It’s no secret that the tech industry has a diversity problem. Dr. Dédé Tetsubayashi, a product equity, inclusion and tech ethicist, joins to discuss how the lack of representation within tech adversely impacts product equity and user experiences, and how tech companies can be more inclusive. Dr. Dédé also shares how she educates and empowers indiv…

From a newly immigrated nanny to CEO, Jackie Glenn has embraced life’s challenges with boldness and humility, always being true to herself and giving back to those who come after her. It’s this commitment to helping others, which led Jackie to write her instructional biography, Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl’s Journey Through Corporate America.…

Women of color face unique gender and racial barriers to their professional advancement and are less likely to move into leadership roles. In today’s bonus episode, we speak to the women of The FLI Collective, a lifestyle podcast that deals with the experiences of being first generation and low income in academia. We examine some of these challenge…

Stuck on how to turn your passion project into so much more? After more than a decade in accounting and finance at companies like Morgan Stanley, Viacom, and Johnson & Johnson, Beth Diana Smith left her six-figure salary and the corporate world to launch her own interior design firm, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design. Her style is modern and eclecti…

With rising costs of living, steadily increasing debt, and stagnant wages, middle class Americans may find themselves living paycheck to paycheck. But is there even a Black middle class? Imari Smith, a doctoral student in Duke University’s Joint Program in Sociology and Public Policy, argues that the Black middle class is a “subaltern middle class”…

Every year women perform thousands of hours and trillions of dollars of unpaid work. You’ve likely heard of the invisible daily household work women perform, but what about unpaid community activism performed by Black and Brown women? Dr. Nina Banks, an associate professor of economics at Bucknell University, argues that this collective activism pl…

Many employers require their employees to follow workplace dress codes. Employers can regulate employees’ clothing, makeup, hairstyles, nails, and more. Your employer might even be able to regulate your weight. Although the line between discriminatory and simply burdensome may seem blurry, today, Professor Stacy Hawkins, Vice Dean and Professor of …

After spending over a year working from home, returning to the office and readjusting to your company dress code can be challenging. Today, Doreen Pierre, a Brooklyn based fashion writer, visual content creator, and events producer chats about how restrictive dress codes inhibit us from bringing our true Selves to work. Doreen’s work centers people…

Are you guilty of performative allyship? Today’s guest, Dr. Maxine Davis, a scholar, activist, and author, breaks down the pitfalls of performative allyship and how even well-meaning professionals can perpetuate oppression and social harms in the workplace. In early 2021, Dr. Davis authored an article in Nature Human Behavior, Anti-black practices …

Far too often, we operate in workplaces where women of color leaders are lacking. However, that’s not because women of color lack leadership skills. Nor is it because of a lack of interest. Break Concrete is kicking off Season 4 with Dr. Marlette Jackson, a scholar, diversity and inclusion consultant, and co-author of the Harvard Business Review ar…

Motherhood and mothering can be complicated, but Tomi Akitunde has built a much needed resource for Black moms: mater mea also known as Black Mom Google. Tomi is an award-winning journalist who founded mater mea, the #1 destination for thoughtful, high quality content that celebrates, supports, and empowers Black moms. mater mea helps Black moms ge…

Understanding that Black women experience higher rates of chronic stress and anxiety, Jasmine Marie, a breathwork practitioner, founded black girls breathing, a safe space for Black women to nurture their mental, emotional, and spiritual health through guided meditation, breathwork, and community. In 2020, as racial tensions mounted and many Black …

It’s no secret that problems around diversity, equity, and inclusion permeate all sectors, including the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Whether it’s disparate funding for Black and women-led organizations, failure to promote women of color to leadership, or foundations using money as a weapon to dictate the direction of organizational efforts…

Dressing the part is only one step in your journey toward professional success. Equally important is understanding and controlling your image, which includes your communication, your personal brand, your wardrobe style, and more. In today’s episode, Krysta McGowan, the founder and visionary behind Critique Consulting, an image consulting firm, disc…

Cries for equal treatment and representation billow across all fields, including the fashion industry, and especially in the booming modest fashion industry. Yet, although Black women have made significant contributions (in fact, some may argue that they are the backbone of modest fashion), many go unrecognized and unseen. In today’s episode, siste…

“As a Black Muslim woman, it gets very exhausting to exist in a world that projects onto you.” In this episode, Vanessa Taylor, a Philadelphia-based writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of the Drinking Gourd, a Black Muslim literary magazine, discusses the paradox of Black Muslim womanhood - being simultaneously hypervisible and invisible. Wi…

From as early as childhood, we have been taught to be generous with our time and energy. Any hint of selfishness is frowned upon. Even with our careers, we learn that being a team player is critical to our success. Today, Dr. Marcuetta Sims, a licensed psychologist specializing in helping Black women and people from marginalized identities heal fro…

