Podcasts about nformation

Women of color are one of the fastest-growing segments in the corporate workforce, yet often underrepresented in their teams, department or company. In “The First, The Few, The Only,” author and corporate inclusion leader Deepa Purushothaman offers a call to action for women of color to advocate for a new corporate environment where they feel belonging and acceptance.  On this episode of the Gartner Talent Angle, Deepa provides a roadmap for women of color to initiate change in the workplace, and outlines how organizations can ensure all of their employees are heard, respected and valued. Deepa Purushothaman is the co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than 20 years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to become a partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national Women's Initiative leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Deepa is an Aspen Fellow and speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Harvard Business Review. *This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2022 interview.

Our show is back with a new format! Stevon welcomes Juleyka Lantigua, the show's creator, as a discussion partner as he delves into the complexities high achievers face. In this episode Deepa tells us that after 20 years of moving up in corporate America she felt like the epitome of success. But when physical symptoms of burn out began to intensify, she knew she'd reached a breaking point. Stevon and Juleyka talk about how to address somatized stress and his advice on stepping down from a demanding leadership role.Deepa Purushothaman is a former senior executive, a corporate inclusion visionary; and co-founder of nFormation, a community for high achieving women of color. She is the author of The First, The Few, The Only.Stevon Lewis is a licensed psychotherapist and coach. Learn more about his work here. If you loved this episode, be sure to listen to Asking for What You're Worth, And Meaning It and Deciding When to Quit Your Day Job.We'd love to hear your stories of triumph and what's ahead as you grow. Send us an email or detailed voice memo to hello@talktoachievers.com, You might be on a future episode! Let's connect on Twitter and Instagram at @TalkToAchievers and email us at hello@talktoachievers.com. And subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts.

We don't always immediately see the ways that anxiety, trauma, or institutional inequities show up for us - and our bodies - at work. Deepa Purushothaman began her career as a classic overachiever, until she couldn't physically do it anymore. She was done “ingesting” toxic work culture and “acting in” her emotions, as she puts it. She came to realize a lot of the ways that corporate America can be toxic for women of color in particular, and she set out to change that. Purushothaman is the cofounder of nFormation, and she wrote the book The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. 

In this episode, we are joined by Deepa Purushothaman, who is a former senior executive at Deloitte, a corporate Inclusion Visionary, and Co-founder of Nformation.  As an Author, Speaker, Leader, and Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, she challenges and redefines the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centering the needs and experiences of women of color.  Together, Mike and Deepa take a deep dive into self-care, becoming the leader you would like to be and the importance of showing up as your authentic self.   

We're so excited to kick off our summer book club with this amazing book: The First, The Few, The Only. When we interviewed Deepa for this episode, we remember being so excited to talk to her about this book because, while we've talked about a lot of books written for White people to learn more about race and racism, it's not often that we come across business books that are written specifically for women of color. In fact, women of color still seem largely invisible in many ways in the workforce - but we're absolutely not.   So get ready to lean in (but maybe not in the way that you're used to hearing that phrase) and reimagine what a truly inclusive workplace could and should look like, from a perspective that you may not be hearing in your own. And, if what you hear is something you'd like to dive deeper into (we hope so!), please pick up the book and read it for yourself. We'd love to hear your thoughts once you do.   What to listen for: How this book is different from one written for white women Defining the term “woman of color” Five archetypes that many women of color take on in their places of work – do you recognize any of your colleagues? The view of solutions and the new rules of power – can we change the current structures of society, or do we need to break the system to start again? About Deepa Purushothaman [per-shot-a-man], AUTHOR | LEADER | SPEAKER Deepa is a former senior executive and a corporate inclusion visionary. She challenges and redefines the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centering the experiences of Women of Color. As a senior partner at Deloitte, Deepa spent more than 20 years helping clients grow. She was also the US Managing Partner of WIN, Deloitte's renowned Women's Initiative, and was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the firm's history. In 2020, Deepa left Deloitte  to co-found nFormation, a membership-based community for professional Women of Color. She is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, and a board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy for girls. The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa's debut book, was published by HarperCollins in 2022 to international acclaim.  Deepa is a TED and SXSW speaker and has been featured in  TIME, PBS, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. Her TED talks have almost 3M views.  She has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their four fur kids.   CONNECT WITH DEEPA Website: www.deepapuru.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru Instagram: www.instagram.com/deepa.puru  

Rha Goddess is a renowned soul coach who has guided countless changemakers, cultural visionaries, and social entrepreneurs. She is the Founder & CEO of Move The Crowd and Co-Founder of nFormation, where her distinctive approach has empowered a new generation of conscious leaders to align with their values, achieve financial success, and make positive impacts. With over 30 years of experience as a cultural innovator, social impact strategist, and creative change agent, Rha has harnessed the power of creativity, culture, and community to inspire meaningful change in society. Her work spans various important causes, such as racial justice, equality, leadership, electoral politics, offender aid and restoration, mental health, and youth and women's empowerment, making a profound impact on millions of lives. In her bestselling book titled "The Calling: 3 Fundamental Shifts to Stay True, Get Paid, and Do Good," published in January 2020 by St. Martins Press, Rha leverages her unique methodology to provide a practical blueprint for discovering one's purpose and making a meaningful, profitable contribution.

Sheneisha sits down with Deepa Purushothaman, co-founder of nFormation, to engage in a discussion regarding women of color showing up as themselves at work. Connect with Deepa on LinkedIn. https://bit.ly/3oP0eiv Check out nFormation's official website. https://bit.ly/41Xj7OZ

Women of color are one of the fastest-growing segments in the corporate workforce, yet often underrepresented in their teams, department or company. In “The First, The Few, The Only,” author and corporate inclusion leader Deepa Purushothaman offers a call to action for women of color to advocate for a new corporate environment where they feel belonging and acceptance.  On this episode of the Gartner Talent Angle, Deepa provides a roadmap for women of color to initiate change in the workplace, and outlines how organizations can ensure all of their employees are heard, respected and valued. Deepa Purushothaman is the co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than 20 years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to become a partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national Women's Initiative leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Deepa is an Aspen Fellow and speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek and Harvard Business Review. *This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2022 interview.

In this episode, Women on the Move Host Sam Saperstein sits down with two leaders in the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) space. They discuss the experience women of color have at work and how, through storytelling, they illustrate this experience for others who don't look like them. Deepa Purushothaman is the author of The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, and the co-founder of nFormation, an exclusive community for high achieving women of color. Ryland McClendon is the Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Corporate & Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. Both women had early career success and followed slightly circuitous paths toward their current roles where they focus on driving the conversation on DEI and optimizing the work experience for everyone. Find a home in the DE&I space Deepa attended Harvard University's Kennedy School and the London School of Economics while planning for a career in policy and politics. She landed as a consultant at Deloitte, where she stayed for 21 years, leaving during the early stages of the pandemic to focus on women of color research and topics. She tells Sam that “not quite fitting in” has been a part of her experiences her whole life. Growing up as one of only a few families of color in her hometown, she later found herself the only woman of color in many professional spaces throughout her career, especially her decades of consulting in the tech and telecom sector. Ryland, meanwhile, wanted to be a singer when she was young. She also wanted to move away from her hometown of Atlanta, so she went to Duke University where she majored in economics and public policy. Ryland started her career in corporate banking at a regional bank and, frustrated by a lack of opportunity, moved to J.P. Morgan about 12 years ago. She had an opportunity to explore the human resources space a few years into her career and then knew that supporting the firms talent was the right place for her. That ultimately led to her current role as head of diversity and inclusion. Stories and storytelling Both women agree that listening to stories and encouraging others in their own storytelling is critical to growth in the equity and diversity realm. “Unless you tell stories to really impress upon people what different experiences you can have—depending on your dimension of diversity, whether that's race, whether that's gender, whether that's having a disability—the storytelling is the most powerful tool we can use,” Ryland says. In the process of founding and running nFormation, and writing The First, The Few, the Only, Deepa listened to the stories of hundreds of women of color. She said she often hears women say that they hadn't realized how much they would be representing their race at work. They describe the pressure of feeling that everything they do—what they eat, how they speak, even what objects they keep in the workspace—is under a microscope because sometimes they are the only people of color their colleagues know. “You take on a lot outside of the job you were hired to,” she says. “I think that's kind of the dialogue that we need to get to, and those are the stories we need to tell, and that's how I have the conversation.” The role of ambition The conversation also veers into the territory of ambition, a top theme for the Women on the Move podcast in 2023. Deepa describes how her own definition of ambition changed over the course of her career. “I think it started probably when I was a teenager. I was highly ambitious. I would say more competitive. I think I'm more comfortable with that word than ambitious, because I think ambitious is a little bit more vaguely defined, but I was always competitive, and always really good at everything I did.” Then, after leaving her career in consulting, her perspective shifted. “It's less about ambition. That word doesn't even mean anything to me anymore. It's success. I have really stepped back and defined success really differently.” Ryland also describes herself as ambitious and says she wants to change the negative perception that's often attached to the idea of an ambitious woman. “Last year a senior person used that word to describe me in the minute as a compliment and I was taken aback by it, but I'm gonna say yes, I am ambitious,” she says. “I want to reclaim that word. I want to make it a positive word.”   Full transcript here

