In this debut episode of the Embracing Your Voice Podcast, Atima Omara introduces her vision for the podcast, a space for ambitious women of color to navigate career challenges while embracing their authentic selves. Sharing personal anecdotes and lessons from her career, Atima dives into topics ranging from systemic workplace barriers to strategies for building a purposeful and impactful career.

Welcome to the first episode of Embracing Your Voice, where host Atima Omara shares her journey and insights on embracing authenticity in her career and life. This empowering episode highlights the importance of building a purposeful career as a woman of color, navigating systemic challenges, and using your voice to create impact.

Timestamped Key Topics

[00:00:00] Introduction

Atima introduces the Embracing Your Voice podcast and explains its focus on empowering women of color to lead authentic, impactful lives.

[00:01:30] The Power of Embracing Your Authentic Voice

Discover Atima's journey from being the daughter of African immigrants to finding her purpose in activism and politics.

[00:05:00] Overcoming Workplace Challenges

Atima shares real-life examples of microaggressions, workplace tokenism, and underrepresentation, offering advice on overcoming these hurdles.

[00:09:00] Building a Career with Purpose

Learn how Atima carved her path by founding a business aligned with her values, giving her the freedom to lead authentically.

[00:13:00] Practical Steps to Embrace Your Voice

Atima offers actionable tips for defining your path, building a supportive community, and prioritizing joy while navigating systemic barriers.

[00:15:00] Call to Action

Atima encourages listeners to sign up for the Embracing Your Voice newsletter, connect with like-minded individuals, and build a supportive community.

Key Takeaways

1. Embrace Your Authentic Voice: Your voice is your power; use it unapologetically.
2. Overcome Workplace Challenges: Learn strategies for navigating microaggressions and systemic barriers.
3. Build a Career with Purpose: Prioritize joy and authenticity to lead a fulfilling life.

• Embracing Your Voice Podcast: Explore episodes and resources for women of color navigating their careers.
• Lean In: A resource hub for navigating systemic workplace challenges.
• Subscribe to the Newsletter: Stay updated with empowering content and actionable career advice.

Empower your journey by signing up for the Embracing Your Voice newsletter. Visit Embracing Your Voice to connect with a community of ambitious women of color and access actionable career insights.

If you enjoyed the show and you want to join our community of other women of color who are embracing their voice head over to https://embracingyourvoicepod.com/

Connect with Atima on:

Instagram

Linkedin

Summary:

In this empowering episode of Embracing Your Voice, Atima Omara hosts author and speaker Minda Harts to discuss the challenges women of color face in professional environments. From navigating microaggressions to prioritizing mental health, Minda shares personal stories and actionable strategies. Discover insights from her books The Memo and Right Within, learn about the importance of self-care, and gain inspiration for embracing authentic leadership.

Key Timestamps:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: Meet Minda Harts and the focus of today's episode.
• [00:02:00] Recognizing Workplace Trauma: Minda's journey and the toll of microaggressions.
• [00:06:00] Mental Health Matters: The importance of therapy and setting boundaries.
• [00:10:00] Writing The Memo: Why Minda wrote a career guide for women of color.
• [00:13:00] Healing Through Right Within: How to address racial trauma in the workplace.
• [00:17:00] Practical Steps for Self-Care: Small changes for significant mental health impacts.
• [00:24:00] The Role of Community: Collective healing for women of color.
• [00:30:00] Embracing Your Voice: Finding purpose, courage, and authenticity in work.

Key Takeaways:

1. Recognize Trauma: Acknowledge and name harm to begin the healing process.
2. Prioritize Mental Health: Incorporate self-care practices into daily life.
3. Build Community: Foster supportive networks to overcome workplace challenges.
4. Authentic Leadership: Lean into your unique identity to unlock your potential.

Summary

In this episode of Embracing Your Voice, we explore the challenges and triumphs of being the "first" or "only" woman of color in predominantly white spaces. Sarah Chapman Bacerra shares her experiences as a leadership expert and community organizer. Discover actionable strategies to foster inclusivity, build authentic connections, and use your voice unapologetically.

