Science & Technology

4 Ways to Redefine Power at Work to Include Women of Color | Rha Goddess & Deepa Purushothaman | TED

Published

4 years ago

March 8, 2022

With many women of color considering exiting the workforce due to unfair conditions, it’s time to reshape systems in order to put an end to this massive loss of talent. Exposing the harmful repercussions of racist, toxic organizational cultures, soul coach Rha Goddess and corporate inclusion visionary Deepa Purushothaman share four pathways to reimagine work so women of color are centered as leaders. They urge us to aspire to more than a “seat at the table” and, instead, to remake the whole table — together — and finally stop fighting for “one broke-ass chair.”

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.

Become a TED Member:
Follow TED on Twitter:
Like TED on Facebook:
Subscribe to our channel:

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

Up Next

Mac Studio and Studio Display: Everything to know

Don't Miss

LIVE: Apple’s March 8 ‘Peek Performance’ Event: CNET Watch Party

21 Comments

Usman Ali

March 8, 2022 at 8:01 pm

Wow ???? beautiful ❤️

Reply
ShaunieBNaturalista

March 8, 2022 at 8:04 pm

This woman of color has no interest in corporate america. I started my own business. I’m making more money than ever before. The system is not broken. It functions exactly as it was intended to function.

Reply
Kevin1996galvez Galvez

March 8, 2022 at 8:09 pm

First comment.

Reply
outlander

March 8, 2022 at 8:15 pm

Im so tired of the “people of color” term. Stop lumping all non-whites together. We do not have the same experiences in America! A lot of “minorities” are even racist towards each other!

Reply
Meriem mira

March 8, 2022 at 8:21 pm

first com

Reply
Aidai Bektursunova

March 8, 2022 at 8:34 pm

Perfect

Reply
Elisabete Monteiro

March 8, 2022 at 9:11 pm

And because of all that We are still demanding too much of ourselves! I don’t think the solution is to glamorise that, no sirs! Sad! Let us be! And be and be… whatever we want to be.

Reply
Reedan Al Ahmad

March 8, 2022 at 9:24 pm

❤❤❤

Reply
Matthew Morton

March 8, 2022 at 9:26 pm

Is white a color?

Reply
- Daniel Naranjo
  
  March 8, 2022 at 9:37 pm
  
  No
  
  Reply
- Those Who Wander
  
  March 8, 2022 at 10:58 pm
  
  No. It’s the absence of color.
  
  Reply
- Bless Em
  
  March 8, 2022 at 11:33 pm
  
  @Daniel Naranjo it isn’t?
  
  Reply
- Dialectical Monist
  
  March 9, 2022 at 1:00 am
  
  It’s “a” color, but not “of” color.
  
  To be “of” color, you have to have a searing passive aggressive rage induced psychotic persona.
  
  Reply
- Prithvi Sukka
  
  March 9, 2022 at 4:59 am
  
  Isn’t white the absence of color
  
  Reply
- Narrative Gatherer
  
  March 9, 2022 at 3:49 pm
  
  @Daniel Naranjo white is the absence of color, eh?
  
  Reply
Jordan Ellis

March 8, 2022 at 9:38 pm

“People of color is an awkward phrase that obscures meaning rather than enhancing it.” -George Carlin

Reply
- InfinitiveZ
  
  March 8, 2022 at 10:19 pm
  
  Carlin also said that in regards to utilizing the term to only mean Black people, because at the time, it was the only instance in which that term was being used. To dog whistle the old term, “colored people”.
  
  Carlin would likely woop your ass right now for insinuating during an age like this, where people of color are utilizing it to represent their minority populations and cultures in the US, that he had any misgivings for a term they themselves are using to recognize one another. So you can sit down now.
  
  Reply
InfinitiveZ

March 8, 2022 at 10:34 pm

I’m just going to bet right off the bat, there’s going to be like 250 comments about how two women of color shouldn’t be talking about color, on a topic that demands we recognize WHY there’s so few women of color in the workforce and leadership.

Seems employers can pick and choose based on skin color all they like, but the moment we even dare mention it, we become the problem.

Reply
Anthony Benton

March 9, 2022 at 12:01 am

Two successful women of colour talking about women of colour being disadvantaged, to an auditorium of mainly white women. Yep…

Reply
Boitumelo Sandra Phoma

March 9, 2022 at 10:33 am

This is everything!!!!

Reply
Amu Shakya

March 9, 2022 at 10:36 am

No offense intended but is her surname goddess or did she rename herself as ‘Goddess’?

Reply

Science & Technology

When A Down Round Actually Saved a Startup

Down rounds carry a stigma, but they’re not always the end of a startup’s story. Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures shares an example of a company that survived a difficult fundraising process involving a down round and investor-friendly terms. It wasn’t easy, but making the hard financing decision ultimately gave the company a chance to…

Published

19 hours ago

July 11, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Down rounds carry a stigma, but they’re not always the end of a startup’s story.

Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures shares an example of a company that survived a difficult fundraising process involving a down round and investor-friendly terms. It wasn’t easy, but making the hard financing decision ultimately gave the company a chance to keep building.

For founders, the lesson is simple: The best fundraising outcome isn’t always the highest valuation — it’s the one that keeps your business alive.

Get more of Hudson’s advice in the latest Build Mode podcast episode wherever you prefer your pods.

CNET

The Ultimate Meal Kit Buyer’s Guide: Cheapest vs. Best Quality

Choosing the right meal kit can be tough, given the many budget, dietary and time-saving factors to consider. We break down premium, midtier and affordable services to help you pick the best subscription for your kitchen. 00:00 Intro to Meal Kits 00:37 Considering the Price and Budget Options 01:55 Premium and Mid-Range Meal Kit Services…

Published

1 day ago

July 11, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

00:00 Intro to Meal Kits
00:37 Considering the Price and Budget Options
01:55 Premium and Mid-Range Meal Kit Services
03:06 Navigating Dietary Restrictions
04:00 Pre-Prepared vs. Cook-Your-Own Ingredients
05:47 The Best Overall Meal Kit Recommendation

Add CNET as a trusted news source
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Check out CNET’s Amazon Storefront:

Subscribe to CNET on YouTube:
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Bluesky:
Like us on Facebook:
CNET’s AI Atlas:
Follow us on X:
Visit CNET.com:

Science & Technology

These Two Founder Archetypes Are Catching Investors’ Eyes

Do you fit into one of the trendiest founder archetypes? Fundraising has always been competitive, but today’s market is especially tough for first-time founders. In the latest episode of our Build Mode podcast, Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures breaks down the most popular founder archetypes right now: repeat founders with proven track records and exceptionally…

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Do you fit into one of the trendiest founder archetypes?

Fundraising has always been competitive, but today’s market is especially tough for first-time founders. In the latest episode of our Build Mode podcast, Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures breaks down the most popular founder archetypes right now: repeat founders with proven track records and exceptionally young technical founders.

That leaves experienced, first-time founders facing a higher bar, even when they have a compelling business idea. But there’s still hope! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.