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Microaggressions at Work: Promotions, Power, and Protecting Your Peace (with Shenelle B.)
From Cultural Theorist to Corporate Truth-Teller (with Dr. Anastasia)
In Episode 2 of They Tried It, host Lindiwe Davis sits down with Shenelle Brooks, a success coach and DEI consultant, to unpack how workplace bias actually shows up—and why it’s so often disguised as “professionalism.” Shenelle shares her journey from teaching into corporate leadership, where her work in people development, training, and DEI repeatedly ran into familiar barriers: being told she wasn’t “ready,” watching promotion goalposts move, and receiving feedback tied more to identity and appearance than performance. From comments about nails and hair to pressure to shrink or assimilate, the conversation names the microaggressions many professionals experience but struggle to label. Together, Lindiwe and Shenelle explore how fear of retaliation keeps people silent, how to assess whether a situation calls for a hard conversation or formal action, and why listening to your body is often the first signal that something is wrong. They also discuss recovery after workplace adversity—and how grounding yourself in purpose, therapy, spirituality, and support systems can help you rebuild clarity and confidence. This episode is for anyone navigating workplace bias, stalled promotions, or the emotional toll of being told to “wait your turn” after doing everything right. About Our Guest: Shenelle Brooks is a success coach and consultant specializing in DEI, human-centered leadership, and professional development. A former teacher turned corporate leader, she helps individuals navigate workplace culture, career mobility, and boundary-setting—particularly professionals from underrepresented communities. She is currently developing a Leading With Heart series focused on self-discovery, self-healing, and the ripple effects of purpose-driven leadership. Follow her on LinkedIn, Instagram, or on her website. About the Host: Lindiwe is a sought-after speaker, interviewer, and culture strategist across several industries, known for bridging theory and practice through storytelling and lived experience. With over 25 years of experience spanning leadership development, organizational effectiveness, coaching, and media storytelling, she is the founder of FutureState Collective—the culture and media platform that produces They Tried It. She has interviewed actors, authors, activists, and cultural leaders; has been invited to speak and host conversations across platforms; has been featured by Bloomberg Radio and SAG-AFTRA; and has hosted Google's "Level Up in Tech," to name a few. Learn more about Lindiwe and view her media kit here. Subscribe to They Tried It on all major podcast platforms. 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Follow on Instagram: @lindiwe_speaks and @theytrieditshow 💼 Follow on LinkedIn ✍🏽 Subscribe to her Substack
They Tried It – Episode 1: From Cultural Theorist to Corporate Truth-Teller (with Dr. Anastasia) In the first episode of They Tried It, host Lindiwe Davis sits down with Dr. Anastasia—cultural theorist, lifelong activist, and former corporate leader—to unpack what happens when truth, integrity, and power collide at work. Dr. Anastasia shares her journey from being classically trained in race and gender studies to applying that knowledge inside organizations and global brands, navigating identity, culture, and responsibility. As an immigrant, she reflects on how education became a tool for survival, self-awareness, and resistance—and how knowledge, when paired with responsibility, shaped her career. The conversation takes a powerful turn as Dr. Anastasia recounts her exit from corporate America, including being offered nearly $35,000 in exchange for her silence—and her decision not to sign the severance payout. She opens up about being reprimanded for advocating for disabled employees and being reported for speaking out on humanitarian issues. This episode is about courage, discernment, and refusing to be erased. It’s about choosing self-respect over silence, recognizing when your success becomes a threat to others, and the behavior that follows in professional spaces. About Our Guest: Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel is a cultural theorist, social critic, and an award-winning author. A widely regarded commentator on media, marketing, and social change, her insights into contemporary culture have appeared in publications like Forbes, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, and Teen Vogue, as well as on national and international broadcast media, including talk shows such as Piers Morgan Uncensored. Her debut book, Cultural Intelligence for Marketers (2024), explores how organizations can decode sociocultural forces at play to stay ahead of the curve and positively shape the future of business and society. Dr. Gabriel holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies from Duke University. Follow her journey on LinkedIn and via IG: @anastasiakgabriel About the Host: Lindiwe is a sought-after speaker, interviewer, and culture strategist across several industries, known for bridging theory and practice through storytelling and lived experience. With over 25 years of experience spanning leadership development, organizational effectiveness, coaching, and media storytelling, she is the founder of FutureState Collective—the culture and media platform that produces They Tried It. She has interviewed actors, authors, activists, and cultural leaders; has been invited to speak and host conversations across platforms; has been featured by Bloomberg Radio and SAG-AFTRA; and has hosted Google's "Level Up in Tech," to name a few. Learn more about Lindiwe and view her media kit here. Subscribe to They Tried It on all major podcast platforms. 🎥 Subscribe on YouTube 📸 Follow on Instagram: @lindiwe_speaks and @theytrieditshow 💼 Follow on LinkedIn ✍🏽 Subscribe to her Substack
About The Host: "I wanted to share a little more about what I’ve been working on and what’s coming next. Many of you know I’m building my podcast, 'They Tried It,' and I’m excited to share that our first episodes will begin rolling out in January 2026. It’s been a labor of courage, truth, and storytelling—and I can’t wait for you to hear it."