Werk Stories: Recent Episodes
Joi Louviere
Werk Stories is a place for women of color to share their experiences in the work place. We’re talking bias, equal pay, bad bosses, racist hiring practices, crazy things your coworkers have done and said to you…this is the safe place where you can tell these stories. Allies strongly encouraged to listen!
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Season Six Finale: Werk Stories host, Joi, gives her interviewer chair to podcast producer and season 2 guest Adell Coleman. Joi tells the story about how the toxic workplace that inspired this podcast tried to silence her for the very last time. Check out Season 1, Episode 1 for the first part of this story.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-tried-it-jois-werk-story/id1585508287?i=1000535376359
Follow the Werk Stories Instagram for off-season updates and daily content. instagram.com/werkstories
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Ndidi's werk story is happening live! This special education teacher has not been given the support to succeed and it's all coming to a head.
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Sheila's career path was not a straight line. Hear about how her risk-taking has led her to the career and life that she wanted.
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Dr. Monica Cox, professor and "equity angel" shares her experience in higher education and how toxic work environments require us to make a decision about who we want to be and what we want for our life.
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Six-figure career coach, Susana Briscoe Alba, talks about how her own work experiences led her to helping others develop their careers. Check out her upcoming professional development summit HERE
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In this episode we hear from Jojo, a Dallas nurse who continued in the industry after Covid while, nationally, hospitals saw a shortage of healthcare workers. She talks about the many reasons nurses quit their often toxic work environments and what motivated her to stay.
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Rachel recalls her days doing nonprofit work and how her trauma in those environments led her to work for herself.
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Mackenzie shares her experience as a middle school teacher and her eventual transition into education tech, what she misses and what she doesn't.
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Twenty-four year old Marlena talks about her journey to becoming a master plumber and how's she planning her professional life around multiple interests.
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Laura, head of DE&I at Financial Finesse, shares inclusive ways companies can improve the quality of life and financial wellness for their employees and what you need to be asking for in the workplace. 401ks, pensions, childcare, we dig in!
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Co-founders of Verb, Yadira Harrison and Shannon Jones talk about building their brand development agency after meeting at work.
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Founder & CEO of Ginni Media, Ginni Saraswati talks about the struggle of setting boundaries in the workplace as a woman of color.
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Although Redd is one of thousands who was laid off by big tech this year, she sees this release as a blessing.
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Natasha's workplace abuse started just a few months after starting a job she thought was a perfect alignment. It didn't end well. After moving on, Natasha is still working to accept a new, safer environment. Old trauma dies hard.
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Head People Officer Hebba Youssef shares HR hot takes, her experiences as a brown woman in leadership and talks about one year with her I Hate It Here newsletter.
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Dr. Jeanne Porter King, women's leadership coach and author, advices us on how we should be thinking about leadership in 2023.
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HR and DEI pro Dr. Merary Simeon talks about the power of mentors and sponsors, her experiences as a Latina in corporate and she tells us what's the biggest obstacle facing women in the workplace today. She cohosts the What Rules!? Podcast.
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Yolanda talks about her journey to becoming a pastry chef: loneliness in culinary school, misogyny, passion work and her advice to the Black women who come behind her.
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Deloitte Global Talent Managing Director, Nhu Fabros talks to us about Deloitte's 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey and what the results mean for these two groups in the workplace.
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Azizi Marshall talks about the effects of workplace bullying and what changing those systems could look like through drama therapy.
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Kourtney Galloway talks about being a young business owner and how older generations can best support Gen Z entrepreneurs and those in the workforce.
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Crystal Whiteaker, an inclusive branding and leadership development consultant and author, talks about inclusive leadership and the idea of belonging in the workplace.
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Television producer and host of the Reppin podcast, Evelien Kong, talks about the challenges of making good television, managing a tough work environment and leading as a woman of color.
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Dawn L. Brown, CEO of EmpowHer Institute, talks about her unexpected career, how a national tragedy helped her focus her work and what it's really going to take for organizations to retain Black and brown talent.
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Alexa shares how a health scare was the final straw in her leaving her toxic job. But as a low salary worker, how was she able to do it?
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Victoria Leiato, owner of The Bloom Space, a host space for independent beauty professionals, talks about her journey to entrepreneurship from the corporate world. She built the work culture after what she didn't like about her corporate jobs while giving women, many Latina, a pathway to generational wealth.
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LaShawn Davis, owner of The HR Plug, talks about common issues she sees in the companies she's worked with and what HR's true role is supposed to be in the workplace.
