EP 106: Belonging Beyond Borders: Immigrant Stories of Courage & Reinvention

Episode Description

To close out Global Diversity Month, Thriving in Intersectionality presents a special storytelling episode — three powerful stories of courage, transition, and belonging shared live during the “Belonging Beyond Borders” virtual event on October 29, 2025, hosted by Immigrants in Corporate Inc.

In this reflective and inspiring episode, host Dr. Lola Adeyemo brings together voices from around the world whose immigrant journeys redefine what it means to succeed, to belong, and to be seen. Through stories of reinvention, purpose, and resilience, these storytellers remind us that belonging is not something we wait to find — it’s something we build together.

This conversation is a tapestry of humanity — honest, layered, and full of hope — and a fitting close to Global Diversity Month.

What You’ll Hear

🌍 Redefining Success Beyond Immigrant Expectations
How Ambition, Family, and Cultural Pressures Intersect for Global Professionals.

💫 Courage in Transition
Stories of starting over, navigating identity, and pursuing growth in unfamiliar spaces.

💖 Owning Your Worth
The power of self-acceptance and belonging without needing to prove your value.

🤝 Community as Catalyst
Why shared stories are essential to building inclusive workplaces and societies.

About Our Storytellers

✨ Bami Iroko — Redefining Success Beyond Immigrant Pressures
A marketing and communications strategist, talent manager, and creative consultant, Bami helps brands and artists tell impactful stories that connect across cultures. Her work bridges marketing, entertainment, and technology, championing inclusive innovation and responsible AI. Bami’s story explores the invisible expectations placed on immigrant professionals — and the liberation of defining success on your own terms. Her new book, “All In: Choosing Faith over Fear,” is available now on Amazon. 

🔗 Connect with BAMI IROKO on LinkedIn:  📘 Link to her book. 

✨ Joe Kyaw Kyaw Htin — Courage in Transition
A globally experienced chartered accountant from Myanmar, Joe has led internal audit and finance teams across Asia and the U.S. His story reflects the resilience of rebuilding a career abroad and the quiet strength that comes from choosing growth over comfort.
🔗 Connect with Joe Kayw Kyaw Htin on LinkedIn

✨ Raneen Rheem — The Power of Self-Worth
As CEO of RISE (Refugee Immigrant Student Embassy), Raneen empowers refugee and immigrant youth to lead with confidence and purpose. A student of Political Science and Human Rights at the University of Iowa, she reminds us that belonging begins when we stop trying to prove our value — and start embracing it.
🔗 Connect with Raneen Rheem on LinkedIn

About the Host

Dr. Lola Adeyemo is the CEO of EQImindset and founder of the nonprofit Immigrants in Corporate Inc. She helps organizations move inclusion from intention to impact through strategy, storytelling, and workplace communities. A scientist-turned-ERG strategist, speaker, and author, Lola is passionate about amplifying the voices of leaders and professionals navigating layered identities at work.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Lola Adeyemo on Linkedin

Join the Conversation

If today’s episode resonated with you:
⭐ Please rate and review the podcast to help others discover these stories.
📲 Share your takeaways and tag us on LinkedIn @ThrivinginIntersectionality podcast
🌍 Immigrant and first-gen professionals: Join our free community at www.immigrantsincorporate.org for career support, networking, resources, and to be a part of our monthly events.

Keep thriving in your intersections — your story matters.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:02

