I’ve spent years code-switching. Not to succeed just to be accepted.
When authenticity feels like a risk
This is something I don’t talk about often, but it lives under almost every conversation I have about leadership, DEI, and workplace culture.
I’ve spent most of my professional life code-switching.
Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.
That was the trade-off if I wanted to be seen as “professional.”
To be heard in meetings. To be seen as capable. To avoid being labeled as “difficult.”
That meant adjusting how I speak. Rethinking how I show up. Monitoring how others might perceive me before I’ve even said a word. It meant trading authenticity for acceptance, and doing it so often, it became second nature.
There’s a cost to that kind of survival. Over time, you start to wonder if success is only accessible to a filtered version of you.
That’s not inclusion. That’s control.
I know I’m not alone in this.
Many people—especially Black and brown professionals—are asked to perform professionalism while erasing parts of themselves to stay employed, to get promoted, or to just feel safe.
Authenticity should not feel like a risk. It should be a norm. It should be something the workplace makes room for, not something you have to fight for.
This is what I care about at Rework Work.
Not just talking about inclusion, but helping organizations actually build it—intentionally, consistently, and with a real understanding of what it takes. That means creating environments where people can be themselves and still succeed.
Managing people requires more than task delegation.
It requires care. It requires accountability. It requires creating a culture that doesn’t punish people for being who they are.
Culture is built moment by moment.
In how you respond to discomfort.
In how you handle differences.
Whether your team feels the need to pretend in order to belong.
Has your authenticity ever been treated like a liability? If you're in a leadership role, is your workplace rewarding performance over presence?
If you answered yes, let’s talk. It's my birthday today, so reach out, wish me a happy birthday and let's see how we can partner together to address bias, shift leadership practices, and embed inclusion into everyday decision-making.
About me:
I am a Bias Disrupter and an unapologetic evangelist for inclusion. As the Founder of Rework Work, I anchor action using change management principles while facilitating mindset shifts. I am a global keynote speaker, Top Voice on LinkedIn and a popular LinkedIn Learning [IN]structor with nearly two million unique learners enjoying my courses.
Want to work with me live? Consider booking me for your next keynote, leadership development meeting or consulting engagement.