious, whole foods based delicious recipes. We chat about how Jessica changed careers to build a successful brand as a food blogger, advice for women thinking of switching careers, and her suggestions for delicious summer recipes.
BC019: BONUS Girls for Gender Equity -
Protecting Black Girlhood
How does centering the experiences of Black girls protect their innocence and childhood? In this Bonus Episode, Ashley Sawyer and Damala Denny from Girls for Gender Equity join to discuss GGE’s efforts in preserving Black girls’ childhood. We explore how GGE works to dismantle systems of oppression to empower Black girls and help them #breakconcrete.
BC018: Anne Williams-Isom - Leadership in a Mission-Driven Organization
How does a Black female CEO create the learning environment for Black children to thrive? Anne Williams-Isom, the past CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, discusses how she showed up and carried out HCZ’s mission to break the cycle of generational poverty in Central Harlem. We explore Anne’s role as CEO of an organization tasked with educating young people of color and how she, as a professional woman, raises her Black daughters to show up and #breakconcrete.
BC017: Chris-Tia Donaldson - Beating the Odds
Chris-Tia Donaldson has faced and passed life’s tests with grit and grace. She is the founder and CEO of the nationally-distributed beauty brand, Thank God It’s Natural, which manufactures natural hair and skin care products. She is also the author of This Is Only A Test: What Breast Cancer Taught Me about Faith, Love, Hair and Business. We chat about Chris-Tia’s experience in corporate work settings as a Black female professional, how she cultivated the confidence to push past being underestimated, her journey building TGIN, her battles with breast cancer, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
BC016: Season 2 Teaser
Break Concrete is back for a second season on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 with more discussions exploring how Black women navigate race and gender in the workplace. But we also take a more intimate look at how successful Black women got to where they are today. We will be releasing episodes every Tuesday starting next week. See you on Tuesday!
BC015: SUMMER SPECIAL - Let's Talk About the B-word
We teamed up with our British sisters from the Black Women Working podcast and we’re talking Bs: burnout, British work culture compared to the U.S., and Black Lives Matter. BWW is a podcast show that highlights the workplace experiences of Black women in the U.K. We chat about how the current events can lead to burnout and how some of these issues are showing up and impacting Black women in the U.S. and the U.K. We also take a look at the difference in work culture between the U.K. and the U.S. and how we can find a happy work life balance.
BC014: SEASON 1 FINALE
Dr. Ella Bell Smith -
Breaking Concrete: How Black Women Achieve Professional Success
What does it take to achieve professional success? In the Season 1 Finale, Dr. Ella Bell Smith, Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, joins to share pearls of wisdom about how Black women break concrete. She is the co-author of the widely acclaimed book, Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity. We chat about how to have difficult conversations with supervisors, preserving and showing your authentic Self at work, building professional and personal relationships that support your career aspirations, and more. You do not want to miss this lively discussion.
BC013: Titilayo Tinubu Ali -
Capitalizing on Your Skills and Owning Your Expertise
In Episode 13, Titilayo Tinubu Ali, chats about Own Your Expertise, a business accelerator helping professional women of color claim their voices, communicate their strengths, and step into greater visibility at work and beyond. Titilayo coaches emerging leaders and entrepreneurs to land their first clients, turn their first profits, and develop their personal brand.
BC012: Shemika Harmitt - Our Beauty Needs Are Primary, Not Secondary
No more foraging for the perfect foundation, bronzer, <fill in the blank> to accentuate your beautiful brown skin. In Episode 12, Shemika Harmitt, an accomplished beauty publicist, chats about her Indie brand, Prime Beauty Cosmetics. Since its launch, Prime Beauty has received an outpouring of support from celebrities and influencers such as Cardi B and Nyma Tang as the brand redefines beauty standards and offers inclusive products for women of color. We discuss inclusivity in the beauty industry, Shemika’s journey launching Prime Beauty, and tips she has for others starting their own business.
BC011: Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett -
The Black Woman's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear
“There is no sin and shame in being anxious and fearful.” In Episode 11, Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett discusses how she helps Black women overcome anxiety, panic, and fear. She is the author of the relatable, yet instructive book, Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear. We discuss work-related stressors impacting anxiety in Black women, how to recognize the symptoms of anxiety, and strategies for managing and treating anxiety, panic, and fear.