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Marie, a soft-spoken construction administrator for engineering and architectural firm, went job after job not directly addressing workplace culture issues and disrespect and then finally learned to speak up for her.
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Five of the 42 Black female judges in Dallas County, Texas talk inspiration, legacy and what it's really like being a Black woman in law: the Hon. Dominque Torres- Kelly, Hon. Shequitta Kelly, Hon. Tonya Parker, Hon. Sheryl Shannon, Hon. Gracie Lewis.
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Maheen Kaleem is an attorney who's spent her entire career in human rights, particularly rights for women, girls and non-binary folks of color. She's seen a lot in this work and tells us how we can be better advocates for the causes dear to us. Maheen is the Vice President of Operations and Programs at Grantmakers for Girls of Color.
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Jo Anna Thomas found favor with notable degrees that impressed every employer, but her education wasn't enough to stop the doubt from colleagues as she, a Black woman, solved problems and brought new ideas to the table. Later, a diagnosis and chronic pain changed the course of her career as a new purpose blossomed.
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Therapy was crucial in Olamide's search for a healthy career. She realized people of color needed access to therapy to manage everything from work stress to racial trauma and she created a system to make that easier. https://startsayingmore.com/
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Stephany talks about the many challenges of being a Latina in corporate, especially when less than four percent make it into leadership roles and only 1.6 percent enter executive roles. Climbing the ladder is lonely, but she keeps going.
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Marthea Pitts, a social worker and career coach, encourages the average employee to look beyond their day-to-day duties. The big changes, the ones that encourage equity and evolution, start from the people on the ground, not the executive team.
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As a chief academic officer for a global nonprofit, Angela Gunder wears many hats, but no matter the day's challenge, she carries on a legacy of care, an essential tool when filing down the issue of education equity and access. In this episode Angela talks about networking, how's she's perceived as an industry leader and about doing the work, whether the work is in the office, in society or in the kitchen.
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February 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and president of National Partnerships for Women and Families, Jocelyn Frye, is on talking about the impact of this law for women in the workplace.The Obama administration alum also talks about what it like being a Black woman fighting for women's rights in Washington.
Ted X speaker Akissi Stokes-Nelson, founder of Wundergrubs, talks about her 30-year career in tech (yeah, before laptops, cellphones and wifi), her sudden layoff and what inspired her sustainability venture.
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Vanessa Williams talks multicultural marketing, working for big brands as a Black woman and she gives advice to folks wanting to grow in corporate. She helps others with career strategy through Her Abundant Careers.
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Owner of the chocolate shop CocoAndre, Cindy Pedraza, talks about getting laid off, starting out as a Latina business owner and how the sweet life brought her to The White House.
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Jov'An Benjamin, owner of Good Mood Treats, talks about her journey to becoming a baker and it involved A LOT of jobs.
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Alignment coach Nadia Khaled talks about the power of manifestation, whether it be for personal growth or career goals. She also tells us how a TikTok got her fired from her job.
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Saira Rao, one half of Race2Dinner and the duo behind Deconstructing Karen, has a candid conversation about the impact of white women and what they need to realize in order to become real allies to Black and brown folks. Her book White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How To Do Better was released in November 2022 and is a New York Times Bestseller, proved essential for white women and cathartic for Black and brown women.
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Product researcher Dani talks about her adult diagnosis of ADHD and how that shows up at work. She speaks to those who are also diagnosed, those who aren't yet and those who want to be better colleagues to neurodiverse people.
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Chiamaka Ikpeze, creator of The Garden, talks about trauma, healing and all the things in between.
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Join Werk Stories host Joi, and her friend Fallon, as they share their 2020 pandemmy road trip story – from endless Texas highway to New Mexico's best green hatch chile burger – the open road brought these college friends closer together.
This episode was created as part of the 'Roundabout' podcast series by Acast Creative and State Farm.
Imani Maatuka had figured out more about business before she graduated high school than most people will by 40. As she got older her success continued, but she was often the youngest in the room. With hefty goals, and an even larger drive, Imani has figured out a lucrative life for herself that she..wait for it..actually enjoys. Being a protégé ain't easy, but Imani reminds us the challenges can be worth the reward.
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Jessica joins us to talk about hair discrimination throughout her career in sales. Black women, in particular, have been targeted because of their hair since the beginning of the professional world. Even today, employers are getting away this form of discrimination whether it be over texture, style, color or length. Why is our hair still being used to determine our ability?
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Cierra Gross, the founder of Caged Bird HR, talks about how her toxic work environment inspired her to create her own HR firm. She let's us know how we should be protecting ourselves at work.
