Intersectionality with AJ Polanco

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life. Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play. Tools like ⁠⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/ ---- This week's guest is AJ Polanco, who's greatest value is designing better ways to serve people. This north star has allowed him to be successful through his 15 years of experience in User Experience and Product Management. He founded and leads a design practice which has delivered over $400 million USD in value across an end-user base of more than 35 million customers. The sectors he’s worked in span education, pharma, hospitality, mixed-reality, fintech, e-commerce, human capital management, real estate, sales, and marketing. His clients run the gamut; from startups to goliaths like ADP, Verizon Wireless, the U.S. Department of Education, Rutgers University, and much more. Recently, AJ passed his doctoral preliminary exam and was bestowed the status of Doctor of Design (ABD) at North Carolina State University. His academic focus is on Digital Accessibility, and his research is on improving equity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the United States. In this same spirit, he loves mentoring and has a passion for teaching. At Rutgers University, he led a Masters of Business and Science degree concentration in User Experience. On the fun side of things, he also has a black belt in Taekwondo, is a World Taekwondo Federation recognized referee, and has dabbled in Aikido, Budokai, Shindō Yōshin-ryū, and Kung-fu. On a final-final sidenote, he hopes to complete his dissertation by 2023, so that when he walks the aisle with his beautiful fiancé, she will have to say her vows to Dr. Polanco. All in good fun, of course!