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Ep #253: The First, the Few, the Only with Deepa PurushothamanIn the corporate world, many Women of Color find themselves as “the first, the few, the only” on their teams, in their departments, or even in their entire companies. As a result, they're often expected to adapt, contort, and conform themselves to fit into a mold that doesn't reflect who they truly are, just to succeed. But what would it look like to create a corporate world where the talents and achievements of Women of Color are celebrated—not questioned, diminished, or undermined? And where Women of Color aren't pressured to change who they are to succeed, but are empowered to lead with their unique strengths and on their own terms? This is the world my guest, Deepa Purushothaman, is working to create. As a former senior partner at Deloitte and the author of The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa believes we have the power to reshape corporate culture—if we work together to make it happen. In this episode of Women Changing Leadership, Deepa and I discuss what a redefinition of leadership would look like – one that challenges outdated norms, fosters true inclusivity, and builds strong communities of support. Plus, Deepa shares her insights on how Women of Color can reclaim their power, and how their allies can help them confront systemic hurdles and inspire real change in the workplace.Unlock the missing piece in your leadership development. Take the quiz: www.ReadytoBePromoted.com

In this throw back episode, Mandi is joined by Deepa Purushothaman, author of "The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America." They speak about setting boundaries at work, listening to your body to prevent burnout, and how to play (and change) the corporate game.We want to hear from you! Drop us a note at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on instagram @brownambitionpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this throw back episode, Mandi is joined by Deepa Purushothaman, author of "The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America." They speak about setting boundaries at work, listening to your body to prevent burnout, and how to play (and change) the corporate game. We want to hear from you! Drop us a note at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on instagram @brownambitionpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. 

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  

63. Embrace the Power of You (with Tricia Montalvo Timm) Tricia Montalvo Timm is a first-generation Latina board director, venture investor and speaker. With her new book, Embrace the Power of You, she hopes to inspire anyone who has ever felt like an “other” in the workplace to embrace their true selves, own their identity and achieve success and fulfillment in their life and career. In this episode: Tricia shares her experience from a young age where she realized that people thought her last name wasn't considered “American” enough for her to get acting roles. How she navigated the high-powered career as a lawyer when she became a new mother. Who her book, Embrace the Power of You, is for and what she hopes people will learn from it. The importance of helping people feel like they belong in organizations and how her manager strategies in the book could help with that. How her scan-evaluate-adapt process worked for her in networking conversations and what she realized was different for her vs her husband in similar situations. How debilitating perfectionism can be and how much energy it takes from you. The important of self-care, resting through the contraction times in our lives so we are ready for expansion opportunities. Information on Tricia:   TriciaTimm.com The Book that Tricia Recommends:  The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America by Deepa Purushothaman The Visibility Factor Podcast is brought to you in part by the 90-day Visibility Breakthrough Accelerator program. Do you believe deep down inside that you can have a bigger career, but you don't know how to get there? This 90-day program is a powerful experience that is unique to you and provides dedicated time to focus on your specific challenge. This dedicated time will help you see new possibilities, recognize your strengths, and take away key insights that can be leveraged immediately.  Are you ready to create a breakthrough for yourself? If you are interested in learning more, visit: susanmbarber.com/visibilitybreakthroughaccelerator/ Thank you for listening to The Visibility Factor Podcast Check out my website to order my book and view the videos/resources for The Visibility Factor book. As always, I encourage you to reach out! You can email me at hello@susanmbarber.com. You can also find me on social media everywhere – Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course on The Visibility Factor Podcast! I look forward to connecting with you! If you liked The Visibility Factor, I would be so grateful if you could subscribe and rate it where you listen to podcasts! It helps the podcast get in front of more people who can learn how to be visible too! Thank you to the team at Sheep Jam Productions for the amazing support of The Visibility Factor Podcast! 

