828: Belonging That Works: Beyond the DEI Checkbox with CEO Jean Ibañez Payne
Wed Sep 17 2025
Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and mental health.
Founder/CEO Jean Ibañez Payne of TI Verbatim Consulting shares how to build humane, people-first cultures—without outsourcing leadership to HR—and her courageous journey as a military sexual trauma survivor choosing healing, daily.
Highlights “Going to work shouldn’t suck”: why culture starts at the top, not in HR
What HR can do—and why it can’t fix leadership problems alone
How TIVC blends qualitative interviews + natural-language AI to turn employee feelings into decisions leaders can act on
Equality vs. equity you won’t forget (think: the job is on the 2nd floor—equity is the elevator)
Layoffs with humanity: transparency, notice, benefits, and reputation
Jean’s story as a military sexual trauma survivor: shame, rock bottom, and choosing life
Daily practices to reclaim your worth: therapy, medication without stigma, movement, community, and permission to step back
Quotes “Culture starts at the top. You can’t outsource leadership to HR.”
“Equality is being qualified for the job on the second floor. Equity is the elevator.”
“Being perfect is too boring.”
“I stopped outsourcing my worth—and I chose to live.”
About our guest Jean Ibañez Payne is the founder & CEO of TI Verbatim Consulting (TIVC), a culture and people-operations firm using AI + human expertise to align leadership strategy with what employees actually feel and experience. She’s a Certified Diversity Executive and the author of Reclaim Your Worth (also in Spanish and a children’s edition).
Links & Mentions Jean’s site: https://reclaimyourworthnow.com
Book (English): Reclaim Your Worth
Libro (Español): Recupera tu valor
TI Verbatim Consulting (TIVC): https://www.tiverbatim.com
Connect Jean: LinkedIn
Elayne: LinkedIn
Listen & share: Send this episode to a leader ready to build a humane workplace.
Resources & Support If you’re in immediate danger: Call 911 (U.S.) or your local emergency number.
Sexual assault support (U.S.)
RAINN – National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 800-656-HOPE (4673) · Chat: https://hotline.rainn.org/online
DoD Safe Helpline (24/7, military survivors): 877-995-5247 · https://www.safehelpline.org
NSVRC – National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org (education + local program finder)
Mental health & crisis (U.S.)
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7): Call or text 988 · Chat: https://988lifeline.org (Veterans: press 1)
Crisis Text Line (24/7): Text HOME to 741741 · https://www.crisistextline.org
SAMHSA National Helpline (24/7): 800-662-HELP (4357) · https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
FindTreatment.gov: https://findtreatment.gov
NAMI HelpLine (M–F): 800-950-NAMI (6264) · Text HelpLine to 62640 · https://www.nami.org/help
National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 800-799-SAFE (7233) · Text START to 88788 · https://www.thehotline.org
Outside the U.S.
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP): Global crisis center directory: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/
If this episode was helpful, please share follow, rate, and review—your support helps more listeners find these stories.
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Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and mental health. Founder/CEO Jean Ibañez Payne of TI Verbatim Consulting shares how to build humane, people-first cultures—without outsourcing leadership to HR—and her courageous journey as a military sexual trauma survivor choosing healing, daily. Highlights “Going to work shouldn’t suck”: why culture starts at the top, not in HR What HR can do—and why it can’t fix leadership problems alone How TIVC blends qualitative interviews + natural-language AI to turn employee feelings into decisions leaders can act on Equality vs. equity you won’t forget (think: the job is on the 2nd floor—equity is the elevator) Layoffs with humanity: transparency, notice, benefits, and reputation Jean’s story as a military sexual trauma survivor: shame, rock bottom, and choosing life Daily practices to reclaim your worth: therapy, medication without stigma, movement, community, and permission to step back Quotes “Culture starts at the top. You can’t outsource leadership to HR.” “Equality is being qualified for the job on the second floor. Equity is the elevator.” “Being perfect is too boring.” “I stopped outsourcing my worth—and I chose to live.” About our guest Jean Ibañez Payne is the founder & CEO of TI Verbatim Consulting (TIVC), a culture and people-operations firm using AI + human expertise to align leadership strategy with what employees actually feel and experience. She’s a Certified Diversity Executive and the author of Reclaim Your Worth (also in Spanish and a children’s edition). Links & Mentions Jean’s site: https://reclaimyourworthnow.com Book (English): Reclaim Your Worth Libro (Español): Recupera tu valor TI Verbatim Consulting (TIVC): https://www.tiverbatim.com Connect Jean: LinkedIn Elayne: LinkedIn Listen & share: Send this episode to a leader ready to build a humane workplace. Resources & Support If you’re in immediate danger: Call 911 (U.S.) or your local emergency number. Sexual assault support (U.S.) RAINN – National Sexual Assault Hotline (24/7): 800-656-HOPE (4673) · Chat: https://hotline.rainn.org/online DoD Safe Helpline (24/7, military survivors): 877-995-5247 · https://www.safehelpline.org NSVRC – National Sexual Violence Resource Center: https://www.nsvrc.org (education + local program finder) Mental health & crisis (U.S.) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7): Call or text 988 · Chat: https://988lifeline.org (Veterans: press 1) Crisis Text Line (24/7): Text HOME to 741741 · https://www.crisistextline.org SAMHSA National Helpline (24/7): 800-662-HELP (4357) · https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline FindTreatment.gov: https://findtreatment.gov NAMI HelpLine (M–F): 800-950-NAMI (6264) · Text HelpLine to 62640 · https://www.nami.org/help National Domestic Violence Hotline (24/7): 800-799-SAFE (7233) · Text START to 88788 · https://www.thehotline.org Outside the U.S. International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP): Global crisis center directory: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ If this episode was helpful, please share follow, rate, and review—your support helps more listeners find these stories.