First Gen Everything: The Rules No One Teaches You at Work w/ Fadjanie Cadet

When no one has done it before you, youre not just doing the jobyoure figuring out the rules in real time.You rent your job title, but you own your narrative.Summary:What if the reason you feel behind at work isnt you? Most first-generation professionals enter corporate spaces without a roadmapnavigating unwritten rules, hidden expectations, and systems that were never designed to be transparent. In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, I sit down with Fadjanie CadetChief Change Experience Officer and organizational strategistto break down the rules no one teaches you at work. We talk about:The influence of her first gen Haitian American backgroundWhy merit alone isnt enoughThe power of visibility, relationships, and self-advocacyThe mindset shift from what am I missing? to what is the system failing to make clear?How to own your narrative and move with intentionFadjanie shares how her first-generation experience shaped the way she leads, builds, and navigates corporate spacesand why community is more than support, its infrastructure. If youve ever felt like you were learning the rules too late or questioning whether you belong, this episode will shift how you see yourselfand the system. Because you were never behind. You were building without a blueprint.Keywords:First-Generation, Workplace Politics, Unwritten Rules, Black Women in Corporate, Corporate, Career Pivot, Layoff, Networking, Immigrant, Self-Advocacy, Career Growth, Visibility, CommunityTakeaways:First-generation professionals often navigate workplaces without access to unwritten rules and insider knowledgeCorporate success is not purely merit-basedvisibility, relationships, and perception matterMany early career gaps are structural, not personalSelf-advocacy and storytelling are critical to career growthBuilding a clear narrative around your impact is essential for advancementNetworking is not transactionalits community and access to opportunityOrganizations often rely on implicit knowledge, creating barriers to fairnessDisruption (like layoffs) can be an opportunity to redefine your identity and valueYour job title is temporaryyour skills, perspective, and impact are notAuthenticity and ownership of your experience are key to long-term successChapter Summary:00:00 Episode Introduction & Guest Overview03:00 First-Gen Upbringing & Early Identity08:00 Responsibility, Pressure & Parenting Perspectives12:00 Early Career Lessons & Meritocracy Myth15:00 Self-Advocacy & Building a Business Case18:00 Reframing Structural vs. Personal Gaps20:00 Workplace Design & Implicit Rules24:00 Networking, Community & Career Access26:00 First-Gen Identity in Corporate Spaces28:00 Finding Language for Lived Experience30:00 Layoffs, Identity & Career Disruption32:00 Owning Your Narrative & Career Value34:00 Black Women & Workforce Shifts37:00 Staying Grounded Through Uncertainty39:00 Authenticity & Career Growth41:00 Redefining Ambition & Success43:00 Closing & Final ReflectionsGet in Touch with Fadjanie:LinkedIn: Fadjanie CadetEmail: [email protected]: www.meettheccxo.comThanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniyaIf you have episode ideas, questions for me, or would like to be featured as a guest send me an email, [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.