Hello and welcome to the Thriving in Intersectionality Podcast. A podcast that explores the real experiences of professionals navigating the workplace with layered lead identities. I'm your host, Dr. Lola Ateemo, the CEO of EQI Mindset and founder of the nonprofit Immigrants Incorporate Inc. I'm also an author, speaker, and a workplace inclusion strategist. I work with organizations to build communities of belonging through strategy, storytelling, and systems change. This podcast amplifies the voices of professionals from intersectional backgrounds, immigrants, ethnic minorities, first-gen professionals, veterans, working parents, individuals with disabilities, and so many more. Through solo reflections and guest conversations, we'll uncover the eating challenges, celebrate the wins, and offer insights to help you thrive, not just survive in the corporate world. Because in today's global workforce, belonging isn't just a bonus, it's the catalyst for real growth and impact. Let's dive in. Welcome to another episode of the Thriving and Intersectionality Podcast. Today's episode is another blended. This is actually the first, the second time in over 100 episodes where we'll have a blended episode, and I'm really excited about this one uh because it was recorded live at our networking event. Immigrants Incorporate is a professional development space where we gather every month and sometimes in-person as well. We have in-person connections, but as part of our global diversity month uh celebration, we gathered for a global diversity month experience, virtual experience called Blended Stories, Belonging Beyond Borders. And we had three of the members of our community share their stories. And uh before I bring them each in, this was uh done recorded in a virtual space where we had a group of uh members, mentor members, and partners join us. And um I was really inspired about each of these storytellers, and we got a sneak peek of their stories. Storytelling is one of the tools that I use in my work, is one of the ways I have seen it's been easier to connect hearts to get people to understand. And the big question for immigrants, for first-gen professionals, for any individual that works in the workplace is why work isn't the whole story? Work is not the whole story, and and for a lot of us, um, whether you work in corporate America, you're leading in corporate America, or you have your own business, um workplaces claim a certain level of inclusivity, but even the most inclusive workplaces, there are stories that remain unheard, right? It doesn't matter how you try to define it, how you try to package your programs and the things you're doing. We are all multi-layered. And uh we are all a combination of different stories, different events that have left their mark and has shaped us. I know these stories because I've lived them. I've been the only in a lot of rooms in corporate America, and even as a new immigrant to the US and as a scientist in the biotech space, as a business person, as an entrepreneur, as a first-generation entrepreneur, starting my business in the US for the first time and navigating spaces, and even as an entrepreneur, as a consultant right now, going into spaces where everything is questioned. I know the stories again because I've lived them. There are so many moments that I've experienced that shape the way I see workplaces. But the workplaces that we all uh spend the bulk of our time is not just a system of productivity, and we need to evolve to that space of seeing our workplaces as communities of people, with each carrying a story. It's belonging, it's about people. Belonging is about the individuals and the stories they carry, right? As leaders, our role is not to tell people how to feel belonging, our role is to create a space where people can show up and be welcomed when they share their stories, when they show up as who they fully are. Belonging doesn't just start with our policies, it starts with people, it's personal, it's cultural, it's global, and sometimes it just needs a space beyond work to breathe. And Immigrant Incorporates is a community that has become a space in that regard for a certain group of people. And it's a community for immigrants and first generation professionals that are navigating corporate culture and career growth. And so it's about our careers, but it's also about understanding some of those cultural layers that are hidden in our stories and in the way we do what we do in the workplace. Every time someone shares their story, we're hearing courage, we're hearing identity, or we're hearing resilience. And it reminds us that we are not alone. That's what we are doing today. That's what these three conversations uh that we're sharing. I'm hoping you take away from it. Storytelling is not just for inspiration, whether you see yourself in this particular story or not, you see the person that is telling the story in a clearer way that is more vivid than if you hear about it from someone else. So, storytelling doesn't just inspire, it's how we build understanding, empathy, and community. And so, as you listen to the stories, whether you're an immigrant or a first-generation individual, professional leader or not, I hope you walk away with an understanding that would help you be better at doing your own work within the organization, at managing people, at leading teams, and at growing your career and mentoring others as well. Work is only one chapter of who we are, but our communities, the way we connect and the stories that we share is what makes the whole book. So thank you for listening to these stories. All right. Our first storyteller for today is Bami Roko. Bami is going to talk a little bit about redefining success beyond immigrant pressures. And she's a marketing and communication strategist, talent manager, and a creative consultant whose work spans globally. She helps brands, organizations, and artists tell impactful stories that influence decisions, drive growth, and create meaningful connections across culture. And I am excited to have Bami share our story today. She's a champion for inclusive tech and AI responsibility and passionate about shaping the future where innovation, creativity, and equity coexist. Welcome, Bami, and thank you for sharing your story.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