Hady Mendez, previously a Director of Equality for Salesforce (Slack business unit), joins Alan Stein to discuss the recent wave of layoffs. Hady shares her personal story of how she was able to get back on her feet after receiving the news of her layoff.    This episode also dives into a discussion on how to build resilience when dealing with challenging situations, offering invaluable advice to anyone looking to make a career change or better manage their professional lives.    Tune in now to learn how to navigate through layoffs with confidence.   IN THIS EPISODE   [02:32] Hady shares how she got laid off from Salesforce. [06:43] Your layoff is not always about your performance. [08:06] Hady's mindset, process, and next steps after the layoff became official. [13:14] How Hady is preparing herself to land a better opportunity. [14:18] How Hady's diverse network helped her in the job search process. [22:40] Diversity in Salesforce's workforce [33:44] Advice to people who were laid off   KEY TAKEAWAYS:   Graciously helping others can reward you in the most unexpected times such as a sudden layoff. Taking the time to process your layoff and reflecting on the situation while keeping your health, diet, and sleep in check should be a priority before you look for your next role. Many people are willing to help those in need, especially in these difficult times. Don't hesitate to reach out for help.    RESOURCE LINKS   SYCK Career Podcast Hady Mendez LinkedIn Hady Mendez Instagram I AM REMARKABLE   BIO:   Equality for a major tech firm, held multiple customer-facing roles in high tech and financial services, served as a leader across various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), volunteered as an international champion for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, and served as Community School Director at an elementary school in the South Bronx.   Hady's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Manhattan College, plus graduate certificates in eBusiness and eCommerce from NYU and NJIT, respectively. She also holds a Family Development Credential from the University of Connecticut. Hady's additional advocacy work has her serving as a member of the NY Advisory Board at Room to Grow, a nonprofit organization based in the South Bronx. Hady also serves on the Board of Pan Peru USA, an organization whose mission is to empower low income women in rural Peru. Hady is a founding member of nFormation, a welcoming community by women of color for women of color. In her free time, Hady is an amateur street art photographer and an avid podcast listener.

Deepa Purushothaman is a powerful force in the world of business and corporate America. She is a passionate advocate for women of color, advocating for their recognition and advancement in the workplace. As the co-founder of nFormation, she has dedicated her career to helping other women of color break down barriers and redefine power in corporate America. On the show, Deepa shares her wisdom and experience on how to use challenges and obstacles as a powerful source of fuel. She explains why it's important to stay true to your values, even in the face of opposition. Additionally, she discusses her new book, "The First, the Few, the Only," which offers practical advice for women of color trying to break into the corporate world. Don't miss this inspiring conversation with Deepa Purushothaman and gain valuable insight on how to use challenges and obstacles as fuel! Tune in to "Using Challenges and Obstacles as Fuel" this week for an empowering journey of growth, reflection, and success.

This week, we sit down with Deepa Purushothaman, author, speaker, and co-founder of nFormation, to discuss being a woman of color in the workplace, taking care of your health and wellness, and her book, "The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America."

Deepa Purushothaman is a former senior executive and a corporate inclusion visionary. She challenges and redefines the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centering the experiences of Women of Color. As a senior partner at Deloitte, Deepa spent more than 20 years helping clients grow. She was also the US Managing Partner of WIN, Deloitte's renowned Women's Initiative, and was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the firm's history. In 2020, Deepa left Deloitte  to co-found nFormation, a membership-based community for professional Women of Color. She is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, and a board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy for girls. The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa's debut book, was published by HarperCollins in 2022 to international acclaim.  Deepa is a TED and SXSW speaker and has been featured in  TIME, PBS, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. Her TED talks have almost 3M views.  Deepa connects with Lou Diamond on Thrive LouD. ***CONNECT WITH LOU DIAMOND & THRIVE LOUD***

When it comes to being a woman of color in the C-suite or corporate side of business, there can be a lot of pressures and residual inner dialogue that can make your own identity a blur. Women have edited themselves to fit the mold or the leader before them for a really long time, and this is even stronger in relation to those of color or with a different cultural belief than their white male counterparts. This week's episode 43 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about understanding and redefining the shadow side to being a woman of color in business, with Deepa Purushothaman! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Deepa Purushothaman are sharing the importance of redefining success for yourself, no matter what culture or society deems accurate for you, and actionable steps you can take right now to step into your power as a woman of color and powerful leader. Some of the talking points Julie and Deepa go over in this episode include:The significance and role of work on women of color, and how this plays a huge role in their lives and identities.How we as women edit ourselves and put ourselves on mute more times than we shout unless that's the expectation.The shadow side to being a woman of color in business, and how this can lead to not only being forced to fit stereotypes but the other significant (unpaid) roles we play in corporations.Hiding your identity: why some people choose to do that, and how easy or difficult it may be to do that.In this episode, Deepa shares her new book, along with a few of the amazing stories held within, to help share how women of color are truly stepping into their calling as the power brokers of the future. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips and to hear even more about the points outlined above.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH DEEPA PURUSHOTHAMAN:WebsiteLinkedInGet Her BookCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Finding one's leadership voice and style is never easy, and for women of color, it can be particularly challenging. Often women of color find themselves facing social and cultural constraints as the “firsts” in corporate leadership roles and feel pressured to conform in order to advance in their careers. In this episode, Valerie Purdie Greenaway, Professor of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University and Leading Women Executives faculty member, and Deepa Purushothaman, Co-Founder of nFormation and the author of The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, discuss their research on the challenges of being a woman of color in business, and how companies can help to mitigate these issues.   SHOWNOTES: Negotiations as a Form of Social Justice [3:30] Finding Patterns in the Experiences of Women of Color [5:34] The Challenges of Corporate America [7:35] Creating Environments for Women of Color to Thrive [11:30] Negotiate for What You Need and What You Want [16:21] The Lonely Only Trap [20:30] Strategies and Words of Wisdom [26:12]

Deepa is a former senior executive and a corporate inclusion visionary. She challenges and redefines the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centring on the experiences of Women of Color.As a senior partner at Deloitte, Deepa spent more than 20 years helping clients grow. She was also the US Managing Partner of WIN, Deloitte's renowned Women's Initiative, and was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make a partner in the firm's history.Deepa left Deloitte in 2020 to co-found nFormation, a membership-based community for professional Women of Color. She is an Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School, and a board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy for girls.The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa's debut book, was published by HarperCollins in 2022 to international acclaim. Deepa is a TED and SXSW speaker and has been featured in  TIME, PBS, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. Her TED talks have almost 3M views. She has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their four fur kids.1. What has your experience been like growing up as a woman with a minority background? What was one of the biggest things you learn about yourself? 2. In today's world, do you think we can get better at discussing diversity in the workplace? 3. Why inclusivity is an important topic for men? Top 3 things we can do?4. Why are women not being protected in the work world?→ CONNECT WITH DEEPA PURUSHOTHAMAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ←INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puru/?hl=enTWITTER: https://twitter.com/deepapuruLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuruFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/deepa.purushothaman.75

Deepa Purushothaman is a former senior executive, a corporate inclusion visionary; and co-founder of n2Formation. She is the author of the book titled, The First, The Few, and The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. She is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. In today's episode, Deepa talks about her unique background, including her surroundings and the lessons she learned. She shares how growing up as a woman of color, there were no role models given the dominance of males in her industry. Deepa is a strong supporter of women of color, helping them to navigate the corporate structures to achieve their personal levels of success.  Deepa also shares the story of the founding of her company, nFormation and discusses key principles from her new book.   Key Takeaways The lack of role models for women of color can prevent or stall meaningful career development. Personal worth and value must come from something intrinsic, not from a job. Each person should have a personal definition of success.   Quotes “You're worthy of being you.” – Deepa “I am a person outside of my job.” - Deepa   Book Mentioned in The Episode The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/First-Few-Only-Redefine-Corporate/dp/0063084716 GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58275733-the-first-the-few-the-only    Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61251512-broken-to-better    Featured in this Episode Deepa Purushothaman Co-founder of nFormation, Author of The First, The Few, The Only Personal website: https://www.deepapuru.com  Company Website: https://www.n2formation.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru  Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeepaPuru  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puru    Michael Kurland CEO and Founder of Branded Group, Inc., Host of "Be Better with Michael Kurland" podcast Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekurland Website: www.branded-group.com   Words from Our Host Thank you for tuning in. I hope that today's episode inspired you to become a purpose-driven leader in your career or your community. There's no doubt that when we lead with purpose, we can change lives. If you enjoyed today's show, I'd be grateful if you would take a moment to rate us on your preferred listening platform to learn more about Branded-Group's better experience and how we provide industry-leading On-Demand facility maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation. Visit us at www.branded-group.com. Be sure to follow us on social media, and you can also reach out to me directly on LinkedIn. Until next time, be better.   Chapters 00:00 Book Promotion; Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership 01:29 Episode Intro 02:20 Deepa's background 05:01 Her reasons for supporting the growth of women 09:20 The start of change 17:48 Diagnosed with Lyme disease 20:21 Gathering amazing women 24:47 Details about her book 25:44 Her company, nFormation 27:01 More Details about her book 28:06 How to reach Deepa 28:37 Conclusion

