BY NIKKI ADEBIYI, FOUNDER @ BOUNCE BLACK
On April 30th 2024, in collaboration with the Young Africa Centre, I had the honour and the pleasure of hosting a live conversation with bestselling author, workplace consultant and NYU professor Minda Harts!
Centred around Minda’s second book ‘Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace‘, the Winning From Within event was sold out and packed out, with Black women and allies from a broad range of industries and backgrounds in attendance. We even had one attendee fly in from the Netherlands (!!) solely for the event, which is both a cause for celebration and a sigh because it goes to show how much of a global epidemic racial trauma is for Black women in the workplace.
Nevertheless, I was and remain filled with gratitude all around. It was a full circle moment for me as it was just last year when I collaborated with Hachette Book Group’s Seal Press to give away copies of ‘Right Within’. Although I had learned of the book some years prior, it wasn’t until my own harrowing workplace experience that I decided to read it, and the giveaway was just the beginning of a daunting healing journey. Who would’ve thought that a year later, I would create the opportunity to sit down and talk about themes of the book with the author?
I have the Almighty God, social media, and a copious amount of audacity to thank for being able to organise and deliver such an incredible evening in the space of about two weeks. Special shoutout to the Young Africa Centre team for constantly seeing my vision and helping me bring it to life!
Overview of the event
The event kicked off with Minda sharing her career journey and the traumatic workplace experiences that dotted her path. Stories of both covert and overt racial insensitivity provoked no shortage of “Mmms”, gasps and disapproving head shakes. As they say, who feels it, knows it. We’ve all been there.
How you gonna win when you ain’t right within? Come again
Lauryn Hill
With the book title being based on Lauryn Hill’s timeless Doo Wop (That Thing) song, we heard from Minda about what it means to be right within and why it matters. Together we explored the meaning of trauma and how it can manifest in the body as a result of workplace experiences. For example, panic attacks, anxiety, dread or crying.
We discussed the intergenerational impact of unhealed workplace trauma and its effects beyond the individual at work, including at home and in family life. The implications for us now and future generations also came up, as Minda thoughtfully reminded us that we benefit from realities that our ancestors fought for but did not all make it to see. In the same way, the incremental changes we are seeing and struggling for now are worthwhile, even if we don’t get to their full manifestation.
Minda also shared some tips to help Black women workers decide whether to stay put or jump ship, and where leaving isn’t an option, how they can survive and work towards a phased exit. We also discussed the role of allies in supporting Black women, and particularly how courageous conversations can be a starting point for the organisational and structural accountability that is prerequisite for facilitating the psychological safety of Black women at work.
You belong in every room you enter, but not every room deserves you.
Minda Harts
Afterwards, we went on to have a further edifying Q&A session, in which we discussed everything from the death of DEI and the future of corporate social responsibility, to navigating toxic leadership and gaslighting.
Overall, it was an amazing experience, often feeling like a church service, with Minda preaching powerful insights and capping off the discussion with stirring quotables. Such a profoundly healing atmosphere only made for a wonderful time of connection, allyship and sisterhood during the networking segment with which we ended the night.
Don’t take my word for it, though, here are some thoughts from our attendees:
Community event feedback
What an evening of empowering, discussions and healing! This evening, I was delighted to attend The Africa Centre for a wonderful event hosted by the founder of #BounceBlack Nikki Adebiyi in
Akua Opong
collaboration with the #YoungAfricaCentre
I really enjoyed attending the event Winning from Within with the incredible best selling author Minda Harts. I highly recommend the book, The Memo.
This evening Minda Harts spoke about the themes in her book ‘Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace’.
Thank you Minda for your insights and my key takeaways:
💫 Ubuntu: “I am what I am because of who we all are.”
✨Healing is a choice. I will heal from whatever I need to.
✨Setting boundaries in both your personal and professional lives
✨ What success looks like to each of us?
✨ Let’s have courageous conversations
Just because of the use of imposter syndrome and in my career there are times when I doubted myself, I want to share this wonderful quote as I feel others need it. Thank you Minda ❤️
“Beware feeling you’re not good enough to deserve it. Beware feeling you’re too good to need it.” – Audre Lorde
Nikki Adebiyi I want to say thank you as YOU ARE PHENOMENAL! Doing amazing work and so proud to support you ❤️
Minda Harts hearing you speak and share your experiences resonated but have given me courage plus empowerment. We each hold the keys to our own destiny and ability to change it. THANK YOU for all that you do! The Memo is a great book and so excited to read Right Within.
Thank you to Maryse Gordon for the session with Minda Harts at LSEG. This session opened my eyes and made me love the book The Memo.
The second highlight of my visit was meeting Minda Harts in person. An impactful workplace consultant from the US, Minda’s work has been a beacon of inspiration for many, including myself.
Vivian Acquah
Our paths crossed in Europe, and seizing the opportunity, we engaged in a much-needed conversation about humanizing the workplace. Minda’s latest book, Right Within (title inspired by Doo Wop song by Lauryn Hill, “𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗶𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻?”, prompts us to reflect on internal well-being and its impact on our professional lives.
One striking insight from Minda’s talk was the analogy of the workplace as an abusive relationship. This perspective sheds light on the traumatic impact – both mental and physical – that toxic work environments can have on employees. It’s a crucial conversation that is often overlooked but necessary for fostering truly inclusive and healthy workplaces.
Thanks, Nikki Adebiyi, for hosting the Right Within meetup; I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with you and Minda IRL. Minda’s work and our recent dialogue serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and conversations we must have to improve workplace culture and health.
Look up Minda’s books and think about the impact of your work environment on your overall well-being.
It’s high time we address the complexities of workplace relationships and strive for environments where everyone can thrive.