Thank you so much for having me. Um, like you shared, Dr. Lola, you were talking about how important community is in the journey of immigrants and first gen. So, you know, I first just want to say I'm so honored to be to have met this community. I'm really excited to connect with each of you, learn about you, hear your stories today, and hopefully we have opportunities to learn, grow, and connect in the future. So my story is a little bit uh controversial. Um, as you'll kind of hear about me, I am a bit of a rebel and I like to travel, I like to go along the road that's less traveled or less traveled, or um, I like to say I kind of like to take the conventional approach. I'm a little bit of a risk taker. Um, so my story is about redefining success beyond immigrant pressures. So, as you know, growing up first generation or as an immigrant, you inherit your parents' dreams, you inherit their journey, you inherit their their struggles, their challenges, everything that they face. And it's almost like in all the decisions that you make throughout your journey, you're thinking about the people that you need to honor back home. You have a responsibility to people. So there's this pressure that you have to make it. And sometimes that pressure puts us in situations where we are not putting ourselves first. We're maybe choosing a career path that will provide stability to the people that we love rather than peace and clarity to ourselves. So there's like this struggle and push and pull internally because we don't want to dishonor the people that we love or we don't want to bring shame to our families. I'm sure a lot of you guys can relate to a lot of that. And when we decided we want to be, I don't know, a rapper or a dancer instead of a doctor or an engineer, some of our parents might have heart attacks, right? So um, for a very long time, I followed the path that was expected of me. You know, I did the right thing. I had, I was developing and growing up, growing in a really successful career in public affairs, but I wasn't really happy. So on paper, it seemed like my life was perfect. I was doing well by societal standards, but there was something about my spirit that was just uneasy. With every certificate, with every degree, with every promotion, it felt like I was just being pulled even further away than from what I felt I was destined to do. So I spent a lot of time in my late 30s trying to figure out what's next for me. What can I do that still provides stability, still honors the people that I love, but brings me the peace that I desire. And when I turned 30, I thought I was old. I thought I was like approaching the end of my life. I turned 30, and I kid you not, on my birthday, I had this epiphany and I just decided I was gonna quit my job. I gave a month notice, I didn't talk to anyone about it, I told my boss, and then as soon as I quit, I called my dad. And I knew if I called him before, he was gonna talk me out of it. So I called him and I just said, Daddy, I quit my job. And of course, as a Nigerian, I knew I was gonna be met with everything that I didn't want to. I was prepared to pull the phone away from me, and he just paused and he said, It's okay. He said, if you're not happy here, then you're not happy. Whatever it is that makes you happy, go for that. And I know the kind of father that I have, but I was not expecting that answer, at least not initially. I thought I was gonna get yelled at or scolded, and then maybe after he processed everything, then I would have been met with that love and encouragement. But I was immediately met with love, acceptance, and validation. And I think that was kind of the catalyst to the rest of my journey, was kind of my turning point. Having that acceptance and approval was all the confirmation that I needed. So um, a couple months later, I decided to move across the country and I decided I wanted to be fully remote. I pursued different entrepreneurship and I finally landed in marketing. And um it was challenging, but going back to the concept of community, throughout my career and throughout my life, I've leveraged my community. And there were so many people that I met with along my journey that helped me, that could made the right connections, that voucher me, you know, to different companies. And over the course of I would say the next five to seven or eight years, I grew professionally. And it got to a point where I started to feel better. Even like my health, my spirit, just every area of my life just got better once I decided to let go of those pressures. I had acceptance from the people that I loved and I was thriving. I was thriving far more than I was thriving before. When I thought that the only way to success was one way, and I created a completely different path that wasn't expected of me. I think I was just met with this freedom and the spirit and faith for me. I don't know if anyone is spiritual here, but faith for me was kind of the center of all my decisions. While it might seem like I was just, you know, um crazy and I was just doing things haphazardly. Everything was met with so much attention, with so much in intention. And you know, I meditated, I prayed on every decision, and I think as I let that guide me, everything just started to, you know, make sense. And um now I the last a year and a half ago, I moved to South Africa. I moved 10,000 miles away, and I'm more at peace than I ever have been in my life. I'm happy, my career is great. I still have a wonderful relationship with my friends, my family. I have community all around the world. I mean, you guys are tuning in from everywhere. And um, this just goes back to just the importance of community, the importance of choosing yourself and making decisions that are based on like what you need. And I know that it's easier said than done because we have responsibilities, but I do think that communities like this are so important and conversations like this are so important because we need people, we need to see people that have done it, and we need to know that there's not only one way, there's not only one path to success. And having seen it and having connected with people that have done that, it kind of makes us believe like it's possible for us. There are people along my journey that I've that I've met that have moved across the country or started over more than once, and that gave me the courage to, you know, take the path that I've taken. And I hope that whatever it is that you're doing and wherever it is that you decide to go on your journey, I hope that you're met with people that will champion for you, people that will support you, people that will share their stories and be helpers wherever it is that you are along in your journey that can kind of guide you and give you the resources you need, whether it's conventional or unconventional. Um, I think these conversations are, yeah, are really important. And uh a few months ago, shameless plug, but a few months ago I actually wrote a book called All In Choosing Faith Over Fear, and it kind of documents my journey on how I made the decision to kind of free myself from pressures and expectations of people and just kind of bet on myself and build a life that brings me peace and joy. So, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

