I had the opportunity to speak at the Workplacement Career Readiness Masterclass recently organised by Black Professionals United Kingdom where I shared some thoughts on acing interviews with students, recent graduates, early career and experienced professionals. We talked about the usual things like preparation, confidence, communication, but I ended with something a bit more personal. During my pregnancy, one show that kept me company was Law & Order. There’s an episode that stuck with me. A Black assistant district attorney found himself under pressure from his community, expected to take a side. His boss asked him a simple but powerful question: “Are you a Black lawyer, or a lawyer who is Black?” That question stayed with me. When I shared this with the audience, my message was simple. When you walk into an interview, go in as someone who is good at what you do. Someone who has built skills, character, and value. Not as someone defined first by perceived limitations. Not as someone already on the defensive. Because the moment you start thinking, “Will this count against me?” you’ve already given away some of your power. Instead, walk in knowing: 👉 I belong here. 👉 I bring value. 👉 I can do this job well. Everything else is secondary. Confidence doesn’t mean ignoring reality, but it does mean choosing the mindset that positions you to show up at your best. What mindset helps you show up confidently in interviews?

It’s something I don’t think we talk about enough… But every time I get the chance to interview with a Black hiring manager, it genuinely makes me so happy. Because it’s rare. And in that moment, there’s an ease you can’t really explain unless you’ve felt it. The conversation flows differently. The energy feels familiar. You’re not overthinking how you’re being perceived. You’re just showing up as yourself. It also does something bigger. It reminds you that we are in those rooms. We are decision-makers. We are leading teams and shaping companies. Because let’s be honest, so many of us are used to being the only person of color in the room… sometimes in the entire company. So seeing someone who looks like you on the other side of the table? It shifts something. It makes you feel like maybe, just maybe, you wouldn’t always be “the only one” there. Representation doesn’t just matter once you get the job. It matters in the process too. And moments like that? They stay with you.

The launch event of Black Talent Development themed Breaking Barriers is on 11 April and here's what you'll walk away with: 🔗 Connections that matter — with Black professionals who've navigated the same landscape 📋 Career resources built specifically for our community 💡 Fresh perspective on the pathways available to you 🔥 The energy of being in a room that actually sees you. Whether you're early in your career or three promotions from the boardroom, this event was made for you. Tag a colleague who should be in the room. 🖤

Representation and access do more than shape careers. They shape communities. 🖤 This Black History Month, we recognize the critical role representation, access, and equitable hiring play in building stronger organizations and stronger futures. ✊🏾 When individuals see opportunity reflected around them, confidence grows. When access expands, economic mobility follows. When hiring practices are equitable, workforce outcomes improve for everyone. At SuiteMate Staffing Solutions, ethical, people-first staffing supports both employers seeking reliable talent and professionals pursuing long-term career growth. Empowering Workforces. Elevating Careers. Strengthening Communities. 👉🏾 Learn more about our workforce approach at https://lnkd.in/geBf6Hua 🔁 Share this message to help amplify access and opportunity in the workplace.

While many associate Black Professionals UK with job opportunities, our primary focus is something even more foundational: #networking. Meaningful conversations often lead to the most impactful outcomes: new collaborations, #mentorship, insights, and, ultimately, #careeropportunities. At Black Professionals United Kingdom, we prioritise creating spaces where #professionals can connect authentically, exchange ideas, and build relationships that extend beyond #immediateroles. Because when the right people connect, opportunities follow. #BPUCommunity #ProfessionalNetworking #CareerDevelopment #MeaningfulConnections #OpportunityCreation

Wilson’s Angie Hahn shares the skills that have mattered most across her talent acquisition career. She highlights agility, gut instinct, decisive thinking, collaboration, and a solutions-oriented approach. ✨ To learn about her career story, watch the full video: https://whcg.co/4dBHXg3. #LifeAtWilson

Almost 40% Of Black Professionals Don’t Know How To Stand Out In Today’s Job Market — Check Out Tips To Help. Focusing on highlighting skills is key to helping uncover job opportunities and accelerating the hiring process. https://lnkd.in/e63Rnhze

“Since last year, over 600,000 Black women have been laid off, including myself. While some might choose to start a business, many of us are looking to bring our unique experience, perspective, and talent into new companies. We all deserve that opportunity. I know, and see, so many incredible Black women still looking for their next professional home, some for over a year. And while the well wishes and support are appreciated, what’s often needed most is 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚. So if you’re wondering how to support Black women right now, it starts with taking 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. Here are a few ways to do that: ➡️ If you know of an open (or upcoming) role, make a direct introduction to the hiring manager ➡️ Reach out and ask how you can help... even a small gesture goes a long way ➡️ Share their work. If someone posts content, a resume, or an accomplishment, reshare it ➡️ Make connections within your network, even if there isn’t a role available ➡️ Write a LinkedIn recommendation. A thoughtful recommendation from a credible voice can open doors These actions aren't small things. They're how 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 actually moves.”

Since last year, over 600,000 Black women have been laid off, including myself. While some might choose to start a business, many of us are looking to bring our unique experience, perspective, and talent into new companies. We all deserve that opportunity. I know, and see, so many incredible Black women still looking for their next professional home, some for over a year. And while the well wishes and support are appreciated, what’s often needed most is 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚. So if you’re wondering how to support Black women right now, it starts with taking 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. Here are a few ways to do that: ➡️ If you know of an open (or upcoming) role, make a direct introduction to the hiring manager ➡️ Reach out and ask how you can help... even a small gesture goes a long way ➡️ Share their work. If someone posts content, a resume, or an accomplishment, reshare it ➡️ Make connections within your network, even if there isn’t a role available ➡️ Write a LinkedIn recommendation. A thoughtful recommendation from a credible voice can open doors These actions aren't small things. They're how 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 actually moves. 

After more than 20 years in higher education—teaching, mentoring, developing curriculum, and shaping future leaders—I find myself still standing at the margins of opportunity. The door to a full-time faculty position has remained just out of reach, not for lack of qualifications, commitment, or impact, but due to barriers that are often unspoken yet deeply felt. It is both disheartening and exhausting to continuously prove your worth in spaces where your experience should already speak volumes. As an African American woman, the weight of this journey carries an added layer—navigating a system where representation continues to shrink, and where our presence can feel increasingly invisible rather than valued. This is more than a personal experience—it is a reflection of a broader issue within today’s workforce. When highly qualified professionals are overlooked, institutions lose not only talent, but perspective, authenticity, and the richness that diversity brings to education. My story is not one of defeat, but of truth. And it is a call to recognize, address, and change the patterns that continue to block access, equity, and inclusion in academia.