Navigating Bias and Embracing Identity in Corporate Spaces
Dr. Delia Grenville, an executive leader, integral coach, and TEDx speaker, offers a compelling look at navigating bias and embracing identity in corporate spaces through the lens of her own experiences.
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Delia is a strategic powerhouse with a PhD in industrial and systems engineering. She's an award-winning technologist and innovator and was honored as the Woman of Color STEM Technologist of the Year. Today, she's the founder and CEO of Slyn Consulting and Workplace Respect Network and focuses on individual and organizational transformation.
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1) Understanding Bias
As the daughter of immigrant parents in Canada, Delia has always known what it feels like to be an “only”.
“It's the only situation that we knew [...] and so it sets you up for that to be normative.” - Delia Grenville
However, Delia explains that in some ways, it wasn’t an issue for her because she wasn’t looking at herself. She was looking at everyone else.
“It wasn't anything for me because I don't see from outside of myself. I see from inside of myself, and I'm just in the room with everybody else.” - Delia Grenville
What concerned Delia growing up was producing and performing as a human being. The goal was for her to one day get a degree.
“Growing up in that way really fortified my point of view and way of being in any space because I was coming into the space as a human.” - Delia Grenville
As an immigrant herself, Oliva resonates with what Delia is saying.
“When I think of my own journey, showing up in a space, not realizing that I'm different, but then you're quickly reminded that you're different. You may not see it, but the environmental feedback, it's every day, it's constant.” - Olivia Cream
However, Delia emphasises that it is a uniquely American thing to be reminded of your blackness so frequently.
“We don't have the narrative of being non-white in our heads drilled down as it is in the American narrative.” - Delia Grenville
Delia has mentored many undergraduate students, and they all say the same thing:
“I didn't know I was black, mixed race, Indian, Portuguese, Dominican, or whatever I was until I got to the United States.”
It was only when Delia came to America in her twenties that her race became a constant part of the narrative.
“I don't think people applaud Americans of color enough for how they are able to withstand this mental barrage of constantly being reminded of difference.” - Delia Grenville
2) The Power of Embracing Your Identity
One of the ways Delia has been able to navigate this racial bias is by having a stand for who she is.
“I know I am Delia Grenville. I know I'm the daughter of immigrants.
I know that my rules are Guyanese fundamentally. I knew that I was going to university at five years old. I know all of those things. That's my stand for myself, and I bring that into every room with me.” - Delia Grenville
Not only does Delia know and remember that her parents moved in their twenties to try and make a better life for her but she carries with her her ancestry and what her ancestors have gone through to get her to where she is today.
“I don't go in as Delia Grenville. [...] I have to stand all of those people behind me. And when things are going tough, I don't forget that. I remember that I am the daughter of Hyacinth Grenville and Nelson Grenville, and they wouldn't put up with this. So whether or not Delia wants to put up with it, she needs to take a stand for those people who made a sacrifice for her.” - Delia Grenville
It is empowering to be comfortable in your own skin, your internal values, and your ancestry, and to know what you will and won’t tolerate because then, no matter what room you walk into, nobody can tell you who you are because you already know.
3) Recognizing Bias
Bias exists everywhere, but it isn’t always overt.
Delia explains that when you’re working hard and not getting the recognition you deserve, it then becomes a matter of how you are going to internalize this situation.
“Are you going to allow this to destroy you or are you going to allow it to distract you or are you going to find another path?” - Delia Grenville
So often, we stay too long in a space, trying to fix the situation when really we need to get out.
“When you see it the first time, believe it.” - Delia Grenville
Delia explains that even if we recognize the bias, we try to dismiss it as something else.
“One of the things about ADHD is you are very sensitive to criticism because you usually were hyper-criticized as a child because your brain didn't work like everybody else's. [...] And so I think we have that sort of sensitivity dysphoria within us as well as women.” - Delia Grenville
This is known as Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).
We have been conditioned to mask, to become amenable to our environment, and to people please.
“What I want to tell women is don't beat yourself up. Believe what you're seeing in the space. It's probably not you.” - Delia Grenville
If possible, leave that space. There are other spaces for you to thrive in.
“You have a better chance at creating the reality you want in a space that sees the dream and you the way you see it.” - Delia Grenville
4) Finding the Right Corporate Environment for Growth
One thing that we have heard from so many of our guests and listeners is that toxic workplaces will eat you alive one drop at a time.
“Quitting is not a bad thing. If the environment is sucking your soul, if you are literally dying a little bit every day inside, remove yourself immediately. Go find another path.” - Olivia Cream
Recently, we’ve been talking about the concept of leaning into what you do with ease. This applies to our environments as well.
“We're not saying be reckless. We're not saying quit your job today. [...] What we're saying is acknowledge your environment, [...] decide you need to remove yourself, and then take intentional steps to do so.” - Olivia Cream
You may not be ready to leave corporate and start your entrepreneurial journey. That does not have to be your goal.
“Corporate doesn't mean that you're loyal to a single company because they did whatever for you.” - Olivia Cream
If you find yourself being passed over for a promotion time and time again for a man who is less qualified than you, the universe is signaling to you to remove yourself from that space.
“It is signaling to you that you are misaligned in your mission. The space is misaligned for your ability to grow, so go find a new space. There's infinite opportunities in corporate.” - Olivia Cream
Leave the company that you are misaligned with and realign to a place that's going to let you be the asset that you are.