Thank you very much for your time. All right. Well, Joe, thank you for being an engaged and active member of this community. It's been a couple of months and I'm excited for all the things that are coming up. Joe, I'm gonna give your name a shot. Joe York Teen is a globally experienced uh chartered accountant with over a decade of expertise in accounting, financial, and auditing within the banking, energy, and corporate structures. Originally from Myanmar, Joe began his professional career in Singapore, where he worked as a senior auditor for leading CPA firms before transitioning to corporate finance roles. His leadership experience as head of internal audit as uh one of the second largest banks in Singapore has demonstrated his ability and strengths um in a lot of ways. I am looking forward to having you hear Joe's story about a moment of courage, growth, or belonging in uh your career. Thank you, Joe.

SPEAKER_01 17:38

Thank you, Dr. Lola. Thank you for introduction to me. And uh, my story will be a little bit boring compared to Bami. She's more inspiring and then more like uh searching to work herself. So uh to me, as a career in accountant profession, I'm always a little bit of serious, even though I didn't think of myself. People around me always see like you look very serious. So so uh but but I enjoy myself being serious rather than uh take it lightly when I come to work uh because most of the time uh my job is more toward like financial matters, uh taking care of uh uh uh bosses or the company I work for. So I have to be a little bit serious. So anyway, it's truly an honor to be here with you today. Again, my name is Joe, and I like to share mosaics of courage, growth, and belonging that has shaped my journey as an immigrant professional. Again, I was born and raised in Myanmar. Like many who leave their homeland, I came to the United States with my family about two years ago. So this is not just for economic reasons, for opportunity, dignity, and freedom to grow. So when I arrived, I brought with me over a decade of international experience in accounting and auditing. I work in Singapore CPA firms, like one of which is uh BDO Singapore. This is a global uh accounting firm. Uh I think five largest firms in the world. Then I transitioned into corporate accounting and led the internet audit department at the second largest bank in Myanmar when I go back to my home country. But here's what I soon discovered: professional credentials don't automatically translate into belonging. In the US, I wasn't a department head anymore. I was a newcomer, learning to navigate a new culture, a new academy system, and a new way of life. Even with academic success, being in the top 20% of business students at the moment, right now, and inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, I often felt like I was starting over. Yet that experience became one of my greatest teachers. It reminded me that growth isn't just about titles or degrees. It's about resilience, openness, and the people who choose to see your potential. That lesson came to life last June when I joined a virtual networking event hosted by Immigrant Incorporate, where I met Dr. Lula, very inspiring professional and then leader. Her story resonated deeply, not just because she was successful, but because she understood the invisible weight that immigrants carry. The self-doubt, the cultural adjustment, the fear of being underestimated. So through Dr. Lula, I met another professional, Dr. Akati. At a business event in Tampa, she looked me in the eye and said, Don't sell yourself short, Joe. You have done a great thing. Now keep going. That moment was more than encouragement to me. It was validation. It was someone seeing me, not as an outsider, but as a peer. And because of that belief, I was introduced to her friend. Tiffany, a tax professional and entrepreneur in Kentucky. So I got an interview and then I was offered a position as a tax and business compliance intern. The opportunity was just a job. It was a bridge between who I was and who I am becoming. Since then, I have immersed myself in the US world culture. I volunteered through VIDADEX program, supporting new international students and serving with the Florida West Coast chapter of the Institute of Internet Auditor, where I am a member since when I was in Myanmar. I'm now on the Academy Relations and Programming Committees. This experience has helped me grow professionally and allowed me to give back to the community that has welcomed me so warmly. Now I plan to graduate this December and pursue my CBA license. I know the road ahead won't always be smooth. But I also know I'm not working alone. Because belonging isn't just about fitting in. It's about being seen, being valued, and being invited to contribute. Sometimes it takes just one person to open that door. Someone like Dr. Lola, Dr. Akati, and the career counselors from Upward League Global and the University of Tampa who helped me and the friends and family who have stood by me. So to anyone who feels like they are starting over, just like what I was thinking before, who wonders if their past accomplishment still matters. I want to say they do. You matter, your story matters, and your courage to keep going is what makes you extraordinary. Especially when the path ahead feels an uncertain. Thank you for letting me share my journey.

SPEAKER_02 24:28

Thank you. Thank you so much, Joel.