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

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***

In today's episode, Emilie welcomes author and corporate inclusion visionary, Deepa Purushothaman, to discuss her recent book, The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color can Redefine Power in Corporate America. Listen in to hear how we can reshape our relationship to power as women, and learn from women of color who advocate for career progress and systemic change.Related Links:Learn more about DeepaDeepa's book: The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color can Redefine Power in Corporate AmericaEmilie's book: Bossed UpLean In x McKinsey 2022 Report: The State of Women in Corporate AmericaEp 309: Why is Corporate America Failing Black Women?Learn more about Level UpJoin the Bossed Up Courage Community Follow us on LinkedinGot a career conundrum you want us to cover on the podcast? Call and leave us a voicemail NOW at 910-668-BOSS(2677).

With women of color comprising one of the fastest-growing segments in the workforce there's never been a better time to create a corporate culture genuinely inclusive to all.  Unleash DEI to its fullest potential as TED Talk speaker, best-selling author and Women of Color expert Deepa Purushothaman shares her insights gained from hundreds of interviews with women of color across all industries and cultural backgrounds.  Go beyond the buzzwords and move your DEI strategy forward with this authentic, intimate and insightful conversation. Featured Guest: Deepa Purushothaman. Best-selling author of “The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America”, keynote speaker and TED Talk sensation Topics Discussed: Real-life tips to confront microaggressions, outdated norms, and workplace misconceptions; Overcoming Imposter Syndrome; Leadership DEI messaging; Encouraging Allyship in the workplace   Copyright © 2022 ADP, LLC. All rights reserved. This content may not be distributed, reproduced, modified, sold or used without the written permission of ADP. The information is provided "as is" without any expressed or implied warranty, is based on generally accepted HR practices and is advisory in nature. This content is provided with the understanding that neither the presenters nor the writers are rendering legal advice or other professional services. Employers are encouraged to consult with legal counsel for advice regarding their organization's compliance with applicable laws. This material is current as of the date of this episode (November 21, 2022).

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. 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. She shares: The unique experiences of women of color and the “jobs outside of the job” How to be a better ally for women of color through individual and systemic change How to create space to better engage women of color and debunk the “myth of meritocracy” Connect with Deepa at https://www.deepapuru.com and Julie at Nextpivotpoint.com 

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

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 Purushothaman is a former Senior Executive and a Corporate Inclusion Visionary, as well as the author of the best-selling new book, The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America.We, of course, talk about leading through crisis but we also get into some common myths surrounding women of color at work; how to be seen, heard, and find your community as a minority; and what co-conspirators can do to help.Deepa says, "this will take years, if not decades to get it right. We are just beginning the conversation. But, finding places to start is the most important." I hope you'll listen and share your takeaways!-----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 needs and experiences of Women of Color.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 and can be purchased at all major booksellers.To find out more about Deepa and her work, visit https://www.deepapuru.com/. You can also find her on social by searching, Deepa Puru.

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

As we all know, the world of "corporate" is in a constant state of transformation, and women of color have the potential to play a powerful role in leading that transformation. This unique episode explores this vital topic with Deepa Purushothama, author of "The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America. Deepa shares important ideas and suggestions for women of color, as well as for other corporate executives, to cultivate and nurture women of color in the corporate world.

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  

DeRay, Myles, and Kaya cover the underreported news of the week— including prison's ban of the Spanish and Swahili language, the troubled legacy of feminine care products, and a public feud between Mo'Nique & D.L. Hughley.  DeRay interviews author Deepa Purushothaman about her book The First, the Few, and The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. NewsDeRay https://www.npr.org/2022/06/02/1102164439/michigan-prisons-ban-spanish-and-swahili-dictionaries-to-prevent-inmate-disruptiKaya https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/05/31/feminine-wash-honey-pot-history/?utm_campaign=wp_about_us&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_aboutus&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F3700270%2F6299ea40956121755aa2607f%2F596c1c0e9bbc0f208652725a%2F24%2F56%2F6299ea40956121755aa2607fMyles https://blavity.com/d-l-hughley-unleashes-lengthy-response-to-monique-she-proceeds-to-eviscerate-me?category1=news Transcript coming soon.

