Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 67 with guest Mary Waweru. We’re diving into creating inclusive workplaces as Mary shares impactful DEI practices and the importance of anti-racism.

Mary is an intersectionality, racial equity, decoloniality, and social impact consultant. As the CEO and founder of Crest Impact, she guides organisations to build safe and inclusive cultures, practices, policies, and communications.

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 67: Taking Action To Be Anti-Racist.

Key Discussion Points:

01:00 Recognizing the Value of DEI: DEI affects every aspect of a business, from the brand and the people within the organization to people externally and brands wanting to partner with the organization.

04:06 Creating Safe Spaces for Conversation: Hard conversations don’t have to be scary. Normalise having these conversations and allow people to make mistakes, make guesses, and be unsure.

08:18 The Value of an Expert to Assist with DEI Work: DEI shouldn’t be assigned as a side project to the only woman or person of color on the team.

09:40 The Need for Anti-Racism: It’s not enough to be “not racist,” you have to take action to be anti-racist.

In Summary: Mary emphasizes the importance of cultural humility, racial equity, and social impact within organizations. She encourages us to be anti-racist through action, commitment, education, and learning.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Mary on LinkedIn or visit her website.

Find Mary’s anti-racism courses here.

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

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we are featuring one of the most impactful moments from episode 66 with guest Dorothy Mashburn. Workplace negotiations can be intimidating. Luckily, Dorothy is sharing her tips to help you master them.

 Dorothy is a leading authority in negotiation and has a fervent mission to champion the underserved in corporate arenas. With a track record of negotiating pivotal deals with global giants and managing international teams, her unique insights empower minorities and women to achieve their career aspirations.

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 66: Mastering Workplace Negotiations.

Key Discussion Points:

01:00 Do Not Negotiate Against Yourself:  If you negotiate against yourself, you will never reach any big goals. Your job is to dream big.

03:39 Sponsorship as Minority Women:  In general, minority women do not have sponsors in the workplace unless they have created those relationships for themselves. You have to stand up and advocate for yourself.

05:57 Changing Negotiation Power Dynamics:  If someone says your ask is too big, do not immediately apologize. This gives them the power. Stand in your power and stay confident in your ask.

07:28 Don’t Fear the No:  No is just the start of the negotiations, not something that should scare you.

In Summary: Dorothy Mashburn challenges us to advocate for ourselves and go big when negotiating. She urges us not to fear the “no” and emphasizes the value of staying calm and confident during high-stakes negotiations.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Dorothy 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 leave corporate or you want to start a profitable side brilliance 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

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we delve into navigating transition and finding alignment. Discover the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship, and hear personal stories and strategies for finding alignment and maintaining clarity during significant life changes.

Olivia also makes a very exciting announcement in this episode. Tune in to find out more.

Key Discussion Points:

01:23 The Value of Alignment: The market does not define you. If you are in alignment, abundance will come.

04:20 Understanding Your Passions, Values & Priorities: Understanding your passions, values, and priorities is key to making any successful career transition.

12:35 The Importance of a Support Network: It’s easy to miss patterns in our own behavior. This is why surrounding yourself with people who will tell you the truth is so important.

16:05 Creating a Financial Safety Net: Operating from a place of desperation eliminates creativity and innovation. A financial safety net makes pivoting easier.

19:54 Culture Fit and Workplace Values: The longer you stay in an environment that is misaligned with your core values, the more you will become a shadow of your former self.

24:02 Taking Control of Your Life: We have to take a proactive approach with our careers and lives. Do not give your power to anyone else.

32:24 Debunking the ‘Growth at All Costs’ Myth: Check in to make sure that whatever you are pursuing right now is in alignment with your larger mission and that you will not be sacrificing that mission for a short-term achievement.

In Summary: Olivia and Archita emphasise the value of understanding your passions, values, and priorities and aligning with them before you make any transitions. They encourage us to take control of our lives and ensure that are actions are in alignment with our long-term mission.

Resources from this episode:

The 5 Book by Dan Zadra and Kristel Wills

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

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/.