Deepa Purushothaman is the Founder, nFormation, retired Managing Partner at Deloitte & Author, The First, The Few, The Only. EPISODE LINKS: - Deepa Purushothaman: https://www.deepapuru.com/ - The First, The Few, The Only: https://www.deepapuru.com/author - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puru/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/deepapuru - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepa.purushothaman.75 PODCAST INFO: - Podcast website: https://languageofleadershippodcast.com - Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/language-of-leadership/id1624632468 - Spotify podcasts: https://sptfy.com/KalQ - Ximalaya: https://www.ximalaya.com/zhubo/215321373 - RSS Feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/language-of-leadership SOCIAL: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/languageofleadership/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/LofLeadership - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhauge/ - Web: https://hau.ge CONTACT: - languageofleadership@gmail.com

Women of color are one of the fastest-growing segments in the corporate workforce, yet often underrepresented in their teams, department or company. In The First, The Few, The Only, author and corporate inclusion leader Deepa Purushothaman offers a call to action for women of color to advocate for a new corporate environment where they feel belonging and acceptance. On this episode of the Gartner Talent Angle, Deepa provides a roadmap for women of color to initiate change in the workplace, and outlines how organizations can ensure all of their employees are heard, respected and valued. Deepa Purushothaman is the co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to become a partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national Women's Initiative leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. Deepa is an Aspen Fellow and speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Harvard Business Review.

Deepa Purushothaman is an author, speaker, leader, and Co-founder of nFormation. Deepa challenges and redefines the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centering on the needs and experiences of women of color. Deepa shares her journey from executive to thought leader and how her sabbatical to recover her health, combined with her study of policy led her to interview over 500 women of color in senior positions about the microaggressions and racism they have experienced in the corporate world. She gave them a voice in her book, The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America. She talks about her experiences teaching leaders to listen carefully to the women of color in their organizations to learn how work is not working for them, shares her suggestions to women of color on how to react to racist situations, and explains to executives how to talk about them when they occur. We are in a moment where people are open to uncomfortable conversations, and willing to change what should be changed. Deepa is excited for the work of the future where women of color will feel included and heard.   https://bit.ly/TLP-311   Key Takeaways [1:45] Jan shares Deepa Purushothaman's background. After leaving Deloitte, Deepa co-founded nFormation, a membership-based community for professional women of color, helping place them in C-suites and on boards. Deepa's first book, The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, was published in March 2022 to international acclaim. [2:28] Jan welcomes Deepa to The Leadership Podcast. Deepa left corporate America during the pandemic, just before the Great Resignation. People told her she was crazy to leave a secure position. She says you leap sometimes and it just works out. [3:37] Deepa tells why she left the corporate world. She was done with her corporate career and needed a break. She wanted to do something around women of color. At the time, people thought COVID-19 would be just a couple of weeks. [5:03] Deepa spent 21 years in corporate roles at Deloitte. Toward the end of her career, she was very sick and spent eight months in bed. She started to see the importance of health and asked herself what place she wanted work to take in her life. She had a big value shift. [7:18] Deepa shares her tips for living a good life in a corporation. It takes very intentional work, protecting your time, and accepting that you may not rise fast in the company. [8:38] Before resigning, Deepa had taken an eight-month leave of absence for illness. After 15 doctors, she was diagnosed with late-stage Lyme disease. Eight months of unplugging from the system helped her see she could have a family and other things outside the firm. She figured out how she wanted to redesign her life and what she needed to recharge. Being able to do that was a gift. [11:18] Deepa had had a growing sense of purpose about policy — that was her major in school — and that, combined with her sick-leave sabbatical, gave her a new direction for her life. [13:08] Deepa found similarities between working at a large corporation and a small to medium business. She interviewed mainly VP-level and above. The women would say they had finally gotten to their seat of power and they didn't feel powerful. A lot of the women of color Deepa interviewed talked about erasing or hiding parts of themselves to get to the table in any size of business. [14:02] Many women of color grew up as “onlies” and didn't see themselves represented in the media or among leaders. So there's a question of belonging and having to find your voice. We're trying to figure out what leadership looks like for us because we don't see it around us. [14:55] Deepa listed in her book twelve different challenges that women of color executives face. At the top of the list, it's not seeing yourself represented and having to find your voice. The sense of “first, few, and only” is really different. There's a deep sense of isolation. Deepa lists other differences that affect women of color more than anyone else, including chronic illnesses and the extra work they have to do. [18:19] One woman of color Deepa interviewed edits how she talks, dresses, styles her hair, and what she eats because she is the only woman of color in her company and her community, and she wants to present all black people in the best light possible. Executive women of color are asked to mentor many women of color because they are the only ones in their company or industry in senior positions. [22:08] Deepa interviewed Vernā Myers of Netflix, who told her how offputting airplane overhead storage compartments are for women with small children who might get hit with falling luggage. Deepa notes similarly that workplaces weren't designed with all people in mind. The corporate model of the family, with one person working and the other raising children, has never been updated. [24:11] Many of the women of color in the book shared microaggressions that had been said to them. Deepa notes a few that were said to her two or three times daily. Some women were told they were “articulate” on a daily basis. It made them feel like they didn't belong. No one heard people say to a white man that he was articulate. [26:16] About the Senate Panel Vote for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Deepa has written an Op-Ed about it that drew a lot of attention. Despite being overqualified, her credentials were questioned. Most of the women Deepa interviewed said they had to be two or four times as good as their counterparts just to be credible or to get the opportunity. Judge Jackson had to smile through derogatory comments. [28:33] Deepa tells how she handled it when people asked her if she was in a meeting to take notes or pour the coffee when she was the senior person in the room. She contrasts that with how she would handle her feelings about the same situation today. [31:56] How does Deepa address systemic issues at a Fortune 100 company? She meets with an executive team and is very open and blunt. Some executives tell Deepa they have solved these problems, then Deepa speaks with Black and Brown employees and hears a list of challenges and concerns. Deepa talks with companies about starting on a journey that will take a while. [35:12] Deepa is optimistic that executives are listening differently and if we are to change how work works for everybody, now is the time. Deepa wants leaders to give themselves permission to try different things. None of us have been taught how to talk about race. Deepa talks in the book about things women of color can do when they face racist incidents. Practice and have statements ready. [36:38] Deepa also encourages white male leaders to practice dealing with incidents, such as saying, “That didn't sit right,” “I'm afraid that probably didn't land the same way for everybody,” or “Can we stop the meeting and talk about what just happened?” We all need to learn what to do about racism. Give yourself permission to try. It's more important that you try than that you don't do anything. [37:15] In the two years it took to write the book, the language has progressed so much in how we talk about these topics. The terms are changing. You're not going to get it right every time. That's OK; it's more important to try and to give yourself grace. Deepa notes that the employee voice is on the rise and she wants people to be happy in their jobs. [39:45] Deepa talks about “the power of me,” and “the power of we.” In order to create change, it's going to take other people. Deepa sees a lot of delusions about how work has to be. [41:02] Leaders should learn to know the values that women of color hold, such as community. Women of color tell Deepa they have negative feelings for the word “Power.” She asked Stacy Brown Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit, about power and she suggested leadership and power could be about making people feel safe and that they can bring all of who they are to the table, with some boundaries and guardrails. [44:36] Deepa has learned through publishing this book that you have to be ready but you also have to trust that the universe will meet you where you are. She is also excited about the future and the possibility of the moment we are in. Change is possible if we band together and have hard conversations. If we are ever going to have a better world of work, it is now. [46:28] Deepa's final thoughts: We all have power. We all have the ability to find our voice and some of this is about doing the hard work to figure out what's important to you, and what your values are. How do you want to show up? How do you want to lead? Who do you want to be? When you know that, there are ways to change the places where you work. We have a lot more power than we realize.   Quotable Quotes “[When I left my career] I didn't have a book deal. I didn't have the company founded. There were a lot of questions around that, so …  It kind of speaks to my risk-taking. You leap sometimes and it just works out.” “I had a very visible job. I was known in a hundred-thousand-person organization by my first name. … When you make it relatively young, and you make it quickly … — I'd sacrificed a lot to get to that seat.” “I thought you could have success and health is important but it wasn't top-of-mind. … I started to get really sick. …  Part of my journey was getting healthy; part of my journey was asking different questions. … What space do I want work to take up in my life.” “I interviewed over 500 women of color to write the book and so their stories are in there. … One of the statements that kept coming up over and over again is this pressure to conform, perform, and produce.” “You almost have to unplug for at least six months to even understand … what the values are and look in your life and see what makes you happy.” “I grew up in a very white, very small farm-country town where I was one of five students of color in a school of 500. So you're always kind of wondering, ‘What's different; where do I belong?'” “When I get that angry or that upset, I carry that for a long time. … I have research that suggests that we carry negative comments four times as long as a positive comment or a compliment. Those kinds of things really weigh on women and women of color.” “We have not created safety in companies. We have not created places where people are able to tell the truth and women of color can share everything that's happening to them.” “There are a lot of challenges. Speaking with 500 women of color, … there is … a lot of trauma. I'm really optimistic because I feel like we're in a moment where people are listening differently and that if we were ever going to change how work works for everybody, it's now.” “I think we're just in a moment where employee voice is on the rise. And so, if companies and leaders don't start to pay attention to that, I think they're missing something. … I want people to be happy in the jobs that they have. We spend more time working than we do with our spouses.”   Resources Mentioned Theleadershippodcast.com Sponsored by: Darley.com Deepa Purushothaman on LinkedIn @n2Formation The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, by Deepa Purushothaman George Floyd Lyme disease Vernā Myers Ketanji Brown Jackson Time Fortune 100 Stacy Brown-Philpot TaskRabbit Maya Angelou  

