Earlier this summer I wrote about my return to the US following time spent living in Bali — enjoying my peace, taking the time for myself, and being clear on what I wanted to achieve with my full-time employment (FTE) job search. In that article, I mentioned that I hoped by mid-August I’d be writing about my experience with a new role at a company that accepted me as I am. Unfortunately, that hope has not turned into reality…yet.

In June 2020—by stepping into vulnerability and asking for help—I began to share weekly updates on LinkedIn to mostly keep myself…

In 2019, I had the pleasure of attending the Women In the Black Who’s the Boss Conference in Harlem. It was my first time to the conference and I randomly learned about it while checking out booths at the Small Business Expo held in June 2019. I was very excited to meet other Black women with successful small businesses and also soak up wisdom and knowledge. I definitely gained in both regards, however something that still plays over in my mind is a moment I shared with an older Black woman during the conference.

Many of the women in attendance…

“You’re so strong, you’ll be alright.”

“Girl, I don’t know how you do it. You’re so strong!”

“I imagine you’re used to getting what you want because you’re so strong.”

These are variations of the commentary I have heard throughout my adulthood and Black womanhood from colleagues, friends, family, and strangers. I am here to say they all could not be more wrong.

Surprise! I am not a strong Black woman. I feel pain. I live in fear. I hurt. I cannot take it all on and survive. Yet, despite the ongoing racial and social injustices Black people experience in…

The stirring of recent racial injustices — the murder of Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others — juxtaposed with the mounting cases of and deaths from Covid-19 among Black people, along with the drastically high Black unemployment rate, has spurred me to share how I consider, and apply, for full-time employment in the U.S.

Historically, I’ve only applied to jobs I believed I could 100% manage. Research has shown women are more likely to apply to a job if they feel extremely qualified. It’s something I still work on removing as a roadblock in my…

This may come as a surprise, but I have a hard time expressing myself in written form. I love coming up with catchy or relatable copy as a marketer. However, when it is time for me to put pen to paper—or in this case keystroke to cloud saving document—to share my inner thoughts, I find it harder to be clear on the point(s) I want to get across. If you are reading this, it means you either know me or know of me. For those who stumbled across this piece having no idea who I am or what I am…

You’re probably asking yourself two questions as you read this. What is imposter syndrome? And what is an elite Black?

The first is a little easier to begin with as you’ve probably heard this term used before. According to this Psychology Today article, imposter syndrome is defined as “a pattern of behavior where people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent, often internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.” That sounds like a really awful perspective to have about yourself! …

This piece was originally published in June 2019.

It has been a really interesting 12 months for me. A year ago, I left a company that supposedly was on a rocket ship towards crazy wealth whenever its IPO would finally happen. I left with my integrity and character still intact somehow, but my psyche was definitely battered. I did then one thing I do know how to do well: start anew. What better place and environment to do so than in New York City? …