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

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 65 with guest Lisa Hurley. If you are struggling with boundaries at work, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

 Lisa is an entrepreneur, writer, podcaster, and Anthem Award-winning activist. Her work centers Black women and encompasses self-care, community care, joy, and rest. She is the founder and CEO of The Great Exhale, a soft virtual space where Black women can relax, heal, and thrive.

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 65: Leveraging Your Uniqueness For Success.

Key Discussion Points:

00:55 Advocating for Yourself in Corporate:  Surviving and navigating the corporate world can be incredibly taxing. You have to put yourself before the company you work at and advocate for yourself.

02:34 The Illusion of Corporate Necessity:  Corporations will take care of themselves. You are not essential to their success.

08:03 The Work Family Myth:  Your team at work is not your family. You can care about individuals as people, but this does not mean that your company is your family.

09:52 Taking Control of Your Life:  You are in charge of your own life. Everything starts and ends with you.

In Summary: Lisa Hurley emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and taking control of our lives in corporate spaces. She urges us to recognize our personal value and set boundaries to avoid burnout and lead a fulfilling professional life.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Lisa on LinkedIn or visit her website.

Space to Exhale: A Handbook for Curating a Soft, Centered, Serene Life by Lisa Hurley

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 leave corporate or you want to start a profitable side brilliance 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

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we delve into redefining productivity and thriving amidst struggle with Grace Marshall, an award-winning author, speaker, and productivity ninja at Think Productive. She's here today to share how we can redefine success on our own terms and how life's messiest moments can spark growth, creativity, and resilience.

Grace is a self-proclaimed, naturally disorganized, chief encourager. She helps people rethink productivity, not as a relentless race to do more, but as a way to work smarter with heart. She's coached thousands from being overwhelmed to learning how to get things done without burning out in the process. She's been featured in The Guardian, Forbes, and on BBC Radio.

Key Discussion Points:

03:43 Redefining Productivity: Ticking things off a list can be a seductive form of productivity. However, giving yourself the space to be curious and explore failure is productive as well.

09:17 Cultivating a Fulfilling Work-Life Experience: When your work is enjoyable, it’s sustainable because it’s not going to lead to burnout.

12:37 How to Go From Survival Mode to Thriving: Reframing the phrase “I’ve got to” with “I get to” will help you look for opportunities and joy in your life.

19:22 Finding Opportunity Amidst Struggle: First, recognize that you are struggling, then get curious about the situation. When we approach a struggle with curiosity, it allows us to find opportunity within it.

32:49 Separating Truth from Fiction: When you are in a triggering situation, asking yourself what is true helps you separate the facts from your fears and feelings.

40:51 Handling High-Functioning Fear in Leadership: As a leader, it is important to surround yourself with truth-tellers so they can help you snap out of high-functioning fear if needed.

In Summary: Grace Marshall encourages us to rethink productivity by embracing curiosity, to redefine success on our own terms, and to view life’s struggles as opportunities for growth. She stresses the importance of creating work experiences that are fulfilling.

Resources from this episode:

How to be REALLY Productive: Achieving Clarity And Getting Results In A World Where Work Never Ends by Grace Marshall

Struggle: The surprising truth, beauty and opportunity hidden in life’s sh*ttier moments by Grace Marshall

Follow Grace on Linkedin or check out 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/.

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

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 64 with guest Shiva Roofeh. Do you value your work experience and education over your lived experience in corporate spaces? Shiva is here to tell you why you shouldn’t.

 Shiva is a culture creator and learning design specialist. She's worked at all levels of organizations, from director to individual contributor. In her personal life, she has been a refugee, an immigrant, and a migrant. Shiva says that her lived experience is as valuable as her work experience, and she leverages both to create mile-deep change and relationships with and for her clients.

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 64: Cultural Intelligence in Corporate Spaces.

Key Discussion Points:

00:59 Embracing Cultural Intelligence:  Cultural intelligence is about understanding your paradigms. What are the deep-seated beliefs that structure your understanding of the world that then lead to your behaviors?

04:35 Valuing Your Lived Experience in Corporate Spaces: Your lived experience is as valuable as your work experience and your education. It is a unique perspective that informs your work.