Date: Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 Host: Annahid Dashtgard Guest: Deepa Purushothaman Join Annahid Dashtgard in conversation with Deepa Purushothaman, about her new book “The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America“. Since #metoo we've seen a societal tipping point moment in realizing the gap between gender forward policies and what happens in reality. That gap is even wider for women of colour. According to Deepa Purushonotham's new book “The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America “ one in three women of colour in corporate America want to quit. And yet, BIPOC women represent among the most highly trained and talented workplace demographic to attract and retain. In conversation with Anima CEO Annahid Dashtgard, Deepa shares what propelled her research and why major media are paying attention. What will it take to move past the tired debate about meritocracy? What will it take for us to break the invisible barriers holding us back? What does a future look like where everyone, regardless of identity, has the opportunity not just to survive, but thrive.

In the wake of the Great Resignation, there's this real desire to make "work" work for everybody. And so, we have to unpack what that means and what that looks like. In this episode, Deepa Purushothaman shares her journey as a woman of color who, although an ultra-achiever in corporate America, made the decision to walk away and serve a deeper purpose. Growing up, Deepa had a lot of questions about identity as one of the five students of color in her school. Her mother and her sister were very light-skinned while Deepa and her father were darker-skinned. They didn't talk about race at home and this happens to a lot of immigrant families. There was a lot of confusion and Deepa didn't have a sense of feeling she belonged. She ended up questioning herself– why she was not enough–when nothing ever had to do with her. Deepa served as a corporate executive and a partner at Deloitte, being the first Indian female that made partner. After 21 years, Deepa left at the height of her career and in the early stages of COVID because she knew she was just done. She eventually started a company focused on creating a community and helping women of color advance, and she also wrote the book The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. Here are some power takeaways from today's conversation: Growing up in an immigrant family of color Walking away at the height of her career Reflecting on the way people work Three questions for self-introspection Trusting your body to find that wisdom Signals that your workplace is not for you Redefining leadership and how we can change the future of work Episode Highlights: [10:21] The Power of Community Deepa wrote the book realizing that in these spaces where we're navigating and having to figure it out, we have these shared stories around microaggressions, racism, and othering or just feeling like you didn't belong. There's magic in those rooms where we can unpack what needs to be unpacked and hold space for each other. [11:53] Questioning the Way We Work Although the book is focused on women of color, it does apply to so many people. It's a critique of the way we work and the model we're in. There is a real overworking, overperforming, and a real deep sense of security ingrained in so many women they don't even realize it. Coming out of COVID, everyone is asking questions such as: What is the space I want work to take in my life? How do we do more fulfilling work? The book opens up a whole conversation around people's willingness to understand so we can make work work for everybody. A lot of us are measured by external accolades and success. Deepa shares these three questions you should start asking yourself: - What would you do if you didn't do this job? - Do you have to do a big job like this to feel worthy? - Don't you see that you are worthy of just being you? We should not lose this moment that we're in, in terms of how we work, where we work, and all the questions in the last few years that have opened up an opportunity to do things differently. We're in a moment where we need more people to stay. But more of us are also awakening to the disconnects. And so this is a fascinating time to be asking these questions. Resources Mentioned: The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America

We are thrilled to have Deepa Purushothaman on the podcast today to talk about a very important topic right now, as we are at a moment of reckoning with women leaving the workforce in droves. The social justice movement has illuminated that what's happening at work just isn't working, especially for women of color, and Deepa is someone who asks the big questions that aren't being asked right now around race. Her work is shining a light on these issues which have always been there but just not talked about, and for that we are so grateful to have the opportunity to bring Deepa on the podcast to share her thoughts and insights with you. 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, and if you loved this conversation with Deepa, you'll definitely want to read it. If you're finding our content and the work we do here at Pursuing HER Purpose helpful and meaningful to you, it would mean so much to us as a small business if you could leave a review on Apple Podcasts! MEET Deepa: https://www.instagram.com/deepa.puru/ 10% off at BETTERHELP: https://www.betterhelp.com/herpurpose Links & Resources:Deepa's Website & Instagram Her Book, The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate AmericaDeepa's TED Talk, ​​4 ways to redefine power at work to include women of color nFormationBillie Jean King Leadership Initiative Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2022Episode 42: Unf*cking Your Money Mindset with Kara LoewentheilLet's connect!Purposeful Week Planner: https://www.pursuingherpurpose.com/shop Our WEBSITE: https://www.pursuingherpurpose.comINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingherpurpose/MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer/MEET KAT: https://www.instagram.com/kat.herro/ MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen/

