Ep #29: A Courageous Conversation About Race with Trudy Bourgeois

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Only 3.2% of senior leadership positions are held by black men or women in Corporate America.  That number is so low it made me do a double-take even though I know that it is true.  

Yet statistics show that diversity at the senior leadership level is not just the right thing to do, it's also good for the bottom line.  But how do we get there?

In today's conversation with diversity and inclusion expert, founder of The Center for Workforce Excellence and author of the book "Equality: Courageous Conversations About Women, Men, and Race to Spark a Diversity and Inclusion Breakthrough", Trudy Bourgeois shows us how to get there and that the path begins with doing the work on ourselves first.

Equality at the senior leadership level starts with corporate managers claiming our seat at the table, finding our voice and learning how to speak up for what is right in a way that can actually be heard.

This humbling and powerful conversation paints a picture of what it's like to be a woman or man of color in Corporate America.  Trudy shares vulnerable first hand accounts of when she had to stand up and claim her ideas in the face of microagressions.  And she did it with grace and dignity.


If you are someone who strives to make a difference at your workplace and rise to the top while still being true to yourself, this episode is for you.

I'm offering a free Live webinar series on "How the Biggest Career Jumps are Made During Times of Crisis." If you want to develop the skills I teach you on my podcast so that you can finally get the recognition you deserve, sign up at stacymayer.com/crisiswebinar and learn how.  There are limited spots, so don't hesitate to sign up.

What You'll Learn:

  • Ways you can begin a courageous conversation at work and talk about about what matters most to you
  • How to identify and speak up against microaggressions in the workplace and actually be heard
  • Why it's so important that we don't leave the challenges of race in leadership to the diversity and inclusion department
  • What you can do for yourself to become a champion of change and influence your organization
  • And a reminder that while there is hope that things will change, we aren't there yet...so it's important that we keep the conversation going

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About Your Host

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Hi, I’m Stacy Mayer, a Leadership Coach for emerging executives who are ready to take their career to the next level or seeking more fulfillment in their current organizational roles.

I help corporate managers reposition themselves to advance their careers, build confidence in their ability to solve problems in real-time, and step into their higher leadership potential so they can make a bigger impact in their organizations.

And I can help you do that too!

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