As a former senior executive and a corporate inclusion visionary, Deepa Purushothaman is all about challenging and redefining the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centering the needs and experiences of Women of Color. After leaving Deloitte in 2020, Deepa co-foundedhttps://www.n2formation.com/ ( nFormation), a membership-based community for professional Women of Color, offering brave, safe, new space and placing them in C-suite positions and on Boards. She is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a founding board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy exclusively for young women. Our workplace wellness is such an important part of our emotional, mental, and physical health. Our jobs have the power to shift and change our emotional state – sometimes more than we like to admit. And it makes sense considering we spend the majority of our lives at our workplace, but things need to change. In this episode, Deepa dives into why all of us are rethinking how we work and points to a progressive future where we can make workplaces work for us.  We also talk about: Her relationship with her career Overworking vs being a good worker Why our current workplaces aren't a true meritocracy Self-worth and our career Detaching your identity within your job title Why a lot of us lean into the role of the fixer When to speak up vs not speak up Holding your boundaries How family dynamics can mimic our relationships at work Her take on the future of work Connect with us after the show at https://rainemediaco.com (https://rainemediaco.com) Resources Connect with me for daily inspiration and laughs on IG: @holaimkayla Order my book Things I Could Never Thank You For for paperback & Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578923017? (here) Pre-order my new book Glass Walls https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2M23HKP?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420 (here) Submit your small biz ads application https://rainemediaco.com/small-biz-ads-program (here) Check out Deepa on her website: https://www.deepapuru.com/ (https://www.deepapuru.com/) Follow Deepa on IG: @deepa.puru Sponsors BLK+GRN | Visit BLKGRN.com and use the promo code wellnessglowup for 10% off your order.   This podcast is for educational purposes only. The host claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the information presented herein.

Episode 22: Finding Power When You Feel Powerless w/Deepa Purushothaman What happens when you're in a leadership position or a position of power, but you struggle with owning that title, that authority? How do you feel, find, and forge it when you've been conditioned not to? In midlife, most women go through an honest reckoning, a fundamental questioning of self and what's important to them and how they want to be in the world but rarely have the tools and process to discover the answers to those critical questions. Today on the podcast, my guest shares her research with other 500 women of color in unique and influential positions in corporate America but still struggle to find their full authentic voice. Women of color who have muted themselves or conformed to external expectations are now in search of not only redefining power but securing their own. In this episode of the Midlife Career Rebel Podcast, you'll discover… What it means to hold positions of power as women of color. How to identify the delusions that hold us back and how to overcome them. Why it's critical to permit yourself to go after what you want. What to do when faced with naysayers. Why it's essential to be part of a community of support. The questions to ask yourself to reclaim your voice and power. Featured On the Show: Join us in Career Rebel Academy: https://bit.ly/3mZ7Mwm Read The Few, the First, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America: https://www.amazon.com/First-Few-Only-Redefine-Corporate-ebook/dp/B0968BW9P9 Check out nFormation: For the Firsts, the Fews, and the Only: https://www.nformation.io/ Deepa Purushothaman: https://www.deepapuru.com Send me an email at hello@carolparkerwalsh.com. Check out my FREE three-part video series 10 Minute Career Jumpstart. About Our Guest Deepa Purushothaman Deepa is a former senior executive and a corporate inclusion visionary. She challenges and redefines the status quo of leadership, success, and power by centering on the needs and experiences of Women of Color. As a senior partner at Deloitte, Deepa spent more than 20 years helping clients transform and grow. She also focused on women's leadership and inclusion strategies as the Managing Partner of WIN, Deloitte's pioneering, globally renowned Women's Initiative, and the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the firm's history. After leaving Deloitte in 2020, Deepa co-founded nFormation, a membership-based community for professional Women of Color, offering brave, safe, new space and placing them in C-suite positions and on Boards. She is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School, and a founding board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy exclusively for young women. Deepa's book, “The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America”, was published in March 2022 to international acclaim. Deepa is a TED and SXSW speaker and has been featured across multiple publications such as TIME, PBS, Forbes, Fortune, Financial Times, and Harvard Business Review. Her TED talk has over 1M views. Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I'm loving the Midlife Career Rebel Podcast!" If that sounds like you, help us support more people like you to create a career and life they love. After all, the Midlife Career Rebel Podcast would not be possible without you. Click on the link below to subscribe, give us a five-star rating, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Apple Podcast Spotify Thanks for listening, Carol Be sure to follow me: Website: https://www.carolparkerwalsh.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/parkerwalsh Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcarolparkerwalsh Twitter: https://twitter.com/drcpwalsh Facebook: https://facebook.com/DrCarolParkerWalsh YouTube: https://youtube.com/carolparkerwalsh

In this HCI Podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Deepa Purushothaman about how women of color can redefine identity and power in the workforce. See the video here: https://youtu.be/5uIv4xXnvlY. Deepa Purushothaman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru/) is the co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to make partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national WIN (Women's Initiative) leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. Deepa is an Aspen Fellow and speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Harvard Business Review. Please leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts! Please consider supporting the HCI Podcast on Patreon. Check out the HCI Academy: Courses, Micro-Credentials, and Certificates to Upskill and Reskill for the Future of Work! Check out the LinkedIn Alchemizing Human Capital Newsletter. Check out Dr. Westover's book, The Future Leader. Check out Dr. Westover's book, 'Bluer than Indigo' Leadership. Check out Dr. Westover's book, The Alchemy of Truly Remarkable Leadership. Check out the latest issue of the Human Capital Leadership magazine. Ranked #5 Workplace Podcast Ranked #6 Performance Management Podcast Ranked #7 HR Podcast Ranked #12 Talent Management Podcast Ranked in the Top 20 Personal Development and Self-Improvement Podcasts  Ranked in the Top 30 Leadership Podcasts Each HCI Podcast episode (Program, ID No. 592296) has been approved for 0.50 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR™, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deepa Purushothaman shares the experiences of many Women of Color, including herself, in the corporate world and their challenges to rise as leaders—including loneliness and not seeing themselves represented. Deepa talks about the importance of co-conspirators speaking up as well understanding they will make mistakes. Deepa is the author or “The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America” and co-founder of nFormation, a company that provides safe spaces for professional Women of Color.     KEY TAKEAWAYS   [03:11] An overview of Deepa's career at Deloitte.   [04:23] Deepa started by studying policy and politics.   [05:54] Ageism from clients was the discrimination Deepa felt most after being made partner early on.   [06:27] As the first Indian female partner, Deepa didn't see herself represented in leadership positions and had questions about belonging.   [07:55] Deepa had support and sponsors and pulled from different leaders to see what worked for her.   [08:23] As a Woman of Color, Deepa had some challenges giving feedback to people older than her.   [09:32] Deepa had a particular data-driven approach that worked with clients.   [10:06] Without a role model, you are to need creative ways to find your voice.   [11:35] How the issue of confirming and performing—two to three times harder than others—came up repeatedly with the 500+ Women of Color Deepa interviewed.   [12:10] White male CEOs have been picking up Deepa's book—not Women of Color—wanting to get smarter by asking questions.   [13:06] The extra burden Women of Color have educating others.   [13:43] There weren't (many) conversations about race at work in the US until 2020.   [14:55] Deepa finds there aren't safe spaces for Women of Color to tell their truth.   [16:31] Many Women of Color have ignored or been taught to ignore racism.   [16:55] How so many Women of Color have physical manifestations of the challenges—including trauma—they have been internalizing.   [18:30] Women of Color need people—allies/co-conspirators—to be involved, not bystanders.   [18:56] Co-conspirators need to realize and accept they will make mistakes.   [19:46] Most Women of Color Deepa interviewed did not talk about race at home.   [20:35] Women of Color and co-conspirators should be prepared and practice what to say when someone says something inappropriate.   [20:58] The shock and shame Women of Color have after something racist is said in the workplace.   [22:20] Deepa's three recommended things to say to recognize that something inappropriate was said.   [23:32] Responses depend on the context and how well you know the people present.   [24:50] Deepa picks her battles and waits 10 minutes to see how she feels before saying anything.   [25:55] How Deepa got ill and took a sabbatical to heal.   [27:30] Now success is tied to health for Deepa.   [28:33] The genesis of Deepa's book and company was a series of dinners with many Women of Color.   [29:42] The issue of loneliness for many Women of Color in senior positions.   [31:15] The shared experiences of Women of Color were shocking and freeing.   [32:05] The reaction of white male CEOs has been “we can't deny this is happening [at my company].”   [33:58] nFormation focuses on Women of Color and holding spaces for conversation.   [35:09] Women of Color have been finding their voice and their power by just seeing each at nFormation.   [36:15] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: For co-conspirators - practice empathy--don't assume, instead listen differently to understand others' different experiences. Use your power in the moment to support others—amplifying, pausing for space, giving room, speaking up or about someone. For Women of Color – how do you want to show up? What do you want to say and how do you want to use your full voice?       RESOURCES   Deepapuru.com N2formation.com DeepaPurushothamanon LinkedIn DeepaPurushothamanon Twitter Deepa's book “The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America”     QUOTES   “I was the first Indian female partner we made so there weren't a lot of examples or role models before me and, and it's a pretty large firm. To not see yourself represented, I had my own questions around belonging.”   “When you don't see yourself in leadership positions, there's a lot of narrative rewriting that you have to do in your head.”   “You don't have to see it to be it.”   “When you don't see yourself or don't see an exact role model, that looks like you, what I really coach women on is to kind of try different things out.”   “It's hard to find your voice when you don't see yourself on television when you don't see yourself in the media when you don't have a teacher that looks like you, and then you go into an organization and there's hardly anybody that looks like you. Like, what is your voice?”