[00:00:00] Introduction: Atima introduces the podcast and its focus on authentically empowering women of color to create impactful lives and careers.

[00:01:00] Meet Sarah Chapman Bacerra: Sarah Chapman Bacerra, founder and CEO of Trailblazing in Color, shares her background in organizational development, coaching, and activism.

[00:05:00] Founding Trailblazing in Color: Sarah explains the inspiration behind Trailblazing in Color and its focus on supporting trailblazers who are paving the way for others.

[00:08:00] Community Building in Organizations: Sarah emphasizes the importance of coalition building and creating communities of practice to drive sustainable transformation in organizations.

[00:12:00] Transition to Advocacy and Leadership: Sarah describes her career path, from corporate social responsibility to consulting, and her Women's March San Diego involvement.

[00:15:00] Tokenism and Marginalization: Sarah shares her experiences with tokenism and microaggressions, highlighting the challenges of being the first or only in a space.

[00:24:00] Scaling Impact Through Organizations: Sarah explains how her consulting focuses on designing systems and structures that allow marginalized individuals to thrive.

[00:28:00] Liberation in Leadership: Sarah explores whether being the first or only in leadership can lead to liberation, emphasizing the need for community care and legacy building.

[00:34:00] Embracing Identity and Voice: Sarah reflects on how embracing her multifaceted identity has allowed her to live authentically and find her purpose.

[00:44:00] Closing Thoughts: Sarah shares where listeners can find her, including her website and social media, and promotes her podcast, Trailblazing in Color.

Key Takeaways:

• Embrace Authentic Leadership: Use your unique identity as a strength.
• Combat Tokenism: Turn challenges into opportunities for growth and change.
• Leverage Storytelling: Build bridges and inspire action through your personal story.

Call to Action:

Be part of the movement! Subscribe, rate, and share this episode. Visit EmbracingYourVoicePod.com to sign up for our newsletter and connect with like-minded changemakers.

If you enjoyed the show and you want to join our community of other women of color who are embracing their voice head over to https://embracingyourvoicepod.com/

Connect with Atima on:

Instagram

Linkedin

Welcome to Embracing Your Voice! In this episode, host Atima Omara sits down with Danielle Moodie, a cultural connoisseur and unapologetic political commentator. Danielle shares her winding career journey, insights on breaking media stereotypes, and the power of authentic storytelling.

• [00:00:00] Introduction to the episode and Danielle Moodie's work.
• [00:01:00] Danielle's background: Recovering lobbyist turned media maven.
• [00:03:00] From law school dreams to education policy and lobbying.
• [00:06:00] Danielle's shift to environmental advocacy and LGBTQ rights.
• [00:08:00] Using media to amplify marginalized voices and create change.
• [00:12:00] Challenges and lessons learned in legacy media spaces like SiriusXM.
• [00:16:00] Embracing independence: Launching Woke AF and Democracy Ish.
• [00:20:00] Balancing authenticity with career opportunities as a woman of color.
• [00:26:00] Finding success by leaning into your unique voice and vision.
• [00:33:00] Lessons from Beyoncé: Trusting your voice and art.
• [00:36:00] Final thoughts and Danielle's advice for aspiring media professionals.

Key Takeaways:

• Authenticity is your greatest strength in media and beyond.
• Don't let others dictate your voice—find spaces where you can thrive.
• Building a career rooted in purpose leads to lasting fulfillment.

💡 Resources & Links:

• Follow Danielle Moodie on Instagram and Twitter.
• Listen to Danielle’s podcasts: Woke AF Daily, Democracy Ish, and The New Abnormal.
• Sign up for our newsletter to stay inspired and connected: Join Here.

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to the Embracing Your Voice Podcast!

