Embracing Your Voice

• Bonus Episode: The Double Tax: Beauty, Labor, and Inequity for Women of Color w/Anna Gifty Opku-Agyeman

  In this episode, I am joined by my guest, the brilliant award-winning economist Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman writer, founder, and speaker, to discuss her new book: The Double Tax: How Women of Color Are Overcharged and Underpaid.We dive deep into the unseen labor and costs that women, especially women of color, navigate daily—whether it’s managing societal expectations around beauty, facing structural inequities in the workplace, or advocating for change in a world resistant to it. From colorism and the “hot girl tax” to pay transparency, unionization, and the power of community, Anna shares candid insights, expertise, and personal experiences to illuminate both challenges and actionable solutions.🔍 IN THIS EPISODE:The global implications of anti-DEI movements and the enduring impact on marginalized communitiesUnderstanding colorism and the “hot girl tax” as labor that women perform to meet societal standardsPersonal stories of navigating career expectations, leadership roles, and professional appearanceStrategies for minimizing the time and energy spent on appearance while maintaining credibilityThe societal norm shift: advocating for women to be seen without performing beautyAnti-aging culture, Instagram filters, and unrealistic beauty standards affecting young womenDouble standards in professional settings between men and womenStructural solutions: pay transparency, unionization, and collective bargainingBuilding supportive communities among women of color to create opportunities and resilienceAdvice for allies on moving from awareness to tangible actionReflections on reliability, resilience, and advocacy within Black women’s leadershipThis episode is essential listening for anyone navigating professional spaces as a woman of color, ally, or advocate. It explores the intersection of appearance, labor, and structural inequity, while offering tangible strategies for change, solidarity, and empowerment. Whether you’re seeking insight into pay equity, building supportive networks, or challenging societal norms, this conversation provides practical advice and a call to action for both individuals and organizations.TIMESTAMPS :03:45 – The global impact of DEI and anti-DEI movements08:10 – Colorism and the “hot girl tax”: understanding appearance labor12:35 – Personal reflections: growing up as a defiant tomboy17:20 – Career and appearance: expectations when running for leadership22:50 – Streamlining beauty routines while maintaining professional presence27:15 – The societal norm shift: women being taken seriously without performing beauty32:40 – Anti-aging culture and Instagram filters impacting young women37:05 – The double standard: men vs women in professional settings41:50 – Structural solutions: pay transparency and unionization46:25 – Importance of community among women of color for opportunities and support51:10 – Advice for allies: moving beyond listening to tangible action56:00 – Reliability and resilience of Black women in political and professional spaces01:00:45 – Reflection on social progress, corporate accountability, and anti-BlacknessAbout Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman is an award-winning economist, writer, founder, and speaker. She is a doctoral student at Harvard Kennedy School studying public policy and economics where she focuses on race, gender, and the economy. She is the youngest recipient for a CEDAW Women’s Rights Award by the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women formerly awarded to Vice President Kamala Harris. Her first book, The Black Agenda, received widespread coverage from outlets like NPR, ESSENCE, TELEMUNDO, FOX Soul, and The New York Times. Her...

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• Season 4 Finale: Why Your Voice Matters More Than Ever

  In the season finale of Embracing Your Voice, Atima reflects on the themes of Season 4—centered on women of color in business—and the lessons we can all carry forward. From navigating setbacks in traditional workplaces to carving out new paths that honor who we really are, this episode is both a look back and a rallying call for what’s ahead.IN THIS EPISODE:Why embracing all of who you are is a radical act of leadershipThe hard truths about workplace setbacks for women of color in 2025Why side hustles, freelancing, and entrepreneurship can provide both safety nets and freedomAtima’s personal reflections on creating this season while writing her upcoming bookA heartfelt call to action: supporting women-led podcasts so their voices are heardThis finale ties together the stories, struggles, and triumphs of women of color who refuse to compromise their identities for success. It’s a reminder that authenticity isn’t about being palatable—it’s about being powerful. If you’ve ever felt pressured to shrink yourself to fit in, this conversation will encourage you to stand taller and build success on your terms.Share this podcast with 3 friends who would love it!Timestamps:00:01:00 – Season 4’s focus on women of color in business00:02:00 – The challenge of “palatable authenticity” in the workplace00:03:00 – Economic & cultural backlash women of color face today00:05:00 – Redefining career success: side hustles, freelancing, and entrepreneurship00:06:00 – Behind the scenes: Atima’s book project and what’s next for the showIf you enjoyed the show and you want to join our community of other women of color who are embracing their voice head over to https://embracingyourvoicepod.com/Connect with Atima on:InstagramLinkedin