BC010: BONUS EPISODE - Arlan Hamilton -
It's About Damn Time (Finding Value in Being Underestimated)
In this Bonus Episode, Arlan Hamilton, founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, chats about how she got started in venture capital and her commitment to working with underrepresented founders. Backstage Capital is a seed investment fund dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by backing high-potential startup founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBTQ. Completely self-taught and lacking money and connections, Arlan has upended Silicon Valley. She is the author of the inspiring book and business guide, It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage.
BC009: Anne Price - What We Need to Tackle the Wealth Gap
In Episode 9, Anne Price, the first woman president of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, speaks about narrowing gendered racial wealth inequities. Spoiler alert: One way forward is to center Blackness. Anne breaks down various myths about the wealth gap and encourages us to reevaluate our thinking. We discuss Anne’s recent report, Don’t Fixate On the Racial Wealth Gap: Focus on Undoing Its Root Causes.
BC008: Ericka Young - Taking Command of Your Finances
Let’s talk about money. In Episode 8, Ericka Young, a recognized expert in financial coaching and the President and Founder of Tailor-Made Budgets, discusses practical tips to managing finances. Ericka specializes in budgeting, debt reduction, and savings forecast. She offers pragmatic advice for professional women and couples to get their finances in order. She is also the author of the best-selling book, Naked and Unashamed: 10 Money Conversations Every Couple Must Have.
BC007: Jennifer McClanahan Flint - Leveraging Your Difference and Building A Career with Audacity
If you are Black, you are different and everybody sees your difference. In Episode 7, Jennifer McClanahan-Flint, founder of Leverage to Lead Group and Programs, and executive career coach and career strategist, discusses how she helps ambitious women of color navigate workplace bias, compensation, and their trajectory to build careers with audacity, not apprehension. We explore how Jennifer works with women of color to help them leverage their difference, make strategic career decisions, and more.
BC006: Rukayatu Tijani - Fulfilling Your Purpose as a First Generation Professional
In Episode 6, I am joined by the audacious Rukayatu Tijani, creator of the First Generation Purpose Project, an initiative designed to help first generation professionals and entrepreneurs navigate life and career by utilizing their grit and tenacity. She is also the founder of Firm for the Culture, a new virtual law firm providing trademark services for social entrepreneurs and innovative founders. We chat about Ruky’s journey navigating the politics of workspaces as a first generation professional and boldly maneuvering her past and present.
BC005: Dr. Akua Boateng - What Therapy Can Do for Black Women
As an upwardly mobile professional, you may face unique challenges ranging from survivor’s guilt to maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones from the past to creating support networks with people in your present. In Episode 5, Dr. Akua Boateng, a licensed professional counselor, discusses how therapy can help Black female professionals take ownership of their emotional health, cope with challenges faced in the workplace, and work towards a more authentic existence.
BC004: Kelli Lawson and Orlena Blanchard - Ending Hair Discrimination
A positive experience of beauty should be accessible to every woman. In this episode, Kelli Joy Richardson Lawson, Founder and CEO of JOY Collective, and Orlena Nwokah Blanchard, President and COO of JOY Collective, join me to chat about how they are mobilizing across the country to end discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles in the workplace and public schools with the CROWN Act.
BC003: Dr. Tsedale Melaku - You Don’t Look Like a Lawyer
Ever heard that you don’t look like the professional that you are? In this episode, I am thrilled to speak with Dr. Tsedale Melaku about the labor and cost of being included in white institutional spaces and how we can redefine diversity to improve the experiences of Black women in corporate workspaces. Dr. Melaku is a sociologist and critical race and gender scholar whose research focuses on how race and gender affect advancement in traditionally white institutional spaces. She is also the author of the fantastic book, You Don’t Look Like a Lawyer: Black Women and Systemic Gendered Racism, which has golden nuggets for black women across all professions.
BC002: Dr. Kumea Shorter-Gooden - Responding to Racial and Gender Bias at Work
Feeling like you have to leave your true Self at the door when arriving at the office? In this episode, I am excited to speak with Dr. Kumea Shorter-Gooden about how Black women shift to respond to and cope with racial and gender bias in the workplace. Dr. Shorter-Gooden is a clinical/community psychologist with a focus on African American women, identity, and psychotherapy in diverse populations. She is also the co-author of the captivating book, Shifting: The Double Lives of Black Women in America.
BC001: Season 1 Teaser - Break Concrete
Welcome to Break Concrete! We all recognize the “glass ceiling”– the invisible barrier impeding women’s professional advancement. For Black women, sexism shaped by racism creates additional hurdles many have regarded as a concrete wall. In Season 1, listen to incredibly brilliant and talented women share their experiences, exchange lessons they have learned throughout their journeys, and encourage us to continue rising.