Summary

In this episode of Embracing Your Voice, Chrysta Wilson, a DEI trainer and leadership coach, discusses the nuanced concept of "culture fit" and its impact on marginalized groups. Together, Atima and Chrysta explore actionable ways to create equitable and inclusive workplaces.

[00:00:00] Introduction: Atima introduces the podcast's focus on empowering women of color to create impactful lives and careers while staying authentic.

[00:02:00] Meet Chrysta Wilson: Atima introduces Chrysta Wilson, a DEI trainer, consultant, leadership coach, and founder of Wilson and Associates Coaching and Consulting.

[00:10:00] Starting a Bakery: Chrysta discusses her journey into entrepreneurship through her bakery, influenced by personal grief and burnout, and how it became a source of healing and creativity.

[00:15:00] Transition to DEI Consulting: Chrysta explains her shift from running a bakery to focusing full-time on DEI consulting due to economic pressures and a desire to address systemic inequities.

[00:22:00] Lessons from Entrepreneurship: Chrysta highlights the importance of clarity and focus in business, learning to narrow her offerings, and how those lessons shaped her consulting practice.

[00:30:00] The Role of Emotional Intelligence: Chrysta explains the importance of self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership and how it intersects with DEI work.

[00:37:00] Culture Fit Discussion: Chrysta and Atima explore the concept of "culture fit," its often exclusionary use, and the importance of defining and aligning organizational culture.

[00:45:00] Approach to Organizational Transformation: Chrysta introduces her "Recipe for Transformation" framework, emphasizing a holistic approach to change at the individual, team, and organizational levels.

[00:55:00] Addressing Resistance to DEI: Chrysta reflects on how anti-DEI movements have persisted and shares strategies for organizations to stay committed to their DEI goals.

[01:05:00] Evolution of DEI Work: Chrysta discusses the increasing availability of information and awareness around systemic inequities and the resilience of the DEI movement despite resistance.

[01:15:00] Personal Fulfillment and Experimentation: Chrysta shares her desire to evolve her career by blending her passions for food, storytelling, and consulting into her future work.

[01:33:00] Closing Thoughts: Atima wraps up the episode, and Chrysta shares information about where listeners can find her and her work.

Key Takeaways:

• Redefine culture fit as culture alignment to ensure inclusion and equity.
• Leadership for women of color requires self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Leverage personal challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation.

Call to Action:

Be sure to catch future episodes of Embracing Your Voice! Subscribe, share, and join our community at embracingyourvoicepod.com.

Connect with Chrysta Wilson on Instagram | LinkedIn.

Head to DisruptYourDEI.com to access our e-course for leaders looking to build their abilities around culture change and DEI

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Embracing Your Voice, host Atima Omara dives into the powerful lessons we can learn from Beyoncé and Lily Gladstone. Both women have excelled in their respective fields and used their voices to challenge norms, celebrate authenticity, and inspire change. From overcoming systemic barriers to embracing their unique identities, Beyoncé and Lily Gladstone are trailblazers whose journeys resonate deeply with ambitious women of color.

Atima unpacks three critical lessons from their lives and careers, offering practical takeaways to help you embrace your voice, define your success, and navigate the path to an impactful career.

[00:00:00] Introduction: Atima introduces the podcast and its mission to empower women of color to create impactful lives and careers while staying authentic.

[00:02:00] Who is Lily Gladstone?: Brief overview of Lily Gladstone's role in Killers of the Flower Moon and her achievements as the first Native American woman to win a Golden Globe and receive an Oscar nomination.

[00:03:00] Lesson 1 - Excellence Without Recognition: Discussion on how Beyoncé and Lily Gladstone excel in their fields but haven't always received the recognition they deserve. Highlights Beyoncé's Lemonade album and Lily Gladstone's Oscar snub.

[00:07:00] Lesson 2 - Accolades Don't Always Open Doors: Examples of how Lupita Nyong'o and Lily Gladstone faced challenges in accessing opportunities despite their accolades and how Beyoncé's work continues to impact culture and highlight marginalized voices.

