Say It Skillfully® Our Voices — Lola Adedokun, Culture Is Power

Say It Skillfully® is a show that helps you to benefit from Molly Tschang’s expert guidance on the best possible ways to speak your mind at work in a positive and productive manner. Episode 161 is the 31st monthly feature of “Our Voices,” intended to accelerate social change that levels the playing field—helping everyone live to their full potential. The aim is for you to see a bit of yourself in these journeys, and embrace—we’re more similar than not. Molly is joined by Lola Adedokun, who reflects on a life journey that’s been “so much fun!” Lola talks of her parents’ move from Nigeria to Wisconsin, and being raised with her two brothers in both the Midwest and South. Upfront that race relations had much to be desired, she contrasts overt KKK exclusion with “nice” racism, and shares what a blow it was to her to be called the N word to her face in school. Her parents never allowed racism as an excuse to not achieve their potential, and she’s open about how it was in adulthood that dealing with this issue was most difficult. Lola recalls her parents’ expectations for her and her brothers—you will go to an Ivy League college, and can pick any profession as long as it’s doctor, lawyer or engineer. You’ll chuckle at how she escaped pre-med. Also, Lola talks about various side hustles that helped pay her way through her Dartmouth studies. Committed to improving public health and health ??systems for those living at the world’s margins, Lola had an unexpected foray into philanthropy. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation opened her eyes and opportunities to build powerful partnerships to reduce inequality, strengthen communities and promote evidence-based policy decision-making. Don’t miss the many epiphanies she shares from over a 15-year tenure at the foundation (and her Say It Skillfully challenge as she transitioned to her new role at The Aspen Institute). Lola recognizes pivotal role models who helped her find her voice and to comfortably be a Black woman with power. When it comes to building the bridges in an individualistic American society, Lola offers ways we can all be “part of the solution” to address uneven playing fields. Tune in as she inspires us to know no boundaries and to commit to taking action so that all can be safe, seen and heard, and our true and best selves. Molly’s thought for the week, courtesy of Lola: Everywhere you go, look at the human next to you and know they have a story. See them for who they are and create space for them.