Research suggests that Black patients experience better health outcomes when treated by Black doctors. In today’s episode, Dr. Marilyn Gaston, a physician and researcher, and Dr. Gayle Porter, a clinical psychologist, join to chat about their trailblazing careers spent working to improve the physical and emotional health of families, especially tho…

Recognizing that traditional workspaces cause mental, physical, and financial harm for many Queer Transgender Black and Indigenous People of Color, Bianca Shaw, a Licensed Social Worker, co-founded TRIBE Co-Create, a cooperative business focusing on connecting Black and Brown small business owners, creatives, and doers in the Bronx, New York. Bianc…

If you’re a woman of color, you have more than likely experienced being the “only” in a professional setting. Perhaps, you were the only woman in a male-dominated boardroom or the only person of color on your company’s professional staff. In today's episode, Latisha Roberson, a Human Resources Executive with over 18 years of experience developing a…

We’ve all heard the expression “black don’t crack,” referring to Black women’s youthful appearance and ageless beauty. But underneath this beautiful exterior, Black women are aging much faster than their peers of other races. In today’s episode, Dr. Daphne Watkins, a Diversity and Social Transformation professor at the University of Michigan School…

Feeling stuck in your career? Unclear about next steps? It’s 2021 and it’s time to find fulfillment in the work you do. Through Her Career Doctor, Dr. Tega Edwin helps women who are unhappy at work gain clarity about who they are so they can find a fulfilling career that allows them to live on purpose, thrive in their zone of genius, and get paid t…

Anxious about next steps in your career? Treading water financially? Can’t seem to achieve the right balance between personal and professional success? Frustrated over student loans accrued for that degree that was supposed to prepare you for life and everything else? Life can be unpredictable. Jobs can evaporate. After we’ve reached one pinnacle, …

Do you deal with being an only in the workplace? Do you regularly confront stereotypes about your gender or race? Do you find yourself balancing a hyper-competitive or unforgiving work environment? Workplace triggers making you feel like you are not good enough or do not belong abound. In this final episode of Season 2, Dr. Adia Gooden discusses wh…

Are you gatekeeping white supremacy and patriarchy without even realizing it? In this episode, Danielle Slaughter identifies three ways in which most people unintentionally serve as gatekeepers. Danielle is a doctoral student (on hiatus) in the Rhetoric and Composition program at Georgia State University, the founder of Mamademics, a blog sharing D…

For over 20 years, Zakyah Ansari has been a champion for Black and Brown voices. As Advocacy Director with the New York State Alliance for Quality Education, the leading organization working to fight for educational equity in New York State, Zakiyah knows that organizing is a long-term game. We chat about how Zakiyah built a career in organizing, h…

Work is what you do to survive. It can’t be what you do to sustain or connect with your intimate partner. As a professional woman, you may constantly be chasing the elusive balance between work, home, and intimacy. In today’s Bonus Episode, Dr. Erica Holmes, a licensed clinical psychologist, educator, community consultant, and author of Dating With…

Imagine going to the hair salon and not having to endure painfully long waits. Imagine traveling anywhere in the world and finding a skilled stylist knowledgeable about your hair type and texture leaving you with beautiful healthy hair. Jihan Thompson left a successful career as a magazine writer and editor to found Swivel Beauty with her co-founde…

Emily K. Graham is a millennial on the rise. She is the first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard, a public relations company. Previously, Emily served as FleishmanHillard's youngest Senior Vice President and Partner. By age 32, Emily had already charted a trailblazing career, leading communications efforts for companies such …

Let's talk about the additional work and labor that goes into mothering Black children. In today's episode, I am joined by several brilliant professional Black women who are also mothers. They share their experiences navigating race and gender for themselves and their children and how they raise their children to show up, take up space in the world…

How do we change deeply-rooted traditions that were never intended to serve the interests of marginalized groups? Kimberly Mutcherson, the Co-Dean of Rutgers Law School in Camden, NJ, represents a trifecta of firsts for Rutgers Law: the first African-American, woman, and LGBTQ individual in this role. She is an award-winning professor whose scholar…

What impact does structural racism have on health outcomes for Black women? Ashlee Wisdom, a writer and healthcare professional, joins to discuss her mission to eliminate racial health disparities through her digital platform, Health in Her HUE. Health in Her HUE connects Black women to culturally competent healthcare providers and health content t…

“We have to defy lies and embrace the truth of our humanity.” In this episode, Dr. Cheryl Tawede Grills, a clinical psychologist and the past president of the Association of Black Psychologists, joins to discuss how we can recognize and cope with racial stress and trauma at work and beyond. We talk about the impact that racial stress and trauma has…

