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In this episode, we delve into the concept of being "qualified" in the workplace, examining who gets labeled as such, who doesn't, and the underlying reasons. We explore "competency checking"—the practice of scrutinizing individuals' abilities—and how it disproportionately affects underrepresented groups, often going unnoticed or unchallenged. Our discussion aims to redefine qualifications in a fair, equitable, and actionable manner. Our guest, Shari Dunn , is an accomplished journalist, former attorney, news anchor, CEO, university professor, and sought-after speaker. She has been recognized as Executive of the Year and a Woman of Influence, with her work appearing in Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, and more. Her new book, Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work , unpacks what it truly means to be deserving and capable—and why systemic barriers, not personal deficits, are often the real problem. Her insights challenge the narratives that hold so many of us back and offer practical solutions for building a more equitable future. Together, we can build workplaces and communities that don’t just reflect the world we live in, but the one we want to create. A world where being qualified is about recognizing the talent and potential that’s been overlooked for far too long. It’s not just about getting a seat at the table—it’s about building an entirely new table, one designed with space for all of us. Connect with Our Guest Shari Dunn Website& Book - Qualified: https://thesharidunn.com LI: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/sharidunn TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesharidunn Related Podcast Episodes: How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272 Holding It Together: Women As America's Safety Net with Jessica Calarco | 215 How To Defy Expectations with Dr. Sunita Sah | 271 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…
Content provided by Balance Beam Podcast and Naketa Thigpen. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Balance Beam Podcast and Naketa Thigpen or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Balance Beam is a weekly podcast hosted by ThigPro President and CEO, Naketa Thigpen, featuring conversation-style interviews with a wide array of industry experts who share business experiences and tips as they candidly discuss how they balance their personal and professional lives. Chock full of valuable nuggets, Balance Beam is perfect for the business owners, thought leaders and executives of today as well as the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
Content provided by Balance Beam Podcast and Naketa Thigpen. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Balance Beam Podcast and Naketa Thigpen or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
Balance Beam is a weekly podcast hosted by ThigPro President and CEO, Naketa Thigpen, featuring conversation-style interviews with a wide array of industry experts who share business experiences and tips as they candidly discuss how they balance their personal and professional lives. Chock full of valuable nuggets, Balance Beam is perfect for the business owners, thought leaders and executives of today as well as the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.
On this extra-special edition of the Balance Beam Podcast, Naketa is joined by Jennifer Lynn Robinson who shares her incredibly inspiring story of endurance, perseverance, reinvention and faith. Jennifer is the CEO and Founder of Purposeful Networking whose goal is to help people be more comfortable and confident with their networking. She conducts workshops, seminars and speaking engagements for workplaces, business associations, non-profits and conferences. She also provides one-on-one consulting to help individuals maximize their relationships and sales through a comprehensive and personalized networking plan. Jennifer’s accomplishments and exceptional acumen is something to behold but to know what it truly means to survive and thrive, this episode is a must!…
Internationally recognized Leadership Development expert, Lisè Schwartz joins host Naketa Thigpen as this week’s guest on the Balance Beam Podcast. Lisè began her own practice after over 20 years in Fortune 500 companies spearheading change and development through training, communications, organizational development and the innovative use of media. After successfully launching a Career Change program for a global utility company in 2012, Ms. Schwartz began working with a new segment of the workforce; the career transition candidate. Her practice has grown to include developing emerging careers and reinventing candidates by helping translate skills and competencies from one industry or role, to another. Topics discussed include corresponding with millennials, work-life balance vs work-life integration and the intricacies in working for Fortune 100 companies.…
This episode of the Balance Beam Podcast has a lot of pop as Naketa welcomes Popcorn Productions Founder and CEO, Deborah Asseraf to the show. After working for three years at ABC Television coordinating large-scale galas & concerts, Deborah decided she had her fill of cookie cutter events and started Popcorn Productions in 2013. Popcorn Productions strengthens positioning by making business owners distinct from the competition and then creates unique experiences targeted at current and past clients resulting in upsells, new business and an increase in loyalty. Topics discussed include the worth of referrals, business remedies found in stillness and what you can find when you put your smartphone on timeout. All this and much, much more on this edition of the Balance Beam Podcast.…
On this episode of the Balance Beam Podcast, Naketa welcomes prominent author and presenter on numerous topics including, Time Management, Goal Setting, Sales Strategies and Business Lessons for Entrepreneurs – Mark Csordos to the Balance Beam Podcast. Owner of Csordos Communications, Mark has received write-ups in over fifty publications including The New York Times, Vogue and Entrepreneur. He joins us on the heels of his latest book, Selling Entrepreneur Style: Soft Selling Success & How Anyone Can Go from Ordinary to EXTRAordinary, which hit #8 on Amazon.com’s Kindle Entrepreneur list. Among topics discussed: how to power down, being in the moment, the sovereignty of ‘no’ and the common misconceptions of multitasking. If you’re looking to fine-tune your personal business practices, this is a great episode to kickstart yourself in gear. Please take a moment to subscribe, rate and comment.…
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