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• Building Ecosystems, Not Empires: Gelaine Santiago on Culture, Identity, and Ethical Business

  This week, I’m closing out the season with a conversation that looks a little different. Most of our past guests have been service-based entrepreneurs, but today we’re diving into the product and retail side of things. My guest is Gelaine Santiago, an award-winning entrepreneur who lives and works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, social justice, and cultural identity.Gelaine is the co-founder and CEO of Cambio & Co., a Filipino jewelry brand, and Sinta & Co., which focuses on Filipino weddings. Both companies are rooted in sustainable livelihoods for artisans in the Philippines. In this conversation, we talk about the realities of running a women-owned, impact-driven business—navigating tariffs, centering cultural identity, and building ecosystems that grow collective wealth and joy. IN THIS EPISODE:How Gelaine winding path—from HR to social entrepreneurship—shaped her perspectiveThe challenges of leaving corporate life and the misalignment of HR with worker advocacyReal stories of navigating racism, bias, and microaggressions in the workplaceWhy she and her partner started Cambio & Co., and the pivot from a global marketplace to focusing on Filipino artisansWhat it really takes to build a retail brand rooted in social justice and cultural prideTimestamps: [00:05:00] – Growing up Filipino and Chinese, middle child of five, immigrating to Canada at age three, and later reconnecting with Filipino heritage in her twenties[00:09:00] – Working in HR and talent acquisition, discovering misalignment with corporate values, and realizing she loved people and branding more than serving executives/shareholders.[00:24:00] – Early struggles with slow sales, hustling through pop-ups and farmers’ markets, and facing depression while juggling side jobs.[00:27:00] – Discussion of the challenges and myths of e-commerce versus the realities of building a brand.[00:29:00] – Building supply chain infrastructure, running logistics in-house, and creating meaningful livelihoods for their team.[00:31:00] – Sourcing products that reflect cultural heritage, using significant materials like gold and pearls, tied to Filipino history[00:37:00] – Building a values-driven business model, and how it differs from exploitative capitalism.[00:41:00] – Launch of sister brand Cinta Weddings, born from the couple’s own challenges in incorporating Filipino traditions in their wedding.[00:44:00] – Challenges of balancing both brands, with Cinta sometimes getting less attention, leading to intentional prioritization.[00:50:00] – Challenges of running an intentional e-commerce business with small-scale artisans in the Philippines, and the strain of infrastructure gaps.[00:59:00] – The importance of community support, and how leaning into values attracted aligned collaborators and customers.[01:08:00] – Closing reflections on building ecosystems, not empires, and what it means to create interdependent businesses rooted in collective thriving.Too often, entrepreneurship conversations center on service-based models, leaving out the unique challenges that come with building product-based businesses—especially ones led by women of color. Gelaine's story is about more than just business growth; it’s about reconnecting with heritage, challenging stereotypes, and creating wealth that’s collective rather than extractive.

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• From Foster Care to Founder: Grace Yung Foster’s Path to Inclusion and Empowerment

