Can You Really Be Your Authentic Self at Work?

Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/can-you-really-be-your-authentic-self-at-work-Episode Video Link: In this BEP Live audio episode of A Black Executive Perspective, Chris P. Reed leads a powerful conversation with Felicia Smith and Obrin Bills about authenticity, code switching, workplace equity, and the real cost of navigating Corporate America as a Black professional.The episode examines what it really means to bring your authentic self to work, why professionalism is often judged differently across race and gender, and how Black professionals, women of color, and corporate leaders manage appearance, tone, behavior, ambition, and visibility inside workplace systems that were not always built with them in mind.What you will learnThe difference between authenticity, professionalism, and oversharingWhy code switching is often a survival strategy, not a personality flawHow workplace bias shows up in promotions, team building, appearance, and leadership perceptionWhy honest dialogue is necessary for workplace equity and corporate accountability▶︎ In This Episode00:00, Welcome to BEP Live03:25, Is It Profitable to Be Phony at Work?06:35, Authenticity Versus Oversharing10:00, Code Switching and Workplace Survival14:15, Double Standards in Corporate Behavior19:15, Connection, Promotion, and Office Politics24:05, Dressing for the Interview and the Role29:30, Hair, Beards, the CROWN Act, and Bias35:20, When Skinfolk Are Not Kinfolk at Work41:00, Success, Nice Things, and Workplace Judgment45:00, Building Diverse Teams Without Apology50:10, We Wear the Mask53:30, The Cost of Calibration56:00, Final Reflections and L.E.S.S. Call to ActionL.E.S.S. Call to ActionEmbrace L.E.S.S to eliminate all forms of discrimination. Learn: Educate yourself in cultural and racial realities. Empathy: Understand and respect different lived experiences. Share: Share your knowledge and your story to uplift others. Stop: Stop discrimination when you see it.🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updatessubscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit"if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive changesubscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebookThis episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email [email protected] .