Breaking Into…Careers: Human Resources Management Breaking into Human Resources Management can feel overwhelming—especially during uncertain economic times. Yet HR remains one of the most stable, in-demand career paths for job seekers looking for meaningful, growth-oriented work. In this installment of our “Breaking Into…Careers” series, we explore how aspiring professionals can launch a career in HR, what skills matter most, and…
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A Defining Performance Review: How to Respond to Feedback That Shapes Your Career For many organizations, the end of the first quarter marks performance review and bonus season—a time that can feel celebratory or destabilizing depending on the feedback you receive. When your supervisor’s comments align with how you see yourself, it feels validating. You feel seen, valued, and recognized…
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Most Americans are taught to simply find a “good” job, with no direction about how to actually accomplish this goal, and what “good” entails. Thus, most struggle with finding a best fit position which matches one’s values, interests, and skills, which would lead to long term career satisfaction. After recently attending a career conference in Boston, and learning about the…
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Where Does Imposter Syndrome Come From? Understanding Its Roots, Psychology, and How to Overcome It Quick Answer Where does Imposter Syndrome come from? It often develops through early family messages, perfectionistic expectations, and social environments that equate worth with achievement. Over time, these beliefs form chronic self-doubt—even in accomplished people. Because it’s learned, Imposter Syndrome can be unlearned through reflection,…
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Effective Leadership: Building Trust and Respect in the Workplace Effective leadership shapes cultures where trust and respect thrive. It drives results without toxicity, ensuring people and performance grow together. Effective leadership is the consistent practice of clear communication, ethical behavior, and people-first actions that inspire respect and achieve lasting success. Why Trust and Respect Define Effective Leadership Every leadership theory—transformational,…
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Create workplaces and communities where everyone belongs. Learn how inclusive leadership, bias awareness, and authentic dialogue drive equity and culture change. Each post blends research and reflection to help you lead with empathy and integrity.
Overview DEI commitment is possible, even in a period of backlash. However, some leaders claim DEI has run its course. Meanwhile, the evidence says otherwise. Moreover, hybrid work creates new friction points. In addition, AI systems can repeat bias at scale. As a result, employees still want fairness, safety, and respect. Consequently, organizations thrive when they deliver those basics. Bottom…
Unconscious bias in the workplace is automatic, unintentional judgment that influences decisions about people and groups. You can’t fully stop bias from activating, but you can prevent stereotype application in hiring, reviews, and daily management by naming common bias types, spotting triggers (task, numbers, clarity, perceiver), and installing repeatable “bias interrupters” like structured interviews, calibrated rubrics, and manager coaching. What…
A professional woman coping with exhaustion and emotional strain at work — a reminder of why psychological safety and equity matter. Summary: To stop the gaslighting and mistreatment of Black women at work, leaders must close the pay gap, place supportive sponsors, provide coaching that fits the culture, and enforce zero tolerance for bias and microaggressions. As a result, Black…
DEI Leadership • Wellbeing • Inclusion Strategy How to Help Your DEI and Anti-Racist Champions Heal & Find Joy Year-Round By Richard Orbé-Austin, PhD • October 24, 2025 • Updated October 24, 2025 Summary Supporting DEI champions year-round means treating inclusion work as mission-critical: fund it, coach its leaders, create confidential healing spaces, measure progress, and celebrate wins regularly—not only…
Leaning In Is Not Enough: How Corporate Leadership Programs Are Failing BIPOC Women—and How to Truly Support Their Career Success To truly help BIPOC women succeed, companies must go beyond good intentions. Progress happens when leaders create fair systems, strong sponsorship, and workplaces where all women can thrive. Recognizing Why Progress Has Stalled Every March, organizations celebrate women’s leadership. However,…
The Truth About Belonging: How to Defend DEI Initiatives Against Today’s Attacks Featured Snippet: Belonging matters, but it cannot replace the structural work of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Leaders who want to defend DEI initiatives should anchor belonging in measurable equity, redesign core people processes, and hold executives accountable for outcomes. Why This Moment Demands Clarity DEI now faces real…
Being Aware of Bias and Imposter Syndrome During Performance Reviews By Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD Featured snippet: During a performance review cycle, feelings of imposter syndrome combined with unconscious rater bias (such as halo/horns, anchoring, central-tendency, similarity) can undermine both self-assessment and manager feedback. Recognising and interrupting these patterns turns review time into a fairer, growth-oriented moment for both employee and…
Stop Gaslighting Women Experiencing Imposter Syndrome | Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD Stop Gaslighting Women Experiencing Imposter Syndrome By Lisa Orbé-Austin, PhD • Updated October 20, 2025 Why telling women they don’t have Imposter Syndrome is harmful Dismissing women’s Imposter Syndrome as “not real” or “only oppression” invalidates genuine self-doubt, fear of being exposed, and performance anxiety. This well-intended dismissal gaslights women…
AI Unconscious Bias Training for Fair Hiring AI Unconscious Bias Training for Fair Hiring Artificial intelligence (AI) is now central to how companies recruit, evaluate, and retain talent. While automation promises efficiency, it also carries risk. AI unconscious bias training teaches teams to reduce bias in algorithms, ensuring fair recruitment practices and equitable AI systems. Why AI Unconscious Bias Training…
What Is Executive Presence and Why Can No One Tell Me How to Improve Mine? By Lisa Orbé-Austin, Ph.D. Executive presence is one of those elusive concepts everyone talks about but few can define clearly. Leaders, managers, and aspiring professionals alike often hear they “need more executive presence”—yet what does that actually mean? In my work as a psychologist and…