Erika Stallings is no stranger to uncomfortable conversations. In fact, she invites them as she fearlessly confronts workplace and healthcare inequities and leads the dialogue around hereditary breast cancer for Black women. Erika is a writer, health advocate, and attorney. She has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, O Magazin…

Ready to change your day to day? Jessica Hylton-Leckie shares how she left a career in law to pursue her passion to become an award-winning photographer, videographer, and home chef. Jessica is the CEO and creator of Jessica in the Kitchen, a food blog that focuses on sharing hundreds of nutritious, whole foods based delicious recipes. Her work has…

How does centering the experiences of Black girls protect their innocence and childhood? In this Bonus Episode, Ashley Sawyer and Damala Denny from Girls for Gender Equity join to discuss GGE’s efforts. GGE is an inter-generational nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local communities by creating opportunities for young women and girl…

How does a Black female CEO create the learning environment for Black children to thrive? Anne Williams-Isom, the past CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, talks about how she showed up and carried out HCZ’s mission to break the cycle of generational poverty in Central Harlem. We explore Anne’s role as CEO of an organization tasked with educating you…

At every turn, Chris-Tia Donaldson has faced and passed life’s tests with grit and grace. She is the founder and CEO of the nationally-distributed beauty brand, Thank God It’s Natural, which manufactures natural hair and skin care products. She is a two-time Harvard graduate and also the author of This Is Only A Test: What Breast Cancer Taught Me a…

Break Concrete is back for a second season on Tuesday, July 28, 2020 with more discussions exploring how Black women navigate race and gender in the workplace. But we also take a more intimate look at how successful Black women got to where they are today. We will be releasing episodes every Tuesday starting next week. See you on Tuesday! Find link…

In this Summer Special, we teamed up with our British sisters from the Black Women Working podcast and we're talking Bs: burnout, British work culture compared to the U.S., and Black Lives Matter. Black Women Working is a podcast show that highlights the workplace experiences of Black women in the U.K. We chat about how the current events ranging f…

What does it take to achieve professional success? In Episode 14, the Season 1 Finale, Dr. Ella Bell Smith, Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and nationally recognized managerial consultant and expert on women’s workplace issues, joins to share pearls of wisdom about how Black women break concrete. She is t…

In Episode 13, Titilayo Tinubu Ali, founder of Own Your Expertise, discusses how she helps talented women kick start their businesses and live a life of freedom and independence. Own Your Expertise is a leadership program that helps professional women of color claim their voices, communicate their strengths, and step into greater visibility at work…

No more foraging for the perfect foundation, bronzer, to accentuate your beautiful brown skin. In Episode 12, Shemika Harmitt, an accomplished beauty publicist, chats about her Indie brand, Prime Beauty Cosmetics. Since its launch, Prime Beauty has received an outpouring of support from celebrities and influencers such as Cardi B and Nyma Tang as t…

“There is no sin and shame in being anxious and fearful.” In today’s episode, Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett, a national award-winning psychologist, professor, and leading expert on anxiety disorders in African Americans, discusses how she helps Black women and girls overcome anxiety, panic, and fear. She is the author of the relatable, yet instructive bo…

In this Bonus Episode, Arlan Hamilton, founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital, chats about how she got started in venture capital and her commitment to working with underrepresented founders. Backstage Capital is a seed investment fund dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by backing high-potential startup founders who are …

Let’s talk about centering the needs of Black women. In this episode, Anne Price, the first woman president of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, talks about narrowing gendered racial wealth inequities. Spoiler alert: One way forward is to center Blackness. Anne breaks down various myths about the wealth gap and encourages us to…

Let’s talk about money. In Episode 8, Ericka Young, a recognized expert in financial coaching and the President and Founder of Tailor-Made Budgets, discusses practical tips for managing personal finance, including budgeting and debt reduction. She offers pragmatic advice for professional women and couples to get their finances in order. Ericka is a…

“If you are Black, you are different and everybody sees your difference.” In this episode, Jennifer McClanahan-Flint, founder of Leverage to Lead Group and Programs, and executive career coach and career strategist, discusses how she helps ambitious women of color navigate workplace bias, compensation, and their trajectory to build careers with aud…

In Episode 6, I am joined by the audacious Rukayatu Tijani, creator of the First Generation Purpose Project, an initiative designed to help first generation professionals and entrepreneurs navigate life and career by utilizing their grit and tenacity. She is also the founder of Firm for the Culture, an exciting new virtual law firm providing tradem…

As an upwardly mobile professional, you may face unique challenges ranging from survivor's guilt to maintaining healthy relationships with loved ones from the past to creating support networks with people in your present. In Episode 5, Dr. Akua Boateng, a licensed professional counselor, discusses how therapy can help Black female professionals tak…