  In this episode, I sit down with Grace Yung Foster, a Korean adoptee, foster care alumna, and NYU MBA graduate who shares her powerful story of navigating identity, systemic barriers, and the nonprofit world. Grace opens up about growing up in white environments, the struggle with internalized racism, and how becoming a mother sparked a turning point in embracing her heritage and herself. Now, as the founder of the Inclusion Initiative, Grace is creating spaces for adoptees and foster youth of color to find community, mentorship, and professional support that she didn’t have. IN THIS EPISODE:Grace’s experience growing up as a transracial adoptee in foster careChallenges she faced in the nonprofit sector and leadership rolesThe internalized racism and self-acceptance journey that transformed her lifeHow motherhood became a catalyst for embracing her Korean identityThe founding and mission of the Inclusion Initiative, focused on building community and access for adoptees and foster youth of colorThe importance of authentic mentorship and allyship in breaking systemic barriersGrace’s story sheds light on the often unseen struggles of adoptees and foster youth of color, especially in professional spaces where representation and support can be scarce. Her honest reflections and dedication to creating inclusive communities remind us all of the power of visibility, self-love, and advocacy.TIMESTAMPS:[00:30:00] Discussing the underrepresentation of people of color, especially women, in nonprofit leadership and the limits of advanced degrees in breaking systemic barriers[00:32:00] Personal reflections on feeling silenced despite credentials and expertise in leadership roles[00:34:00] The decision to walk away from nonprofit leadership and create a space to embrace and amplify marginalized voices[00:36:00] The racial reckoning of 2020–2021 and how workplace conversations about race often felt performative and incomplete[00:38:30] Challenges of acceptance within Asian communities as a transracial adoptee raised in a white family[00:42:00] Growing up minimizing Korean identity due to pressure to assimilate in predominantly white environments[00:44:00] The impact of internalized racism and learned self-hate during youth and early adulthood[00:45:30] The turning point of impending motherhood sparking the desire to reclaim and embrace cultural identity[00:48:30] The importance of unlearning unconscious bias and committing to ongoing self-reflection and cultural competency[00:51:30] Feeling excluded from nonprofit sector despite education and experience, highlighting the lack of authentic mentorship and sponsorship[00:54:30] The stigma around foster care and adoption in professional spaces and the invisibility of foster alumni leaders[00:56:30] The critical role of authentic mentorship and the difficulty in finding mentors who share or understand lived experiences[01:02:00] Building the Inclusion Initiative to create access, community, and visibility for adoptees and foster alumni facing systemic barriers[01:04:00] How the Inclusion Initiative supports career navigation, networking, and leadership development for marginalized identitiesAfter a career in nonprofits and getting her MBA, Grace Yung Foster wanted to do something with more impact. She is now the Founder & CEO of The Inclusion Initiative that focuses on changing the future of work and close the professional opportunity gap Adoptees and Foster Care Alumni often face due to a lack of an established network. Through The Inclusion Initiative, she works to create belonging. The company was born from Grace’s lived experience in struggling to achieve the professional and...

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• Building Power Through Data: Roshni Nedungadi on Representation, Research, and Starting A Polling Firm

  We’re back from hiatus with an incredible conversation featuring Roshni Nedungadi — co-founder, founding partner, and Chief Research Officer of HIT Strategies. Roshni is one of the sharpest minds in political research today, with a career built on elevating the voices of communities too often ignored in traditional polling: people of color, young voters, and low-propensity voters.In this episode, we talk about how she found her path from Wisconsin politics to running her own firm in D.C., why representation in research matters, and what it means to build something new in a field that’s still overwhelmingly white and male. If you’ve ever questioned how change actually happens behind the scenes in politics — this is the episode for you.00:01:00 – Meet Roshni: a polling expert and co-founder of HIT Strategies00:03:00 – The 2008 election, student protests, and how political activism shaped her early career00:08:00 – From legislative aide to data analyst: building technical skills through direct mail and targeting00:12:00 – The power of representation: working for a Black-led firm and learning to take up space00:14:00 – How she and co-founder Terrance Woodbury started HIT Strategies00:15:00 – The 2016 election, youth voters, and the warning signs that went ignored00:18:00 – Starting a firm as women and people of color in a predominantly white industry00:20:00 – The role her mother played in modeling entrepreneurship and offering support00:22:00 – Breaking into political consulting and navigating gatekeeping in the industry00:23:30 – Building early momentum with the Steyer campaign and work on Black and Latinx voters00:24:30 – Responding to the moment: 2020, George Floyd, and a demand for deeper polling00:25:30 – Roshni’s current focus: polling young women, AAPI voters, and reproductive justice00:26:30 – The gaps in AAPI polling — and why representation in data still matters00:28:00 – What it means to scale while staying rooted in community00:29:30 – Advice for BIPOC folks trying to break into politics, research, or entrepreneurship00:33:00 – Final reflections on pushing the industry forward and showing up with authenticityPolling isn’t just about numbers — it’s about who gets seen, whose voice counts, and how decisions get made. Roshni’s work challenges the old norms of political research by centering voters that traditional firms often overlook. This conversation is a masterclass in how to build power through data, strategy, and representation — and a must-listen for anyone curious about the future of politics.Roshni is a founding partner and chief research officer of HIT Strategies. Roshni has led expansive, multi-phase research projects exploring how people across the United States feel about abortion access, gun control, mass incarceration, and other important issues on behalf of advocacy leaders such as Everytown for Gun Safety, NARAL, and Vera Institute for Justice. Roshni’s research seeks to find nuance in how Americans, particularly BIPOC individuals and low-propensity voters, conceptualize these issues at a time where division and partisanship run rampant. Roshni’s research on behalf of HIT Strategies ultimately is meant to lift up the voices of marginalized communities in the United States, one of the fastest-growing and oft-ignored voting blocks in American politics. https://hitstrat.com/our-team/Instagram: @hitstrategies If you enjoyed the show and you...

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