Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 71 with guest Animah Kosai. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt pressured to conform, questioned your leadership style, or struggled to stay authentic in high-stakes environments.

 Animah is a passionate advocate for ethical leadership, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. She founded Speak Up At Work to diagnose the speak up culture in companies and assess their response to reports on wrongdoing, harassment, unsafe, and unethical practices.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 71: Speaking Up in the Workplace with Animah Kosai.

Key Discussion Points:

00:59 Bullying vs. Strong Leadership: There is a difference between strong assertive leadership and bullying. Transformation is possible if the bully is open to learning and acknowledging what they did wrong.

03:49 Understanding the DARVO Pattern: Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender is a common corporate response to being called out.

05:18 Toxic Leadership Conditioning: Past experiences shape behaviors. Leadership mirrors toxic systems until we consciously choose another path.

08:09 The Challenge of Disrupting Systems: We are living in a world designed by and for  cis straight white men from certain educational backgrounds.

10:32 Authenticity as Resistance: The roots of “professionalism” are deeply racialized and gendered, and it serves to erase identity.

In Summary: Animah Kosai encourages self-awareness in leadership, especially in addressing and transforming bullying behavior. She discusses the need for authenticity and systemic change in corporate cultures to promote inclusivity and challenge existing biases.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Animah on LinkedIn or visit her website.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

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Produced by Ideablossoms

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we sit down with Kim Crowder, transformational leadership expert and founder of Courageous Crowd. Kim is known for helping Fortune 500 companies transform crises into catalysts for growth, and she brings both her extensive corporate experience and entrepreneurial wisdom to this conversation. We explore how high-achieving women of color can hold boundaries, navigate toxic environments, and trust their values when stepping into alignment and away from overwork.

As a LinkedIn Top Voice, Kim has been featured in Forbes, the New York Times, CBS, and Business Insider. She now leads a team of experts creating sustainable leadership culture in the most complex workplaces.

Key Discussion Points:

02:50 Defining Boundaries While Holding Influence:  There are stark differences between being a boundary-holder in corporate America vs. consulting.

09:43 The Importance of Living Your Values: Showing up as yourself and staying true to your values will help you attract the right kind of clients & team members.

15:31 Finding Alignment With Yourself and With Work: Finding moments of quiet is the way to find alignment within yourself, which will then flow into your work.

20:01 Sacred Work vs. Strategic Work: Not all passions are meant for capitalism. There are some things that you may be extremely passionate about but would prefer to keep sacred.

27:30 What Alignment Actually Feels Like: Alignment often comes in small moments. There is power in recognizing the value of these.

30:58 Turning Chaos Into a Superpower: The chaos that you are currently living through could later on become the foundation of what you can build on your own.

41:17 Being a Black Woman in the Boardroom Today:  Cultivate and honor what makes you unique as your superpower. You may not be able to ignore how other people feel about it, but you don't have to internalize it.

In Summary: Kim Crowder emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, leveraging experiences as superpowers, and maintaining mental health and creativity through journaling and finding quiet moments.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Kim on LinkedIn.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/.

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Embracing Only on

Ready to make a change?
→ Struggling with your corporate career but have big goals?
Reach out to Olivia on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.
→ Ready to leave corporate or start a side venture? Archita can guide your next steps.
Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 26 with guest Monique Ball. What does it take to rise above stereotypes and rewrite the narrative? Monique shares how identity, education, and self-belief can become tools for empowerment.

Monique is a licensed real estate agent and previously worked in broadcasting and digital advertising. Throughout Monique’s life, she has continued to break societal stereotypes, and through education, she has been empowered to rise above the expectations placed on her.

This episode is just a short snippet that highlights the best and most powerful learning moment from a past episode. You can listen to the full episode (filled with more wisdom) here: Episode 26: Breaking stereotypes and leading with curiosity.

Key Discussion Points:

00:58 Ignorance and Misinformation: We have to think critically about the information we consume, especially in times of crisis.

01:59 Navigating Stereotypes: People choose to accept stereotypes and misinformation rather than educate themselves. Use this as motivation to supersede whatever judgment society has placed on you.

07:05 Understanding Historically Black Universities:  Historically black colleges and universities are institutions that were founded on the principle of helping minorities have higher education.

08:08 Empowerment in Belonging: There is empowerment that comes with being part of the majority.

In Summary: Monique encourages us to challenge stereotypes, use adversity as motivation, and invest in education as a path to empowerment. She urges us to seek environments that affirm our identity and build self-confidence.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Monique on LinkedIn.

If you happen to be a woman of color and you are looking for a community of like minded women, join Olivia here: https://www.mysistersshoulders.com/

Ready to make a change?

→ If you are struggling to navigate your corporate career but are ambitious and have goals you want to accomplish quickly, Olivia is the coach for you. She can help you reach your goals.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit oliviacream.com.

→ If you are ready to transition out of Corporate and want to start building a profitable portfolio career as a business owner, board member or more, but you’re unsure of the next steps, Archita can guide you through a successful transition to entrepreneurship.

Reach out to her on LinkedIn or visit architafritz.com.

Connect with your hosts:

Follow Archita on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Olivia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Follow Embracing Only on Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook, or check out the website.

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Produced by Ideablossoms