[00:09:00] Lesson 3 - Embracing Your Voice: How Lily Gladstone and Beyoncé embraced their unique voices to shape their careers. Includes Lily's pivot from niche independent film to working with Martin Scorsese and Beyoncé's culturally significant Homecoming Coachella performance.

[00:12:00] Recap of Lessons:

• Lesson 1: Excellence doesn't always guarantee recognition, so stay focused on your goals.
• Lesson 2: Achievements may not always open expected doors, so be clear on your desired impact.
• Lesson 3: Embracing your voice can create unimaginable opportunities.

[00:13:00] Closing Remarks: Atima wraps up the episode, encouraging listeners to rate, review, and subscribe while summarizing the key takeaways from Beyoncé and Lily Gladstone's careers.

• Resilience: Excellence may only sometimes receive the recognition it deserves. Define success on your terms and stay focused on your goals.
• Authenticity: Embrace your unique voice and let it guide your career choices. Authenticity can unlock unexpected opportunities.
• Impact: Use your platform to make a difference, even if the path to recognition and opportunity looks different than expected.

If you enjoyed the show and you want to join our community of other women of color who are embracing their voice head over to https://embracingyourvoicepod.com/

Connect with Atima on:

Instagram

Linkedin

Summary

Host Atima Omara is joined by Jodi-Ann Burey, speaker, writer, and advocate, to unpack how imposter syndrome affects women of color in professional spaces. Together, they discuss how systemic bias shapes feelings of inadequacy, the importance of workplace inclusivity, and strategies for thriving authentically.

[00:00:00] Introduction

• Host Atima Omara introduces the episode's focus: breaking down imposter syndrome through the lens of workplace inclusivity and systemic bias.

[00:01:30] Meet Jodi-Ann Burey

• Background on Jodi-Ann, including her journey as a public health expert, cancer survivor, and advocate for systemic change.
• Her TED Talk, "The Myth of Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work," and forthcoming book Authentic (2025).

[00:04:15] What is Imposter Syndrome?

• Exploring how traditional narratives place blame on individuals rather than addressing systemic bias.
• How women of color are disproportionately affected by workplace inequities.

[00:10:00] Systemic Bias in the Workplace

• Jodi-Ann highlights how stereotypes and microaggressions undermine workplace inclusivity.
• The "Pet to Threat" phenomenon: How women of color are welcomed but later penalized for asserting their expertise.

[00:18:45] The Fallacy of the Confidence Gap

• Discussion on why self-confidence alone cannot solve systemic inequities.
• Shifting responsibility from individuals to organizations to foster workplace equity.

[00:25:00] Reclaiming Authenticity in Professional Spaces

• Jodi-Ann shares her journey of embracing her "feisty" personality as a strength rather than a liability.
• It is important to understand systemic forces to navigate challenges effectively.

[00:32:00] Self-Advocacy and Workplace Equity

• Practical strategies for women of color to advocate for themselves while addressing systemic issues.
• Building networks and finding mentors who support your voice.

[00:40:15] Leadership and Representation

• How authentic leadership creates space for others to thrive.
• The role of representation in advancing workplace inclusivity and equity.

[00:48:00] Call to Action: Thriving Authentically

• Final thoughts from Jodi-Ann on the importance of challenging systemic bias and embracing your identity.
• Atima encourages listeners to take actionable steps toward self-advocacy and systemic change.

• Workplace Inclusivity: True inclusivity requires addressing systemic barriers, not just encouraging confidence.
• Systemic Bias and Workplace Equity: Organizations must prioritize equity by rethinking practices that marginalize women of color.
• Reclaiming Power: Advocacy and authenticity are essential for navigating and dismantling inequitable systems.

Are you feeling inspired? Take action by fostering inclusivity in your Workplace and challenging systemic biases. Share your story, join the conversation, and subscribe to the Embracing Your Voice Podcast for more empowering discussions.

Learn more about her and her work:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaburey/

jodiannburey.com