Choosing Yourself: Boundaries, Authenticity, and Peace at Work.
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this episode of Being Brown at Work Live, I finally sat down with the incredible Natalie Parker, founder of Natalie Parker Enterprises and host of the podcast "So Your Boss Sucks, Now What?"
Natalie and I stripped away the corporate "safe-speak" to talk about the real work of 2026: Self-Preservation. We explored why Black and Brown women often default to service and performative excellence at the expense of our own health and purpose. Natalie's own 2022 near-death experience served as a powerful reminder that we have "one life to live", and we shouldn't spend it all putting points on someone else's scoreboard.
The Heart of Our Conversation: The Performative Trap: We discussed how we've been conditioned since childhood to work for the "gold star." But in the corporate world, that 80-hour week often leads to burnout, not the promotion you were promised.
The "Oven Drawer" Reality: Just because you've always used your career a certain way doesn't mean it's its true purpose. Your job is a transactional agreement—it is a tool for your life, not the totality of it.
Managing Up in a Self-Awareness Vacuum: With only 8–12% of people possessing true self-awareness, your manager might be "sucking the life out of you" without even realizing it. We discussed why their lack of training is not your burden to bear.
Join our free community! The AMA Collective
Ready to take control of your career and earn what you're truly worth? This episode is sponsored by the Salary Bump Accelerator. If you're ready to make thousands more in your next salary negotiation, the Salary Bump Accelerator is your proven system. Packed with everything you need to prepare like a pro, negotiate with confidence, and land a total compensation package that reflects your value, this program is designed to get you paid what you deserve.
As a loyal listener, you get 15% off with the code BEING15. Go to https://thesalarybump.com/salary-accelerator/ to get started.
Connect with Natalie:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-renee-parker/
Instagram: @natalieparkerenterprises
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In this episode of Being Brown at Work Live, I finally sat down with the incredible Natalie Parker, founder of Natalie Parker Enterprises and host of the podcast "So Your Boss Sucks, Now What?" Natalie and I stripped away the corporate "safe-speak" to talk about the real work of 2026: Self-Preservation. We explored why Black and Brown women often default to service and performative excellence at the expense of our own health and purpose. Natalie's own 2022 near-death experience served as a powerful reminder that we have "one life to live", and we shouldn't spend it all putting points on someone else's scoreboard. The Heart of Our Conversation: The Performative Trap: We discussed how we've been conditioned since childhood to work for the "gold star." But in the corporate world, that 80-hour week often leads to burnout, not the promotion you were promised. The "Oven Drawer" Reality: Just because you've always used your career a certain way doesn't mean it's its true purpose. Your job is a transactional agreement—it is a tool for your life, not the totality of it. Managing Up in a Self-Awareness Vacuum: With only 8–12% of people possessing true self-awareness, your manager might be "sucking the life out of you" without even realizing it. We discussed why their lack of training is not your burden to bear. Join our free community! The AMA Collective Ready to take control of your career and earn what you're truly worth? This episode is sponsored by the Salary Bump Accelerator. If you're ready to make thousands more in your next salary negotiation, the Salary Bump Accelerator is your proven system. Packed with everything you need to prepare like a pro, negotiate with confidence, and land a total compensation package that reflects your value, this program is designed to get you paid what you deserve. As a loyal listener, you get 15% off with the code BEING15. Go to https://thesalarybump.com/salary-accelerator/ to get started. Connect with Natalie: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-renee-parker/ Instagram: @natalieparkerenterprises