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Maribel shares what it's like being a first generation U.S. Latina at one of the biggest and influential tech corporations in the world.
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Hear the story of Alisha Lawrence, budding costume designer who was discouraged, struggled, then took a chance. There were dozens of times she could have given up, but she didn't. And then one day her dreams came true in the biggest way possible.
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Elle of Girlfriend's, Budget! shows us how our career flexibility is tied to our financial decisions. If you've ever wanted to change your career, start a business or get out of a toxic work environment, then you'll probably want to get your money right!
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This episodes acts as part two to episode 4 in season 2. In the first episode Dionna tells us about her experience as a Black women in law. In this episode this employment/ civil rights lawyer is helping you navigate filing a claim against your current or former employer.
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Creator of Lead Media, Paulette Piñero talks about leading with purpose and how that can help get you through the heartbreaks of being a Black or brown woman at work.
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Jojo, 21, talks about her experience working for a major restaurant chain and the challenges her and her fellow Gen-Zers have with American work culture. She gives advice on how the older generations can best support young folks today.
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A flashy wellness company job moved Kristen to Malaysia. While they were promoting health, self-care and work-life balance, they imposed an opposite lifestyle on their employees...and maybe suggested that they get branded.
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Maggie talks about her former career in sports journalism, her trouble speaking up and her quest to not be too passionate about her job.
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DEI consultant Samantha talks about leaving a traditional idea of success and moving towards her passion. Sam speaks about first generation mentorship in corporate and how men of color can better support women of color. She challenges us to look solely within when figuring out the next steps of our lives.
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Dionna, a labor and employment lawyer and litigator, talks about her inspiration for civil rights and her work experiences as a young, Black, female in her field. This is part one of the conversation.
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Adell shares how some painful and difficult events were exploited by a manager. Her story might make you question if it's actually safe to be vulnerable with your colleagues.
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Marla is at the top of her game as a nonprofit executive director, but the audacity to be a Black woman in leadership isn't without its consequences. It oftentimes leaves her the odd person out.
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Comedian and Tik Tok sensation, Jazmyn talks about how she used her experiences as a Black woman in tech to create super funny and relatable videos that address racism and sexism at work. @jazmynjw
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This mini episode talks about managing holiday stress and realistic goal-setting for the new year.
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Jasmin Brand, marketing exec and founder of Her Texas, talks entrepreneurship and what supporting women business owners should look like, while also debunking the work/life balance myth.
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Therapist Deniss Pleiner shares with us how work stress can manifest and how we can combat it. She also gives advice to managers and company leaders who are looking to improve the unhealthy work culture typical in the U.S.
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In a frustrating work situation, it can be hard to know what to do in the moment. Jackie helps us manage our own behavior with her best advice for navigating work conflict as it happens.
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Ashley, a nonprofit professional, not only quits her job, but leaves a life of working for other people. Stepping out on her own, Ashley talks about the risk and reward of managing her own business.
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Congressional candidate Stephanie Gallardo shares her experiences as a teacher turned campaigning politician and talks about her identity as a white-passing Latina.
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Organizational psychologist Dr. Yon Na talks about what's holding Asian women back from leadership positions and how to trust if a company or organization is serious about their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
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In her early twenties, Stephanie reminds us it's never too early to experience discrimination in or around the workplace. From microaggressions to an aggressive mistreatment from a security guard, are there long-term effects from racism at work? How can there not be?
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Interview and salary negotiation coach Ashley Cash gives the best tips for negotiating salary when accepting a new job and shares the common mistakes people, particularly women of color, make when talking money.
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Dr. Jeanine Williams encourages you to take a stand at work and assert your humanity, all while building your own brand behind the scenes.
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Experiencing bias in the workplace early, Angel talks about shapeshifting at work to better manage different backgrounds and personalities, as well as how she's preparing for a career shift into an even less diverse industry.
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What do or don't you owe to the person who replaces you when you leave a job? Should you sing like a canary and tell them all of your experiences or let them figure it out for themselves? This guest not only has an opinion, but first-hand experience.
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The creator of Werk Stories shares a bit of what inspired a community for talking about problems for women of color in the workplace.
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Meet Joi, a millennial Black professional turning pain into a passion project. She decided to make a community for women of color to share their experiences in the workplace after having several traumatizing work experiences and wishing there was a group of women she could talk to about her challenges, judgment-free. Each episode, she'll talk about an element of problematic work culture and invite other women to discuss these topics from their perspectives, as well. Allies are encouraged to listen, learn and then go and do their part to be better in their workspaces.
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