5) Stop Gaslighting Yourself
Delia explains that the colonizing mentality, which spurs from patriarchy, is so embedded in us that we often find ourselves questioning if the bias that happened against us actually happened.
“We've got to catch our stories.” - Archita Fritz
We are gaslighting ourselves with the stories that we tell ourselves.
“We tell stories of situations that have happened, especially when we are rejected, that leads to rumination, self-blame, and it really intensifies that emotional response.” - Archita Fritz
Interupt that pattern by noticing when you are caught up in stories.
“Are these actual facts, or is this a story I'm telling myself as a response to someone rejecting me?” - Archita Fritz
For example, when your boss asks you to call him, do you immediately assume you are in trouble? Are there any facts that support this story that you have told yourself?
“We've just been so conditioned and our neurodivergence [...] has been weaponized against us in the fabric of society that we think these things are normal. So if someone calls us out, I'm wrong. I must have done something.” - Delia Grenville
Perhaps you are not wrong but it is the system that you are in that is wrong.
“I'm not wrong. I just need to move myself into a situation where I could be considered right.” - Delia Grenville
The biggest theme that has come up in Delia’s decades of working is that you are completely right. Situations will arise to test you on this.
“Rather than doing the narrative of beating yourself up, [...] I take it as an opportunity to test my stand for my rightness, for my ability to embrace who I am.” - Delia Grenville
Whatever the situation may be, you may need to apologize or the other person may need to make a change, take it from the stance that you as yourself are perfectly whole.
6) Holding Space as an “Only”
In Delia’s previous job, they used to have summer interns. Oftentimes, these interns would complain about how hard it was.
Delia would tell them that because there are so few people of color in this space, their job is just to make it through the internship. They need someone who looks like them in that space now so that in a couple of years, the number of people who look like them in that space can multiply.
“You are holding the space so that somebody else can get an opportunity. That's your whole job.” - Delia Grenville
Sometimes just your mere presence in a space opens and holds open the door for the people that are coming behind you.
“That is the mission: to take up space so that space expands through others.” - Olivia Cream
Give yourself permission to take up space and not feel pressured to perform for that space.
“If you are the first, you are the only. [...] Recognize that the only thing on your success card, the only thing on your performance objective, is I'm going to hold this space.” - Archita Fritz
Delia explains that as women and people of color, we are on a multigenerational mission to balance the narrative of patriarchy.
“Sometimes all you are is a soldier, a person in the spot. That is what you’ve got to do. That's your historical contribution to what's coming ahead.” - Delia Grenville
In an individualistic society, like the one we are in right now in the United States, Delia explains that we tend not to think about the collective.
“We [people from immigrant backgrounds] bring that collective perspective into the conversation.” - Delia Grenville
7) Taking Control of Your Success
Delia co-designed a strategy to help professionals take control of their careers. At the time, this was specifically for junior managers trying to get to middle manager rankings.
“What we were looking at helping people understand is that you can't get there with the strategy that you're using right now.” - Delia Grenville
The strategy that people usually used was doing everything to tick the boxes and get rewarded on their performance.
“You have to come up with another set of metrics for yourself that are going to get you to your goal.” - Delia Grenville
This program was about getting to the next level (or your ultimate level) without looking for the approval of others.
“One set of truths is always constant; your success starts and ends with you. You are one different decision away from changing the narrative in your own story. So don't be afraid to take control.” - Olivia Cream
There is an army of coaches and professionals out there willing to go on that journey with you if you just decide that you're ready for the journey.
If you enjoyed this conversation, here are a few more episodes you might like:
Episode 84: Owning Your Brilliance: Thriving as an “Only” with Lola Bakare
Episode 80: Strategies for Women to Thrive in Corporate Spaces with Kisha Wynter
Episode 65: Leveraging Your Uniqueness For Success with Lisa Hurley
To hear the full conversation, scroll all the way up and tune in to episode 86.
About The Hosts: Archita And Olivia
ARCHITA
Archita Sivakumar Fritz is the Host and Producer of the Embracing Only Podcast. Archita is a MedTech and Life Science Strategist. She is a LinkedIn Top Voice for her insights into product strategy and nonprofit management, and the creation of inclusive cultures that champion a 'speak up' philosophy.
Following a successful 19+ year corporate career she now helps C Suite across organizations as a Fractional Product Marketing Leader through her company Ready Set Bold.
She works with individuals with 10+ years of corporate experience to find new paths away from toxic or underappreciative environments, enabling both personal fulfillment and broader organizational impact.
→ Grab your FREE resource to build your career transition here: https://embracingonly.com/cubicle-escape-blueprint
→ If you want to work with Archita you can reach out to her here: www.readysetb.
→ Book her as a speaker, moderator, or coach for your next company event or workshop.
OLIVIA
Olivia Grant Cream is the host and producer of the Embracing Only podcast. Nothing makes her happier than providing a platform to women who are changing the world.
Olivia is a proud US Veteran and HR Leader who is passionate about changing the face of corporate America by helping underrepresented people reclaim their power and live the life of their dreams.
She is an advocate for transitioning military members seeking second careers in the corporate landscape.
Olivia is a proud Jamaican and enjoys mentoring, coaching, classic cars, and nature. The way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
→ You can work with Olivia here: www.oliviacre
→ Book her as a keynote speaker or moderator for your next ERG or company event.