Meet a thought and action leader who is tackling the challenges that women of color face in the corporate world head on. Deepa Purushothaman is co-founder of nFormation, a company for women of color by women of color. Her new book is entitled, The First, The Few, The Only:  How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. We talk about how business must evolve and the important role women of color, who have the skills and talent to merit advancement, can and should evolve as key leaders.

What does it feel like to be the First, the Few and the Only? Today's guest is Deepa Purushothaman, co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to make partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national WIN (Women's Initiative) leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Join host Natalie Benamou and Deepa Purushothaman for this special conversation about her new book: THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. Deepa shares how she interviewed over 500 women of color for this book. She highlights both individual stories as well as the numerous commonalities she has observed from having these discussions. Her personal stories and actionable takeaways in the book will resonate with a wide range of readers, from CEOs and HR teams to managers and employees. "There are these amazing women who have been first, but we don't spend enough time talking about the barriers that they overcome and how much extra work there is and how difficult it is." - Deepa Purushothaman In this special discussion, Deepa describes: Two Surprising Discoveries From The Book: 1. "Many of the women of color I interviewed were actually sick with mysterious illnesses." 2. "Women shared with me that they felt other women didn't support them in the workplace." "I want women and women of color to be in full voice when they get to the seat at the table. So they can actually show up, with all their super powers, and all the things that they bring to the table."- Deepa Purushothaman Find Deepa Purushothaman on LinkedIn | DeepaPuru.com TEDx Talk HBR Article: Leaders, Stop Rewarding Toxic Rockstars Natalie Benamou is the Founder of HerCsuite™, HerCsuite™ all-in-one platform is a SaaS private network hub is designed for organizations to retain and engage female talent. Our simplified user interface makes it easy for women to achieve success in every level of their careers. It is a ready-made customizable solution for Employee Resource Groups, Membership Organizations, and Individual Women Leaders. Check out our Newest Mastermind HerCsuite™ NEXT for Women over 50. LinkedIn: Natalie Benamou | HerPower2 Lead | HerCsuite™ This podcast is sponsored by Aaptiv, our favorite health and wellness app with over 4,000 videos. Listeners can get your free 30-day trial here. Credits: Thanks to Julie Deem and the Business Podcast Editor for editing our podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/hercsuite/message

What does it feel like to be the First, the Few and the Only? Today's guest is Deepa Purushothaman, co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to make partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national WIN (Women's Initiative) leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Join host Natalie Benamou and Deepa Purushothaman for this special conversation about her new book: THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. Deepa shares how she interviewed over 500 women of color for this book. She highlights both individual stories as well as the numerous commonalities she has observed from having these discussions. Her personal stories and actionable takeaways in the book will resonate with a wide range of readers, from CEOs and HR teams to managers and employees. "There are these amazing women who have been first, but we don't spend enough time talking about the barriers that they overcome and how much extra work there is and how difficult it is." - Deepa Purushothaman In this special discussion, Deepa describes: The extra burdens and excess work WOC take on for companies in the name of culture building. Pushing back against toxic messaging—including the things we tell ourselves. Embracing the valuable cultural viewpoints and experiences that give us unique perspectives at work. Two Surprising Discoveries From The Book: 1. "Many of the women of color I interviewed were actually sick with mysterious illnesses." 2. "Women shared with me that they felt other women didn't support them in the workplace." "I want women and women of color to be in full voice when they get to the seat at the table. So they can actually show up, with all their super powers, and all the things that they bring to the table."- Deepa Purushothaman Find Deepa Purushothaman on LinkedIn | DeepaPuru.com TEDx Talk HBR Article: Leaders, Stop Rewarding Toxic Rockstars Natalie Benamou is the Founder of HerCsuite™, HerCsuite™ all-in-one platform is a SaaS private network hub is designed for organizations to retain and engage female talent. Our simplified user interface makes it easy for women to achieve success in every level of their careers. It is a ready-made customizable solution for Employee Resource Groups, Membership Organizations, and Individual Women Leaders. Check out our Newest Mastermind HerCsuite™ NEXT for Women over 50. LinkedIn: Natalie Benamou | HerPower2 Lead | HerCsuite™ This podcast is sponsored by Aaptiv, our favorite health and wellness app with over 4,000 videos. Listeners can get your free 30-day trial here. Credits: Thanks to Julie Deem and the Business Podcast Editor for editing our podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/natalie109/message

In her inspiring and eye-opening book, The First, The Few, The Only, Deepa Purushothaman examines the challenges faced by women of color in the workplace. In this episode, Fran had the opportunity to discuss Deepa's work at an event held by the Westport Library. While the intended audience for this book is women of color navigating corporate America, it can truly serve as a roadmap for anyone wanting to create a more equitable workplace. Deepa Purushothaman is the co-founder of nFormation, a Women and Public Policy Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School and was the first Indian American woman to make partner at Deloitte. To learn more about Deepa Purushothaman and her work, visit https://www.deepapuru.com To learn more about the Women's Business Development Council and the support we provide to help women thrive in business, visit us at www.ctwbdc.org. Thanks for listening to Courageous Conversations, a podcast dedicated to inspiring women entrepreneurs through the stories of incredible leaders! Be sure to follow Courageous Conversations wherever you listen to podcasts.  This episode of Courageous Conversations is brought to you by Websterbank.   Find Out MoreAbout Us: WBDC on Instagram  WBDC on Facebook WBDC on LinkedIn WBDC on Twitter Become a member of WBDC Connect WBDC Connect Members Facebook Group

As Deepa Purushothaman grew up, she always felt different. Being one of a few students of color amongst the 500 in her school in White House Station, New Jersey, she felt challenged to belong. Each summer, Deepa would go to India to visit family, and she didn't fit in there either, because she was ‘very American'. At home, race was not discussed. She had an inner drive and a competitive spirit, that propelled her through her different-ness. Deepa was the only girl on the boys soccer team. Later, she realized that breaking boundaries and navigating unfamiliar spaces were the paths on which she was to travel. Deepa went on to earn degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard's Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics, consecutively. She followed her interests in politics and policy, spending her junior year in Washington, D.C. interning at the White House and the U.S. State Department. Upon graduation, Deepa felt private sector experience was important, so she joined the consulting firm, Deloitte, intending to stay for a few years. Two-plus decades later, Deepa was a senior partner at Deloitte, focusing on women's leadership and strategies to help women of color navigate corporate structures. She was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to become a Partner in the firm's history. Deepa spent many years growing Deloitte's Social Impact Practice and served as the National Managing Principal of Inclusion and the Managing Partner of WIN, Deloitte's renowned Women's Initiative. In these roles, she advised Fortune 100 clients on inclusion strategy and focused on acquiring and retaining diverse talent in the US firm. Leaving Deloitte in 2020, Deepa co-founded nFormation, a company created for women of color by women of color. nFormation is a membership-based community for professional women of color, offering brave, safe, new space and helping place women of color in C-suite positions and on Boards. Deepa wrote a book, The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, published in March 2022.  In this week's Work From The Inside Out podcast, learn more about Deepa's journey: Deepa practices what she preaches. She is a founding board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy exclusively for young women. She has also served on the Board of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the UN WEP's Leadership Group. Deepa is a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School where she concentrates on research to combat systemic racism in corporate structures to help Women of Color rise. Learn more and connect with Deepa here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/n2formation https://www.facebook.com/n2formation https://twitter.com/n2formation https://www.n2formation.com/