I attended a wonderful event of sisterhood and allyship with the Award-winning Minda Harts, who spoke about her book, ‘Right Within: How to Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace’.
Ekua Cant
Thank you Minda and Nikki for a wonderful and insightful discussion on Black Women in the workplace the challenges, the opportunities and what allies and Black Women can do to change workplaces globally to create more inclusive cultures.
My key takeaways were:
🌟 Clear Professional Boundaries
Having clear boundaries as a Black Professional Woman in Corporate will enable you to flourish and thrive this can include receiving support by being in an ERG or also having a therapist to support your healing journey.
🌟 Increase your network and visibility
Being intentional about cultivating your network as a Black Professional Woman in Corporate should include being part of supportive and ambitious networks with other Black Women, and seeking diverse allies and sponors. And for those of you who need to hear this again, be intentional about building your visibility and personal brand. The work does not speak for itself!
🌟 Building Relationships
Building relationships and having sponsors who speak for you on your behalf when you’re not in the room, who bring your name into the room and support you to gain wider visibility and opportunity. Understanding that advancing your career is about being seen at work, in work-related spaces and letting people know who you are personally and professionally.
Minda said, “You deserve to be in every room, but every room does not deserve to have you”.
In relation to imposter syndrome, it just puts it into perspective!
Own your brilliance I Take up space I Be discerning
Such an amazing evening . This morning I felt depleted of energy and I credit the talk this evening for restoring my drive and hope . I particularly took away – when Minda said to remember- you belong in every room but not every room deserves to have you – powerful stuff . Minda Harts thank you . Akua Opong CITP MBCS – love your amazing spirit of generosity . You inspire me everyday . Ubuntu we are all in this together – together with committed and passionate allies we can build workplaces where we are thrive
What an amazing evening. Minda Harts sharing her story and insight was extremely powerful 🙏🏾 🔥 🔥
It was such an inspiring and moving event. A really lovely surprise to meet face to face with so many wonderful women.
It was lovely to meet you Nikki Adebiyi, It was a really insightful and special event. Congrats! 😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩💃🏾💃🏾💃🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🎉🎉🎉
This was an amazing event. Minda Harts shared so many insighful and powerful gems 💎 Black women in leadership face immense challenges and there is a clear need to fully tackle barriers, as well safeguarding health and well-being.
There is so much we can do as black women to take back our power and to ensure that the energy we spend in building the organisations where we work is also fruitful for us.
An amazing event with Minda Harts, a best-selling author, public speaker, and all-around beautiful soul. 💛
It was so insightful and inspiring to hear about Minda’s journey, navigating the trials and tribulations of corporate America as a black woman, how she dealt with racial trauma and how she used that as fuel for her next venture.
It was so moving, so many amazing people gathered in one room, sharing their experiences in the workplace.
In Minda’s own words
“I recently had the honor of speaking in London about my book, “Right Within,” which explores healing from workplace trauma. The journey from enduring some of my toughest experiences between 2014 and 2019 to now helping others has been incredibly transformative.
At the event, I was deeply moved to receive a personalized t-shirt from Nikki, who shared how my book helped them on their healing journey. It was a poignant reminder of why I wrote “Right Within”: to empower others to prioritize their well-being and navigate the complexities of workplace health.
As we focus on mental health this month, remember that you hold more power than you might think. Your well-being is essential, and fostering a healthy work environment is crucial for everyone.
Let’s encourage each other to be “Right Within” and support a culture of wellness at work. And never underestimate the impact of your journey on others.”
Community reviews of Right Within
The book really helped me to understand my experiences. It made me realise that I had really swept my workplace experiences under the carpet and let badmind managers and colleagues off the hook. Sometimes we go through things and minimise it. Then we hear someone else talk about the same things and then think “Wow, that’s awful”. Minda throughout the book uses the term “abuse”. I never thought that what happened in the workplace was abuse. I was bullied for 18 months by my manager. So I always called it bullying. They are a bully and I am not their first victim. However I now realise that I experienced narcissistic abuse which certainly explains why I had never probably healed from it because I didn’t know what to even call it. Abuse of any kind is disgusting.
The fact that my colleagues turned a blind eye is also disgusting. Unfortunately it is part of company culture so it will always exist. However, I survived that sht. I have more strength than I give myself credit for. The book helped me to understand that my feelings are valid. Self-validation is key. I now also know that what happened was not my fault. I internalised a lot because no-one took my experience seriously. I feel sad for my past self that that happened but I also know that she didn’t deserve that and people should be kinder. The author also gave me hope. She is an author, podcaster, speaker, many things. She overcame that sht and rose higher than any of her badmind colleagues. I can do that too. Minda also mentions “psychological safety” throughout the book. It made me realise that I have never really felt psychologically safe in any of my workplaces and that’s not ok.
Psychological safety is very important to me and as I continue on my healing journey and I am seeking those spaces more and more.
Minda talks about how racism kills careers. It made me realise that loss can come in the form of losing a situation. It’s not just about losing a person which is why I’ve never properly healed from that job where I was abused. I loved that job with my whole heart and soul. I never loved a job after that. I never properly went through the grieving/mourning process because I didn’t have the language to do so.
The book was triggering at times but it was definitely worth reading and it helped me on my healing journey. So thank you to Minda Harts for sharing her experiences and helping another Black woman on her healing journey.
Giveaway winner
I’m pretty much studying this like I’m writing a dissertation. She really provides the language for things I’ve experienced, even traumatic experiences outside the workplace and how that affects how I showed up within the workplace.
Giveaway winner
It’s a bittersweet realization that our experiences as Black women are universal, yet there’s comfort in our collective strength.
Vivian Acquah
Our shared journey towards healing and empowerment is a powerful testament to our resilience.
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