Being a Black Woman in corporate 🥴

Let’s be real—being a Black woman in corporate is a whole experience.

You show up early. You work twice as hard. You bite your tongue in meetings when someone talks over you or steals your idea. You shrink yourself to seem less aggressive but stay assertive enough to prove you belong.

And somehow, despite the effort, you’re still overlooked, underpaid, and exhausted.

The truth is, corporate spaces were never designed for us—but that doesn’t mean we have to destroy ourselves trying to fit in.

The Stress of "Being Twice as Good"

If you grew up hearing “You have to work twice as hard to get half as much”, you already know:

The pressure is real.

📌 Black women in the UK earn up to 20% less than white men in similar roles.
📌 Only 0.9% of senior leaders in FTSE 100 companies are Black.
📌 Black women report higher stress levels and lower job satisfaction due to microaggressions and lack of support.

The unspoken rules of corporate life often mean:
⚡ Code-switching to “fit in”
⚡ Being labelled as “too aggressive” for simply speaking up
⚡ Watching less-qualified colleagues get promoted while you’re told to “just be patient”
⚡ Carrying the emotional labour of being the “only one” in the room

This constant hyper-vigilance and emotional labour isn’t just frustrating—it’s harmful.

The Hidden Cost: Chronic Stress & Burnout

Black women in corporate experience chronic stress at higher rates, and that stress shows up in our bodies.

🔹 Elevated cortisol levels (the stress hormone) lead to high blood pressure & anxiety.
🔹 "Weathering"—the premature aging of Black women due to long-term stress.
🔹 Higher risks of hypertension, fibroids, and autoimmune disorders linked to stress.

And yet, when we ask for support, set boundaries, or advocate for ourselves, we’re met with side-eyes, gaslighting, or being labelled as "difficult."

So how do we navigate these spaces without losing ourselves?

Healing in a System Not Built for Us

Here’s the thing: corporate culture isn’t changing overnight. But we can change how we show up—without sacrificing our well-being.

✨ Prioritise Nervous System Regulation – You don’t have to “push through” stress. Take breaks, breathe deeply, and use somatic healing techniques (like grounding & breathwork) to stay balanced.

✨ Release the "Strong Black Woman" Trope – Strength is knowing when to rest. You don’t have to carry everything alone. Find safe spaces (therapy, support groups, mentors) where you can be soft, vulnerable, and human.

✨ Reclaim Rest as Resistance – Corporate culture thrives on our overwork. Setting boundaries, saying no, and choosing rest is radical.

✨ Use Sound & Movement to Process Stress – Whether it’s sound healing, drumming, dancing, or simply humming—it all helps to release tension stored in the body.

✨ Affirm Your Worth (Even When They Don’t) – If they can’t see your value, that’s their problem, not yours. Walk in your brilliance, and remember: you deserve to take up space.

The corporate world will take everything you give and still ask for more.

So protect your peace. Protect your body. Protect your joy. ✨