BLA Ep 9 Black Women in the Workforce

Join Joakina as she discusses Black women in the work force with Chief HR Officer, Briana Ekandem. Briana shares her take on the McKinsey and Company women in the workplace report (4:55) and the importance of centering Black women’s voices and experiences (8:52). The pair also discuss the experiences of Black women in the workforce pre-COVID (12:03), Black women’s labor (12:26) and how companies can better support Black women and women of color (14:28). Briana also shares some gems on how to advocate for yourself when receiving a job offer (18:10) and within a current position (22:00). The interview process can be tough and negotiating salary can be even harder. Listen as Briana and Joakina share tips in navigating that process (27:25) and also recommendations for organizations on how to retain Black women (37:25). As the episode ends, Briana shares what she loves about being a Black lady adulting (43:30) and Joakina closes out with a My Girlfriends segment (45:38) that acknowledges the potential “classist and egregious” nature of their conversation.