When it comes to being a woman of color in the C-suite or corporate side of business, there can be a lot of pressures and residual inner dialogue that can make your own identity a blur. Women have edited themselves to fit the mold or the leader before them for a really long time, and this is even stronger in relation to those of color or with a different cultural belief than their white male counterparts. This week's episode 12 of How Women Inspire Podcast is about understanding and redefining the shadow side to being a woman of color in business, with Deepa Purushothaman! In this episode of How Women Inspire Podcast, Julie Castro Abrams and Deepa Purushothaman are sharing the importance of redefining success for yourself, no matter what culture or society deems accurate for you, and actionable steps you can take right now to step into your power as a woman of color and powerful leader. Some of the talking points Julie and Deepa go over in this episode include:The significance and role of work on women of color, and how this plays a huge role in their lives and identities.How we as women edit ourselves and put ourselves on mute more times than we shout unless that's the expectation.The shadow side to being a woman of color in business, and how this can lead to not only being forced to fit stereotypes but the other significant (unpaid) roles we play in corporations.Hiding your identity: why some people choose to do that, and how easy or difficult it may be to do that.In this episode, Deepa shares her new book, along with a few of the amazing stories held within, to help share how women of color are truly stepping into their calling as the power brokers of the future. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips and to hear even more about the points outlined above.Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don't forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!CONNECT WITH DEEPA PURUSHOTHAMAN:WebsiteLinkedInGet Her BookCONNECT WITH JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS:LinkedIn - JulieHow Women LeadHow Women InvestHow Women GiveInstagram - HWLLinkedIn - HWLFacebook - HWL

Deepa Purushothaman was one of the first senior partners at Deloitte, where she spent more than 20 years focusing on women's leadership and inclusion strategies to help women of color navigate corporate structures. She was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make Partner in the firm's history. After leaving Deloitte in 2020, Deepa co-founded nFormation, a membership-based community for professional women of color, offering brave, safe, new space and helping place women of color in C-suite positions and on Boards.Deepa's book The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, was published by HarperCollins in March 2022. In the book, Deepa shares stories from women of color and lays the groundwork for how women can unearth their power and channel it to redefine success for their most authentic selves.Deepa is a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School where she concentrates on research to combat systemic racism in corporate structures to help women of color rise. She is also a founding board member of Avasara, India's first leadership academy exclusively for young women. She has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. She lives in Los Angeles.During the interview, we discuss…how corporate America is not built for us or by us, and what needs to changehow to reframe the “fit in” and “lean in” mentalities that have left women burnt out and isolatedadvice for women who are ‘“the first, the few, the only”moving past “working harder” to get aheadcommonalities for underrepresented groupsovercoming limited images of leadershipevolving workplaces with culturecreating cultures of belongingGet Deepa's book, The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/First-Few-Only-Redefine-Corporate/dp/0063084716Get in touch with Deepa after the interview…Email: deepa@n2formation.comWebsite: https://www.deepapuru.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuruTwitter: https://twitter.com/deepapuruFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepa.purushothaman.75Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puru

In this episode I spoke to Deepa about her career and the work she does as business and author. The main things we spoke about in this episode were 1. What's it like to be a women of colour in the workplace and feel invisible 2. The amazing work that Deepa is doing and how she started nFormation 3. Microaggressions in the workplace and what to do about them 4. Workplace bullying for a women of colour and why are ignored more when they bring it up 5. Her brand new book "The first the few and only" 6. How to be an ally to women of colour in the workplace If you want to connect with Deepa you can visit here site here https://www.deepapuru.com/ Connect with her on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru/ Or Follow her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puru/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/careerhappiness/message

Deepa Purushothaman was a first senior partner at Deloitte, where she spent more than 20 years focusing on women's leadership and inclusion strategies to help women of color navigate corporate structures. She was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make Partner in the firm's history. After leaving Deloitte in 2020, Deepa co-founded nFormation, a membership-based community for professional women of color, offering brave, safe, new space and helping place women of color in C-suite positions and on Boards. In this episode, Deepa and Deanna really dive into a conversation about the experiences and struggles facing women of color in the workplace. Deepa really invites the listener to examine the structures and systems that have been created within corporate America, who created those structures, and the ways in which they do not serve women of color on a systemic and individual level. They also talked about Deepa's book, The First, The Few, The Only; How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, a call to action for women of color to find power and community, in order to advocate for a new corporate environment. To learn more and connect with Deepa, find her on her website: https://www.deepapuru.com/ Topics In This Episode The things we believe about corporate America, versus what is true about corporate America Why white leaders in America don't know how to find diverse leaders The truth about meritocracy in the workplace Embracing the moments that allow us to each step into our own power The result microaggressions have on women of color and on their health Coping mechanisms for processing events in the workplace Creating community and a safe space in order to be able to have difficult conversations. Connect Deepa's website: https://www.deepapuru.com/ The First, The Few, The Only on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063084716 Other Conversations We've Enjoyed The Connection Between Trust and DEI Retention Strategies For The New Era of Employment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deepa worked in Corporate America for 21 years and left to co-found nFormation with Rha Goddess, which provides a brave, safe, and new space for professionals who are women of color. She is the author of “The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color can Redefine Power in Corporate America” which we discuss in this interview. Tune in to hear now and access the show notes at https://thegoodlifecoach.com/177 Join my newsletter and get a free copy of my book, “Design a Life You Love”. WE DISCUSS: 1️⃣ Why Deepa left a Big 4 Accounting Firm after 21 years to Launch nFormation. 2️⃣ The work she is doing with nFormation with Rha Goddess and the research they are doing with Billie Jean King and how that lead to their Ted Talk with over a million views. 3️⃣ Sorting through identity and challenges as a Woman of Color. 4️⃣ How 2 out of the 3 women of color she interviewed for the book are dealing with navigating health challenges and why. 5️⃣ The self-editing women of color do to conform in patriarchal corporate environments. 6️⃣ The delusions people in corporate are operating under. 7️⃣ Owning your power as a woman of color and defining that for yourself. 8️⃣ The micro-aggressions women of color experience in the corporate world. ABOUT OUR GUEST Deepa Purushothaman is a co-founder of nFormation, a company for women of color by women of color. nFormation provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color. Deepa is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company's history. Deepa was also the US Managing Partner of WIN (Women's Initiative), Deloitte's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. She speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Huffington Post, and Harvard Business Review. She is also an Aspen Fellow. RESOURCES MENTIONED Deepa's Book – The First, the Few, the Only Deepa's Ted Talk with Rha Goddess Deepa's website Michele's Book: Design a Life You Love Michele on Instagram Thank you for listening to the show!

Deepa Purushothaman: The First, The Few, The Only Deepa is the co-founder of nFormation, a company which provides a brave, safe, and new space for professionals who are women of color. She spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was a first herself: an Indian American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company's history. In her time there, she helped grow Deloitte's Social Impact Practice, served as a National Managing Partner of Inclusion, and served as the Managing Partner of WIN—the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Huffington Post, and Harvard Business Review. She is the author of The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color can Redefine Power in Corporate America*. Key Points The corporate space has not fostered true equity. Often, many of us don't see the systemic examples each day of friction. “We can't find you,” is an often believed delusion when companies intend to attract more women of color. “I don't see color,” is often a well-intended belief, but in practice often marginalizes the lives experiences of women of color. “DEI will fix it all,” is an illusion. We all should be supporting peers in formal DEI roes to volunteer, show up, and be key partners in the work that benefits all of you. “You got white-manned,” reflects the belief that the world has to be a zero-sum competition. Resources Mentioned The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color can Redefine Power in Corporate America* by Deepa Purushothaman Interview Notes Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required). Related Episodes Start Finding Overlooked Talent, with Johnny Taylor, Jr. (episode 544) The Way Managers Can be Champions for Justice, with Minda Harts (episode 552) Overcome Resistance to New Ideas, with David Schonthal (episode 557) Discover More Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

DEEPA PURUSHOTHAMAN is the co-founder of nFormation which provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color and a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to make partner in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national WIN (Women's Initiative) leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. Deepa is an Aspen Fellow and speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Harvard Business Review. Learn more at: https://www.deepapuru.com

