Episode 7: Breaking down barriers - Navigating visibility & opportunities as POCs with Zafira Rajan
Episode Description
Ready for a no-holds-barred conversation about what it looks like to navigate visibility while growing a successful business as a person of color?
Today, I’m joined by my friend, copywriter & brand strategist Zafira Rajan, for a conversation about our real, raw experiences with gaining visibility & opportunities as women of color with online businesses.
So many of us have to make choices privately to ensure that speaking invitations or collaborations are aligned with our values around inclusivity and justice, but there definitely isn’t a guidebook we can reference. And since there aren’t many opportunities to have these conversations publicly, we wanted to use some of our privilege as established business owners to open up this discussion and give you a transparent look into what that process has looked like for us (the good, the bad, and everything in between!) as you explore what feels right for you.
In today’s episode, we’re sharing:
What we mean when we talk about doing “the work” and our own personal lived experiences as non-experts in the JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) and liberation space
The signals we look for to vet for opportunities that are aligned with our values (and how to navigate doing your research as a POC so you can participate in events that feel safe and inclusive for you)
The best and worst pitches we’ve ever received — and why (plus, how we’ve handled turning down opportunities that miss the mark)
The real tradeoffs we’ve had to make in business to stay true to our values around equity
Opportunities we’ve been part of that were inclusive and “hell yes-es” for us & takeaways to create more inclusivity in your pitches and asks
We hope this one really serves our fellow POCs with navigating the online space in a way that honors you as a whole ass human and supports your business success! And we hope our reflections are insightful for our white-identifying peers, especially if you’re desiring to set up collaborations with POCs through your summits, podcasts, or any visibility channel you’re using in your business.
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