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

Deepa Purushothaman joins me in this conversation on race to talk about the racism, isolation, and trauma many women of color experience in corporate America. What is it like for a woman of color to get promoted up to the executive suite and still have to deal with microaggressions, blatant racism, and trivialization? What is it like to be the only person of color in your school and to hear people say how much they hate you? What is it like as a woman of color to constantly have to prove your accomplishments while white people are never questioned? Hear the answers to these questions in this episode with Deepa Purushotaman as she shares her experiences and those of other women of color in the workforce. Key Topics: [2:30] Growing up as the only Indian-American in her school in an almost all-white town. [4:35] First experience with racism and speaking out at the age of eight [7:30] The trauma of racism and its effect on physical and mental health. [10:29] The importance of women of color getting together, sharing their experiences, and helping to heal each other. [13:14] Letting go of feeling responsible for your “whole group” or race. [16:22] Coming to terms with burnout from microaggressions, trying to fit in, and feeling alone. How Deepa began organizing dinners with other senior women of color across the country to heal together. [31:00] How to practice scenarios as an ally, and speak up as a woman of color. Know what to say and take care of yourself and be able to express pain. How not to feel responsible for other people's reactions. [41:27] Address systems and structures that have never included women of color. [44:51] How losing everything and having to go on public assistance was a turning point for Deepa Purushothaman and intensified her consciousness and empathy. [48:08] Issues of colorism and why some Asian women are uncomfortable talking to Black women about race. [51:52] While there are differences amongst women of color, there are also similarities that need to be addressed together.    Deepa Purushothaman Bio Many women of color have scars from climbing the corporate ladder. Sixty percent of WOC feel their companies are not properly prepared to handle racist incidents in the workplace – it's time to eliminate those incidents by creating unbiased and accountable corporate cultures. As the first Indian woman to become a partner at Deloitte, Deepa Purushothaman experienced isolation and burnout firsthand. And then came the overt workplace harassment. Her new book, THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America (March 1, 2022, Harper Business), lays the groundwork for how other women of color can redefine success on their own terms. It's the book she says she needed when launching her own career. Contact Info:https://www.deepapuru.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/deepapuru   Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist helps leaders create inclusive cultures. She is a consultant, speaker and facilitator and the host of the podcast, “Everyday Conversations on Race for Everyday People.” Contact Simma@SimmaLieberman.com Go to www.simmalieberman.com and www.raceconvo.com for more information Simma is a member of and inspired by the global organization IAC (Inclusion Allies Coalition) https://inclusioncoalition.info

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?”

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

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/

What is the true cost of women's success in corporate America? How are women navigating the climb to reach the coveted seat of leadership?Deepa Purushothaman, a “first” senior partner at Deloitte, the first Indian-American woman, and one of the youngest people to make Partner in the firm's history, knows first-hand what price ethnically and racially diverse women pay to become leaders in their organizations. In this episode, Deepa shares her deeply personal journey as one of “the first, the few, the only.” Listen to Cindy and Deepa talk about:why success can no longer be divorced from healthwhy assimilating to a certain leadership style erodes authenticityhow women of color can redefine powerDeepa's new book is “The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America.”--Learn more about MetLife's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at metlife.com/about-us/global-diversity-equity-inclusion/Subscribe to our podcast.  Rate and leave us a review.Produced by Hueman Group Media.

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

Women — particularly women of color — are often asked to conform and perform in very specific ways in order to be accepted or taken seriously. It's exhausting. This week, we're discussing burnout, trauma, and how women of color can be respected for their full spectrum of ideas and perspective they bring to the workforce, with Deepa Purushothaman, author of THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. In Mailbag, we take questions on the best options for investing/saving for children's futures (including 529s) and we discuss backdoor Roth accounts. In Thrive, 10 places you can get birthday freebies.

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.

