Corporate structures and cultural conditioning have made women of color believe that in order to “fit in” and become successful, they must hide or change their true selves. As a result, many of them have scars from climbing the corporate ladder. As the first Indian woman to become a partner at Deloitte, Deepa Purushothaman experienced this isolation and burnout firsthand. In her new book, THE FIRST, THE FEW, THE ONLY: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America (March 1, 2022, Harper Business), she lays the groundwork for how other women of color can redefine success on their own terms. It’s the book she says she needed when launching her own career. Purushothaman believes that workplaces must evolve with the culture and that women of color have the potential to lead that transformation.

In this episode of the Embracing Only Podcast Olivia and Archita dive deep into the research that had them nodding and going ‘yes, yes, yes!’ to all the experiences Deepa outlines in this book. They tackle pushing back against toxic messaging—including the things we tell ourselves. Embracing the valuable cultural viewpoints and experiences that give us unique perspectives at work. Fully realising our own strengths to build collective power. Confronting microaggressions, outdated norms, and workplace misconceptions. Creating cultures where belonging is never conditional, and reworking corporations to be genuinely inclusive to all.

Her book is a page turner if you find yourself as ‘a first, a few, an only’, an ally or someone who doesn’t identify as a woman of color. We encourage you to step into the stories of the 500 women to find power and strength in your own personal journey! You can hear Deepa share her journey on iHeartRadio, Guy Kawasaki’s ‘Remarkable People’ podcast and many more.

You can purchase Deepa’s book at your local woman owned bookstore or on Amazon.

PC: Leslie Bohm