Deepa Purushothaman knows what it feels like to be the only minority in a room. She spent 20 years working for Deloitte, where she was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company's history.  At the time, there was no one who looked like Deepa in a similar role. She had no one to look up to or seek advice from, so she told herself “If I don't see it, I will be it.” And that's what she did.    When Deepa left her career at Deloitte, she found her calling: helping other women and minorities navigate corporate America.  Deepa is a leader in the battle to push businesses toward genuine diversity and inclusion. Her ideas on how to rework work culture will transform corporate America, making it a community where we all feel heard and respected. In this episode, Hala and Deepa talk about the importance of representation in media, how workplaces can be improved, “Inclusion Delusions” in corporate America, and the future of the workplace. Topics Included:  - Representation in media  - Deepa's experience at Deloitte - Starting nFormation - The future of women in the workforce  - Why inclusivity is an important topic for men - Deepa's biggest takeaways from interviewing 500 corporate women - “Inclusion Delusions” in corporate America  - Examples of why workplaces need to be redesigned  - Beauty and behavior standards in the workplace - Actionable ways to overcome personal delusions  - Definition and examples of microaggressions  - Addressing microaggression as a minority and as an ally  - Advice on researching workplace culture - Finding the power of me and the power of we - Hopes for the future of inclusivity and diversity  - And other topics … Deepa Purushothaman is a corporate inclusion visionary, a speaker, and the co-founder of nFormation, an exclusive community for high-achieving women of color. Deepa is the author of The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America.   Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte, where she was the first Indian- American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company's history. Deepa also served as Deloitte's National Managing Partner of Inclusion and the US Managing Partner of WIN (Women's Initiative), Deloitte's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women. Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. Her work has been featured in The Harvard Business Review, Forbes, CNBC, Bloomberg, and more. She is also a fellow at The Aspen Institute's First Movers Fellowship Program.  Sponsorships: 99 Designs - Head to 99designs.com/YAP to learn more and get $30 off your first design contest! Constant Contact - To start your free digital marketing trial today, visit constant contact dot com. That's constant contact dot com to start a 60 day free trial. Constant contact dot com.  ThirdLove - Upgrade to everyday pieces that love your body as much as you do. Get 20% off your first order at thirdlove.com/yap  Jordan Harbinger - Check out jordanharbinger.com/start for some episode recommendations Sandland Sleep - Go to sandlandsleep.com and use the promo code YAP15 Resources Mentioned: Deepa's Website: https://www.deepapuru.com/ The First, The Few, The Only by Deepa Purushothaman: https://www.amazon.com/First-Few-Only-Redefine-Corporate/dp/0063084716/  Connect with Young and Profiting: YAP's Instagram: www.instagram.com/youngandprofiting   Hala's Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/htaha/   Hala's Instagram: www.instagram.com/yapwithhala   Website: www.youngandprofiting.com

Deepa Purushothaman is an author, speaker, and co-founder of nFormation.com - a company for women of color by women of color. It provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color.    Deepa is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. She also has a book The First, The Few, The Only. How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, which Harper Business published March 2022.   She spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company's history. Deepa was a National Managing Partner of Inclusion at Deloitte and the US Managing Partner of WIN (Women's Initiative), Deloitte's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women.   Deepa experienced being an outcast at an early age as she was only one of three colored girls in a class of 500 students. And even after she got into the right schools and the right jobs, she never felt like she fit in. This is what prompted her to write her book.    In our conversation, Deepa talks about her journey to success, how she overworked until work is not working for her anymore, and how nFormation helps other people of color.    In this episode, you will learn:   Deepa's unique, albeit unhealthy, superpowers How her illness changed her life How Corporate America was not made by women or designed for women and is not a meritocracy Knowing when it's time to leave your job Acknowledging and healing the trauma that women have endured in the workplace How women of color should use their superpowers, especially in this moment   Quotes:   “Great leader helps people that work on their team find their power” - Deepa Purushothaman.    “If you continue to conform and do what you're told, eventually, you will be unhappy and feel powerless” - Deepa Purushothaman.    “Not every culture is going to work for you” - Deepa Purushothaman.    Resources:   Deepa Purushothaman Website   The First, The Few, The Only. How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa Purushothaman   nFormation, for The First, The Few and The Onlys   TED Talk - 4 Ways To Redefine Power At Work To Include Women Of Color Rha Goddess and Deepa Purushothaman

Corporate America was not built by or for women- never mind women of color. As a result, talented women everywhere remain isolated and undervalued, systemically challenged to develop and retain the personal power essential to individual success. Which is why Deepa Purushothaman is spurring change – with her new book THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, and her online platform, nFormation. Listen in as she and Laura talk about mentorship, sponsorship, and what we need to build an inclusive sisterhood at work. Originally aired with Host Laura Zarrow on March 3, 2022 on SiriusXM's Business Radio, Channel 132. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In Episode 75, Deepa Purushothaman, author of THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, joins Melinda to discuss the structural and cultural dynamics of what women of color are experiencing in the workplace, how women can get comfortable sitting in positions of power, and why it's important to shift away from a scarcity mindset to allow more women of color a seat at the table.Bio: About Deepa Purushothaman (she/her)Deepa Purushothaman is the co-founder of nFormation which provides a brave, safe, new space for professional women of color. Deepa is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School.Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman to make partners in the company's history. Deepa was also Deloitte's national WIN (Women's Initiative) leader, the firm's renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women.Deepa has degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and the London School of Economics. Deepa is an Aspen Fellow and speaks extensively on women and leadership. She has been featured at national conferences and in publications including Bloomberg BusinessWeek, and Harvard Business Review.Find Leading With Empathy & Allyship useful? Subscribe to our podcast and like this episode!For more about Change Catalyst, and to join us for our monthly live event, visit https://ally.cc. There, you'll also find educational resources and highlights from this episode.Connect With Deepa Purushothaman On SocialLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuruFacebook https://www.facebook.com/deepa.purushothaman.75Twitter https://twitter.com/deepapuruInstagram https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puruConnect With Us On SocialYouTube: youtube.com/c/changecatalystTwitter: twitter.com/changecatalystsFacebook: facebook.com/changecatalystsInstagram: instagram.com/techinclusionLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/changecatalystsProduction TeamCreator & Host: Melinda Briana EplerFinance & Operations: Renzo SantosMarketing Communications Coordinator: Christina Swindlehurst ChanCreative Director @ Podcast Rocket: Rob Scheerbarth[Image description: Leading With Empathy & Allyship promo with the Change Catalyst logo and photos of Deepa Purushothaman, an Indian woman with black hair who is wearing a white long-sleeve shirt, resting her chin on her hand, and smiling at the camera; her orange, red, and pink book cover for ‘THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY'; and host Melinda Briana Epler, a White woman with red hair, glasses, and an orange shirt holding a white mug behind a laptop.]Support the show (http://patreon.com/changecatalysts)

Summary:Women of color are one of the fastest-growing segments in the corporate workforce, yet often we are underrepresented—among the first, few, or only ones in a department or company. For too long, corporate structures, the social zeitgeist, and cultural conditioning have left them feeling exhausted and downtrodden, believing that in order to “fit in” and be successful, we must hide or change who they are.How can they “find, feel and forge their power in the corporate world”? Understanding the systems of delusions that pervade the system is an important start, as is shedding messages we tell ourselves (or been told by those who've come before us). Playing this role, acting as the role model and mentor to others, is demanding, often taking its toil on mental and physical health. Improving the representation, inclusion, and belonging of women of colour requires allies – yes, men in the powerful positions – and collective action to confront, outdated behaviours, and workplace assumptions and inertia.The book ‘The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America' by Deepa Purushothaman sets out a manifesto for how to make sure their words are heard, our lived experiences are respected, and our contributions are finally valued.It is a powerful, shocking, substantive and story-filled book that moved me, and challenged me to step forward and help. This discussion will resonate if you are an co-worker, ally, or representative of another minority group facing similar challenges.More about Deepa:Deepa Purushothaman is a former senior partner at Deloitte, a corporate inclusion visionary and a co-founder of NFormation, a membership-based community for professional women of color, offering brave, safe, new space and helping place women of color in C-suite positions and on Boards. Check out her:Book ‘The First, the Few, the Only': How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America 'Profile.My resources: Sign up to my Flashes+Sparks for stimuli, ideas, guidance and tips on how to lead your team, organisation or self more effectively, delivered straight to your inbox: If you're not subscribed already and do subscribe to my youtube channel where you can watch the conversation. You can also find me here: LinkedIn Twitter Personal website, which includes more examples of my work, the services I offer and testimonials from clients. 

Deepa Purushothaman is a former senior executive, a corporate inclusion visionary, and co-founder of nFormation, a company for women of color by women of color where they provide a brave, safe, new space for professional women of color. This is a first-of-its-kind community that is a vetted, membership-based technology platform for high-performing WOC that seeks to reimagine traditional power structures to not just help more WOC take their seat at the table but to change the way the table is formed.Deepa's book, The First, The Few, The Only-How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, will be published by Harper Business in March 2022.Prior to this, Deepa spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company's history.We discuss how it's time for all WOC to come together with our shared challenges to support one another, what it will really take to advance WOC, how many WOC tend to manifest physical ailments because they are not in their full voice, and what leadership will look like in the future. 

