logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2021
15m 54s

The myth of bringing your full, authenti...

TED
About this episode

Calls for authenticity at work ask for passionate people with diverse, fresh perspectives who challenge old ways of thinking. But too often workplace culture fails to support the authenticity of professionals of color and other underrepresented groups, leading instead to backlash and fewer opportunities. Writer Jodi-Ann Burey outlines steps toward achieving true equity and exposing privilege on the job -- and implores those in leadership positions to accept responsibility for change.

Vote for our show in the Signal Awards for Most Inspirational podcast!


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
The three words that saved my life | Blake Mycoskie
On paper, Blake Mycoskie is a glowing success story: he founded TOMS Shoes, building a global brand that has given away more than 100 million pairs of shoes to children in need. Yet despite his success, his struggle with depression nearly cost him his life. In this personal talk, ... Show More
18m 48s
Yesterday
How imaginary worlds help kids learn | Anna Rainio
All children develop at different paces — so why do schools expect every student to learn the same way? Early education researcher Anna Rainio introduces "playworlds," a learning activity where adults and kids create imaginary stories together. She shows how pretend play helps st ... Show More
17m 42s
Oct 7
What my politically divided family teaches me | Tami Pyfer
Tami Pyfer has five kids who belong to five different political parties, and sometimes family conversations get heated. Drawing on her work as a former policy advisor to the governor of Utah, she wanted to find a healthier way for people to talk about politics without contempt. T ... Show More
14m 3s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2022
Do you bring your full authentic self to work?
Writer Jodi-Ann Burey offers a call to action for supporting authenticity at work — another way of achieving further professional equity. This talk was filmed at TEDxSeattle. All TEDx events are organized independently by volunteers in the spirit of TED's mission of ideas worth s ... Show More
10m 38s
Jan 2024
Bringing your 'whole self' to work
It’s become the mantra of many employers, and the expectation of some employees, but what does bringing your whole or authentic self to work actually mean, and should companies encourage it? Evan Davis and guests discuss the pros and cons of a workplace culture in which staff sha ... Show More
39m 57s
Mar 2025
The Truth About Bringing Your "Authentic Self” To Work - A Leadership Coach Explains
Work takes up more of our lives than almost anything else—so it’s no wonder that it can leave us feeling drained, stuck, and oftentimes further away from who we authentically are. This week, JVN is sitting down with leadership coach and author Mory Fontanez to unpack what it real ... Show More
49m 17s
Aug 2019
Workplace Culture Conflicts
Are you at odds with your company’s culture? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Alicia Tillman, the CMO of SAP. They talk through what to do when your company celebrates one kind of worker and ignores others, everyone seems to fit in but you, or a hard-charging ... Show More
30m 51s
May 2021
WorkLife with Adam Grant: How to Bust Bias at Work
We’ve all been to bias training, but it rarely works—and sometimes backfires. Science suggests that to drive real change, it’s not enough to run one-off workshops. We need to change individual and organizational habits. Find out how people can overcome their own prejudices and wo ... Show More
43m 20s
Apr 2020
WorkLife with Adam Grant: Authenticity Is a Double-Edged Sword
"Just be yourself." That's popular work advice these days, with more and more companies encouraging people to “be authentic” and bring their whole selves to work. But when we get real at the wrong time or in the wrong way, it can backfire. What does effective authenticity look li ... Show More
38m 14s
Feb 2018
Lead with Authenticity
As leaders, we know we’re supposed to be authentic, but for women, that can be tricky. For one thing, it can be hard to even know what our “true selves” want with all the demands competing for our attention. For another, there are different expectations about how women should loo ... Show More
1 h