S1E4: The Corporate Canary Episode

In this powerful and relatable episode of Just Us with Kere & Liz, the hosts dive deep into what it truly feels like to be a Black woman navigating today’s volatile corporate landscape. Liz opens by reflecting on her decades as a “corporate Jackie Robinson”—often the first and the only Black woman in executive spaces—sharing the unspoken rules and real-life lessons she created her coaching practice to pass down.

The featured Readout Letter comes from “Stressed Out Corporate Canary,” a Black woman manager worried about looming layoffs and the disappearing presence of Black women in senior leadership. Kere and Liz break down the meaning behind being a “canary in the coal mine,” tackle myths around job security, and offer grounding, actionable advice: detach emotion from corporate decisions, document everything, build community, and create your “freedom fund” to layoff-proof your life.

Then, the duo turns to their fan-favorite segment: Boss It or Toss It, rating how Black corporate professionals are portrayed across movies and TV. From Boomerang and The Cosby Show to Living Single, Insecure, Empire, Black-ish, Girlfriends, and Abbott Elementary, they unpack what Hollywood gets right—and very wrong—about Black leadership, ambition, style, and everyday office culture.

Filled with humor, honesty, cultural callouts, and coaching gems you’ll want to write down, this episode reminds listeners that while the corporate world may shake, Black women have always found a way to “make a dollar out of 15 cents.” And on Just Us, no one has to navigate it alone.