SPEAKER_01 24:31

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 24:37

All right, our next storyteller is Ranin Rin. I am excited to welcome Ranin. She is a passionate advocate for refugee and immigrant youth. She's the CEO of RICE, Refugee Immigrant Student Embassy. Ranin and her family came to the US as refugees from Iraq, and through our experience, she has dedicated herself to empowering others that share a similar journey. A message centers on persistence, self-worth, and the power of believing that we belong, reminding us all that we don't have to prove our value to take up space. Welcome, Ranin, and thank you for sharing your story.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for being here today. I'm so excited to talk to all of you. Um yeah, I really want to say I'm so honored and I appreciate you guys taking time to listen to me. Um, inshallah, you can all take something from this. So um I'm very excited. And yeah, let me just jump in. My name is Ranin Reem. Um, I'm 20 years old. I'm a working junior at the University of Iowa, and I study political sciences, social justice, and human rights. And most importantly, I am going to be a first-generational lawyer who came to this country as a refugee from Baghdad, Iraq with my family. So when I first arrived in this country as a refugee, like many, me and my family, um, we had nothing. Nothing familiar, no home, no school, no English, no sense of stability. We had to abandon, you know, everything and every comfort we'd ever known to flee to safety into this country. And so everything was very new. Everything was very overwhelming. Um, and honestly, it was very scary. I'm sure a lot of you have experienced that. I quickly realized that in spaces filled with people who seemed so accomplished or so privileged, I felt like I almost constantly had to just prove myself, like just to prove that I belonged. And that's where that kind of hustler mentality kicks in as an immigrant. I'm sure all of us have have felt that, right? Or embodied that. It's like we're always trying to prove something to people that that like we're not a burden or that we're not a wasted bet, and like so on and so forth. It's all these expectations you're constantly, you think that you constantly have to meet for other people just to kind of take you seriously. And again, I know I'm not the only one who's felt that. So many of us um come into these rooms where we feel small, right? Where we feel like our experiences or our voice or even our presence is like simply not enough. Um but here's the thing that's taken me years to learn. It is enough. And you as individuals simply being who you are and simply showing up, that is more than enough. Truly, that's more than enough. And so I want to share a story with you all at the time where someone tried to make me feel very small. I was only 16 years old at the time, but I knew who I was and what I stood for. I was very passionate from a young age. I remember going to my state's Capitol building to advocate for Refugee Day on the Hill. And I was so excited to be using my voice to be helping other people. I woke up, I woke up so early that day and I picked the sharpest outfit just so the big fancy people would take me seriously. And so when we were finally in a big room discussing the English-only bill, I stood up and I nervously shared my opinion. If you know me, I love to talk. I'm very I love to talk loudly. So even though I was nervous, I spoke very loudly and I spoke clearly and I spoke proudly. And eventually the nerves wore off, and I kind of just fell into this flow state. It felt, it felt incredible. It felt so good to be speaking out about what I myself believed was right, right? I was I was weaponizing that privilege I had. And I finished my spiel, and the room I was in lit up with applause. People were reassuring me, they were nodding their heads, they were grinning from ear to ear. And I was so, so, so proud of myself. I was soaking up every moment. I felt like a celebrity, to be honest. But that was until um a white man in the room had silently raised his hand to speak. And so the crowd's noise kind of slowly swallowed out, and you know, we all we all looked at him and we were just waiting to see what it was he had to say. And I remember he looked me dead in my eyes, and he told me, don't be so aggressive when you speak. I remember my face burned a bright red and my throat dried up, and I remember my eyes shot to the floor. That moment of confidence and excitement quickly faded into just shame and embarrassment. And I was caught so off guard, it felt like my nervous system didn't even have time to react to what it was that just had just happened. And so at that moment, I it took me back to all those times where I felt like a little kid who was just being made fun of because of where I was from, or because of my roots, or because of the food I brought to lunch and how it smelled funny, or because of how my mother wore a hijab. Like he just made me feel so small in that moment. And I remember I something came over me. I suddenly clenched my fists and I swallowed a very heavy swallow, and I found eye contact with him again. And I said to everybody in the room, I said, a man like this will always try to make educated and outspoken women feel small simply because he feels intimidated. So for everyone in the room who looks like me, don't ever let that scare you. I remember I couldn't even believe that that had came out of my mouth. It it almost felt automatic. It felt like generations of my ancestors' strength came together to help me form that sentence. And the room uproared. They cheered so, so, so loud, and people were just looking at me with so much pride, and they were people were looking at me as if like I had just done something unthinkable, and that that they were almost hoping that I was gonna clap back and say something. And suddenly it was him who felt small and silly. And so the theme that I wanted to just focus on is persistence and self-worth. So persistence isn't about just working hard, right? It's about refusing to let anyone make you feel like you owe them your presence or like you owe them your story or your successes. You don't have to meet someone else's standards to belong, right? Your experiences, your perspective, your voice, they already matter. Simply by existing, that already matters. And no matter what rooms you step into, no matter how fancy they are, no matter how bougie the people seem, I promise you, there's always gonna be try and people who there's always gonna be people who who try and belittle you, right? Or or convince you that you don't deserve to be there, or that you cheated the system, or you were handed these opportunities. But I truly hope you always tune them out. Persistence is showing up when it's uncomfortable. Persistence is moving forward when the world seems to be telling you that you should stop or step back or backtrack. Persistence is believing in yourself when others don't, or when they make you feel like you shouldn't even believe in yourself. And so my advice to anyone and everyone in this room who's ever felt like they had to prove themselves, remember that your persistence is your power. Okay. So keep showing up, keep asking questions, keep learning, and most importantly, don't let anyone, and I mean anyone, make you feel like your worth is conditional. Okay? I want you to surround yourself with people who lift you up. And when you can, lift others up too. Pour into others' people's cups, and they will pour into yours. Celebrate every small victory, every step forward is proof of your own strength. And when someone doubts you, when someone tells you that you don't belong, let that fuel you and never let that define you. To every immigrant, refugee, or newcomer in this room, your story matters, your presence matters, and the world is better because you are here. So keep persisting, keep believing in yourself, and never forget that you don't know, you don't owe anyone your proof. You already are living proof of everything you fought for. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 33:11