In this episode, Mandi is joined by Deepa Purushothaman, author of "The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America." They speak about setting boundaries at work, listening to your body to prevent burnout, and how to play the corporate game as you change it.We want to hear from you! Drop us a note at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on instagram @brownambitionpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Mandi is joined by Deepa Purushothaman, author of "The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America." They speak about setting boundaries at work, listening to your body to prevent burnout, and how to play the corporate game as you change it. We want to hear from you! Drop us a note at brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or hit us up on instagram @brownambitionpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her new book, THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America (March 1, 2022, Harper Business), Deepa Purushothaman lays the groundwork for how other women of color can redefine success on their own terms. It's the book she says she needed when launching her own career. In this episode of the Embracing Only Podcast, hosts Archita Fritz and Olivia Cream unpack their stories and the stories of the 500 women Deepa has documented. The hosts share how they saw themselves on every page of the book for the first time. They talk through inclusion delusion, the invisibility syndrome, the toll on the health of women leading from the front and the definitions women of color take on and how women of color can step into their power! Deepa's book recieved raving reviews from Indra Nooyi, Billie Jean King, Dan Pink and many others. This episode is for all women of color, women and allies on the journey to building more inclusive workplaces.

The workplace is supposed to be neutral. "If you work hard you're going to rise, and that's all you need to do is put your head down and work, and all will be ok," Deepa Purushothaman shares before adding, "And I think that's wrong. That sets up a lot of people for struggle." For many, the tone of work culture is defined on a peer to peer level and a manager to peer level, which explains why many people are leaving their roles. Oftentimes it boils down to "My manager doesn't get me, doesn't understand, is talking over me," Deepa explains to host Jess Von Bank on our Now of Work podcast. As the Co-Founder of nFormation Deepa Purushothaman is focused on providing safe, brave, and new spaces for women of color at work: "Part of my work is talking about how the structure is differentiating and how the structure has its flaws, and it's ok to talk about that. It's important to understand that the experience is different, because if we don't understand it's different, we're not going make it better." In this engaging chat, Jess and Deepa not only talk about work structures and systems, they talk about what many women of color are doing after they resign (hint: it's not necessarily moving on to another job), why putting WOC in leadership seats is not always the best solution, why allyship is not enough, and how HR can and should listen--in a different way. Plus, they discuss Deepa's book: The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. LISTEN: Tune in!

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

Burned out from years of overwork and exhausted from trying to “fit in” to a corporate work world, Deepa Purushothaman knew she was not alone in needing work to work better for women of color. Now, she is leading the call to reimagine how business gets done – both inside and outside the office, as a DEI advocate and the author of “The First, The Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America.” We uncover the steps for taking obstacles and turning them into fuel, how to have difficult conversations about race, and giving yourself permission to try – in every area of your life.SHOW NOTES + TRANSCRIPT:acertainagepod.comFOLLOW A CERTAIN AGE:InstagramFacebookLinkedInGET INBOX INSPO:Sign up for our newsletter AGE BOLDLYWe share new episodes, giveaways, links we live, and midlife resourcesLIKE BOOKS?Each month we do an author BOOK LOOK on Instagram Live Follow us for the fun! @acertainagepodCONTACT US:katie@acertainagepod.com

This episode features an interview with author, leader and speaker Deepa Purushothaman as she discusses takeaways from her new book The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America. Discover the changes that need to happen in the structure of corporate America, and how to reframe the “fit in” and “lean in” mentalities that have left women feeling burnt out or isolated in the workplace. Deepa also reveals how the conversation around the imposter syndrome is changing and the first step that a woman can take to better claim their power at work.  

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. 

In her forthcoming book, The First, The Few, The Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa Purushothaman lays the groundwork for how other women of color can redefine success on their own terms. Farnoosh and Deepa discuss ways to push back against toxic messaging—including the things we tell ourselves and how to let go of the extra burdens and excess work WOC take on for companies in the name of culture building. Learn more about Deepa on her website. Got a question for our Friday episodes of Ask Farnoosh? Text 415-942-5002. Want more articles and videos by Farnoosh? Check out www.cnet.com/somoney. Subscribe to her weekly So Money newsletter for the latest updates and advice. Catch her weekly money videos on YouTube.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.