06:50 Understanding Your Origin Story: You are the only person who knows the full depth and nuance of your story. Take the time to understand it and give yourself credit for it.

In Summary: Shiva Roofeh encourages us to embrace our unique lived experience in corporate spaces. She urges us to take the time to understand our own origin stories and realize just how valuable they are to informing our work.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Shiva 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/

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

Episode Highlight: On this episode of the Embracing "Only" podcast, we delve into navigating bias and embracing identity in corporate spaces with Dr. Delia Grenville, an executive leader, integral coach, and TEDx speaker. Discover how you can take control of your success and find the right environment for growth, all while holding space for those who come after you.

Delia is a strategic powerhouse with a PhD in industrial and systems engineering. She's an award-winning technologist and innovator and was honored as the Woman of Color STEM Technologist of the Year. Today, she's the founder and CEO of Slyn Consulting and Workplace Respect Network and focuses on individual and organizational transformation.

Key Discussion Points:

02:59 Embracing Your Identity: Being comfortable in your values, having a stand for who you are, and knowing what you'll tolerate is empowering because then, no matter what room you walk into, nobody can tell you who you are.

15:36 Recognizing Bias: When you see bias in a space, believe it. Don’t let it destroy or distract you.

24:50 Finding the Right Corporate Environment for Growth: There are infinite opportunities in corporate, and you don’t have to be loyal to a single company. If the space you are in is preventing you from growing, find a new space.

29:36 Stop Gaslighting Yourself: Pay attention to the stories you are telling yourself. Are these facts, or are they an emotional response to a situation?

35:59 Holding Space as an “Only”: Sometimes, your mere presence in a space opens a door and holds the space for the people coming behind you. Your mission is to take up space so that space can expand for others.

40:53 Taking Control of Your Success: Your success starts and ends with you. You are one decision away from changing your narrative.

In Summary: Delia Grenville encourages us to stand true to who we are, recognize bias, and find the right environment for us to thrive in. She urges us to challenge the narratives we tell ourselves, take up space, and take control of our success.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Delia on Linkedin or check out her website.

Check out this picture of Delia in Grade 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrzB-J-PX4z/

To Live List Podcast: https://www.deliagrenville.com/podcast

Rants + Ramblings On Life and Wellness by Delia Grenville

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/.

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,

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 63, with guest Rupal Patel. As an “only” it can be easy to walk into spaces and feel like you don’t belong. In reality, you can find belonging and commonality in the most unexpected places. Rupal is sharing how in this episode.

 Rupal’s career is notably defined by her remarkable tenure at the CIA where she was recognized by the CIA Director for “superior support to the President of the United States.”  She transitioned from her impactful career at the CIA and leveraged her insights and strategic acumen into the business world. Rupal is also the best-selling author of From CIA To CEO: Unconventional Life Lessons for Thinking Bigger, Leading Better and Being Bolder.

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 63: From CIA to CEO - Thriving in an Unpredictable World.

Key Discussion Points:

00:58 Understanding Belonging: If you walk into a situation thinking you don’t belong there, you will find many data points that support that narrative. The same is true if you think you do belong there.

02:52 Finding Commonality with Unlikely People: If you are willing to look at the data and engage with different people, you will find things in common even in people you think are extremely different from you.

04:11 Shifting Perspective: We are so focused on ourselves and trying to fit in that it’s hard to understand that other people are experiencing the exact same things.

07:10 Overcoming Defensive Postures:  When walking into a space as an “only” don’t subject yourself to the belief that you need to show up in defense to protect who you are and what you believe in.

In Summary: Rupal Patel encourages us to try to find belonging and commonality in the unlikeliest of places. She urges us to shift our perspective away from ourselves and realize that other people may be feeling the same as us.

Resources from this episode:

Follow Rupal on LinkedIn or visit her website.

From CIA To CEO: Unconventional Life Lessons for Thinking Bigger, Leading Better and Being Bolder by Rupal Patel

My Unexpected Discovery About Working at the CIA | Rupal Patel | TEDxManchester

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/

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