Okay, Renin. I just have to say that's a mic drop virtual moment before I start this recording. Wow. Okay. You just heard three amazing stories, and I think each one brought a different theme. As we listen to Bami's story, we think of the emotional weight that we carry, the cultural weight that has become maybe a burden, depending on how we are raised, depending on the stories that we carry that we might not even be aware of. And I would like to invite you to think about what are some of the areas where you need to give yourself permission to become who you're meant to do to be, to do what you are supposed to do around your career. As you think about Joe's story, what are some of the spaces where you are craving belonging and you haven't begun to even dive into? I talk a lot about intersectionality, and of course, as the name of this podcast is, we are all multiple intersections, and sometimes what is top of mind for us around our identity is different for every season. And so, what does belonging mean to you right now? And how can you find the spaces that will empower you to be who you are meant to be? And then, of course, we closed out with Reneen, and Reneen was just the mic drop. I said that on the recording, as you heard, because I she's such an inspiration and she tied it together neatly. Because sometimes after we give ourselves permission, thinking about Bame's story, and after we step into those bold places, thinking about Joe's story, then we also have to be ready to actually speak up when those opportunities come up, right? And if we've done the first two well, when the time comes, when we are put in positions, either to be an ally for somebody else or an advocate for our own self, we are able to step in with confidence and make those decisions and step into the spaces and use our voices in ways that opens the doors for other people. Thank you for being part of this growing ecosystem of strategy, story, and belonging. If you've ever led an employee resource group, if you've ever mentored someone, if you've ever hired somebody and managed their work over an extended time, or if you've ever shared something and helped them feel seen, you're already part of this work. Keep thriving in your intersectionality because you matter, your words matter, your thoughts matter, your skills and talent matters, and how can you be a part of someone else's belonging journey? Thank you for listening. Be a part of our community. I will invite you to share some of your feedback, connect with me on LinkedIn, let me know your thoughts on these episodes. And if you want to be part of this growing ecosystem of allies and advocates who are supporting and using their stories and their voices to inspire others to action, reach out to me. I would love to chat. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. If you are an HR or DEI leader and you need employer resource group or business resource group resources, let's connect and LinkedIn and help organizations build inclusive cultures through inclusive workplace communities, strategy, and storytelling. Immigrants and first-gen professionals, join our free community at www.immigrantsincorporate.org for career support, networking, and resources in community with peers who understand your journey. Tag our podcast page on LinkedIn or connect with me directly to continue the conversation. Please don't forget to rate and review to help others discover these discussions. Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters. I'm Dr. Lola Adeymo, and this has been Thriving in Intersectionality Podcast.