Ich und Frank haben viele

Deepa Purushothaman was a senior partner at the world's largest professional services corporation, focusing on women's leadership and inclusion strategies, assisting women of color navigate corporate structures. She was the first Indian American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the firm's history. Twenty years of globetrotting, and regularly logging over one-hundred-hour weeks as a corporate athlete left her flatlined.  Deepa pivoted during her quest to heal herself, leaving the corporate world in 2020; she then co-founded nFormation, a company offering safe new space, placing women of color in C-suite positions and on boards.  Deepa holds degrees from Wellesley College, Harvard Kennedy School, and The London School of Economics. Her current book, The First, The Few, The Only has a March 2022 release date. We are thrilled to welcome Deepa to Intrinsic Drive™. Intrinsic Drive™ is produced by Ellen Strickler and Phil Wharton. Special thanks to Andrew Hollingworth, our sound engineer and technical editor.  For more information on this and other episodes visit us at www.whartonhealth.com/intrinsicdrive. Follow us on socials (links below) including Instagram  @intrinsicdrivelive  

Heute: korrupte Systeme (Fortsetzung)

"I think a lot of us believe if we did have that space we would lead differently -- we would show up differently.  A lot of my work right now, I call it the Power of Me and the Power of We, it's the power of yourself, but what is the power if we come together, like what could we do together?” - Deepa Purushothaman Are you ready to meet this moment? A shift is happening.  Are you ready to step into something new?  Deepa Purushothaman certainly is. Even amidst the tumult of 2020, Deepa started nFormation with co-founder Rha Goddess, a membership community that acts as a safe space for women of color to show up as their full selves, a brave space to help them grow and lead differently, and a new space to shift the structures that not only help women of color take a seat at the table, but also change the way the table is formed. Earlier in her career, Deepa became the first Indian-American woman and one of the youngest people ever to make Partner at Deloitte, where she spent more than 20 years focusing on women's leadership and inclusion strategies. She is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. "There should always be more than one seat at the table. I want multiple seats." - Deepa Purushothaman On today's show, we discuss insights from Deepa's book, The Firsts, The Fews, and The Onlys: Why Women of Color Need To Redefine Power In Corporate America, which will be published by Harper Collins in the Fall. Deepa also shares the wisdom she has gleaned from interviewing more than 500 senior women of color and the shared experiences that led to their success. We talk about how Deepa overcame imposter syndrome, conformity, and her cultural programming, why it's time for us to redefine power and success, and how we can all create our own leadership style. “When you don't see yourself in structures, in the media, in books, you question if you belong.” - Deepa Purushothaman Show Notes: How communities can come together to create real change How to overcome imposter syndrome How to create your own leadership style What led Deepa to start nFormation Which parts of herself Deepa shed to step into her power Challenges Deepa faced as an Only Why it's important for women of color to connect "We are at a moment where the world is demanding a different kind of leadership." - Deepa Purushothaman 3 Pieces of Advice or Action Steps: Leave what doesn't serve you Practice using your voice Reach out to and connect with women of color "The last election really made me question what I am doing in the world." - Deepa Purushothaman Brand and Resource Mentions: Power Of The Only 2021 Spotify playlist The Power Of The Only Episode 33-Reflection, Celebration and New Year Vision Connect with Deepa Purushothaman: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | nFormation Thanks for being a part of this bold and powerful conversation on The Power of The Only! If you would like a free copy of The Power Of The Only principles and a Clarity and Vision worksheet to help apply them in your business and life click here to get access. Whether you feel like the only one in your company, industry, or community or the only woman in the room, we're here to support you in stepping up, speaking up through power, presence, and representation and to make an impact in your personal and professional life. Want even more insider tips, resources and training to help you own your voice and power and step into your leadership.  Get my free YOU, Amplified! training You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. Learn more about this episode of The Power of The Only with Angela Chee at www.angelachee.com/34

nFormation co-founders Deepa Purushothaman and Rha Goddess join Change Catalyst Founder & CEO Melinda Briana Epler to explain how best to support women of color as leaders in the workplace.Deepa, Rha, and Melinda go deep on:The future of work and what managers can do to become real allies for women-of-color (WOC)The new mobile app for women of color that nFORMATION is launching to support these communitiesHow to address systemic oppression in the workplace and create a safe space for WOC to bring their full selves to workHow the concept of power might differ for WOC and how it can benefit everyone in the workplaceAbout Our GuestsRha Goddess and Deepa Purushothaman were brought together over 5 years ago. Deepa was a “first” Senior Partner at a Big 4. Rha left corporate America and the chemical industry as an “only” two decades ago to focus on helping leaders find their passion, purpose and calling. Deepa has spent years focusing on women's leadership and inclusion strategies to help women of color navigate corporate structures. Rha has helped hundreds of high impact leaders realize they can work in ways that honor their values and uplift new definitions of power, profitability and success.Together, they have discovered that there is a collective untapped power that WOC have yet to harness and leverage, so they came together to create nFormation, a first of its kind membership community for professional women of color offering brave, safe, new space and career advancement opportunities.Highlights from this Conversation“We need companies to do what they're saying they want to do but show up in a totally different way”. - Deepa Purushothaman“Many women of color don't feel that they can necessarily bring that natural and organic sense of concern into the (working) culture in a way that is valued.” - Rha GoddessLearn more about Deepa & Rha's work at https://www.n2formation.com/index.html Additional ResourcesJoin the waitlist to download the Safe Space app https://www.n2formation.com/space.html"The Calling: 3 Fundamental Shifts to Stay True, Get Paid, and Do Good” by Rha Goddess https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45046800-the-callingStay tuned for the upcoming release of Deepa's book, The Inclusion Delusion[image description: image of Deepa Purushothaman (an Indian woman with long black hair, smiling) and Rha Goddess (a Black woman with curly hair, smiling) and Melinda Briana Epler (a White woman with red hair and glasses, smiling), with the text "Want to be inclusive? Support Women Of Color As Leaders In The Workplace."] Support the show (http://patreon.com/changecatalysts)

Deepa is an author, speaker and the cofounder of nFormation. She is also a WAPPP Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School where her primary focus area of research is systemic racism and the advancement of women of color in corporate America. She speaks extensively about diversity, equity and inclusion and has been featured at national conferences and in publications like Bloomberg and Harvard Business Review. Extending this focus to her community, Deepa is devoted to helping Indian girls realize their potential, and has helped found Avasara, the first leadership academy targeting young women in India.Key Takeaways:- 0:00 Intro- 3:08 Deepa shares her story and what lead her to focusing on empowering and elevating women of color- 5:36 Deepa discusses the obstacles that may be holding women of color back from rising and how they overcome these challenges- 9:34 Deepa talks about the importance of diversity, inclusion, innovation and authentic leadership style in a company - 11:57 Deepa talks about glass ceiling for women and if there's a different ceiling for women of color- 13:54 Deepa speaks of what the new normal for women, especially women of color looks like now that things won't be the same after COVID- 17:35 Deepa talks about why the culture on not giving equal opportunities to women of color in a business needs to change  - 20:07 Deepa talks about how COVID has helped bring up these issues of women of color being denied equal opportunities to the table for discussion - 23:19 Deepa shares why they decided to create a space where women of color could be vulnerable and share their stories and why that was important- 25:05 Deepa also elaborates on what it means to be ‘A First A Few and The Only' as the title of her book- 30:14 Deepa encourages women of color that it is okay to fail because that is how people get to learn- 32:27 Deepa talks about how everyone can get involved and support women of color at this important pivotal moment- 36:03 Deepa elaborates on what nFormation is about and how it's creating a safe space where women of color can have discussions of any kind- 39:51 Deepa hints on when her book is coming out- 40:20 Deepa talks about what makes her strong especially as a leader - 41:14 Deepa talks about how having the first vice president as a woman of color is going to help solve the problem of women of color getting equal opportunities Books Mentioned:The firsts, The fews and the Onlys; Why Women of Color Need to Redefine Power in Corporate America by Deepa Purushothaman with Harper CollinsShows Mentioned:https://hbr.org/  https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/all-research Quotes Mentioned:“Figure out who you are, what's important to you and what your truth is.”“You need to know where your lines are.”“We need people to not conform; we need people to bring their full voice and their ideas.”“Showing up is about bringing more than who you are; it's also bringing those ideas.”“We're in this together and together, we are strong as women.”“There's not really a reward for being different all the time.”“You're going to get your biggest learning from your failures, sometimes more than your success.”“Leaders take risks.”“It's not about scarcity, it's about the fact that if we have more of us, we're going to change it for all of us.”“Always dream big.” Guests Social Media Links:Website: https://www.n2formation.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepa-purushothaman-81764116/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/n2formation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/n2formation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/n2formation/ 

Co-Founders Deepa Purushothaman and Rha Goddess join the program to discuss nFormation, a first-of-its-kind app-based community for high-achieving women of color. (WOC) Discover how nFormation seeks to reimagine traditional power structures to not just help more WOC take their seat at the table in corporate America but to leverage their collective power to change the way the table is formed.