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The myth of bringing your full, authentic self to work | Jodi-Ann Burey

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Calls for authenticity at work ask for passionate people with diverse, fresh perspectives who challenge old ways of thinking. But too often workplace culture fails to support the authenticity of professionals of color and other underrepresented groups, leading instead…

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

Calls for authenticity at work ask for passionate people with diverse, fresh perspectives who challenge old ways of thinking. But too often workplace culture fails to support the authenticity of professionals of color and other underrepresented groups, leading instead to backlash and fewer opportunities. Writer Jodi-Ann Burey outlines steps toward exposing privilege and achieving true equity on the job — and implores those in leadership positions to accept responsibility for change.

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.

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76 Comments

76 Comments

  1. J-HUNTER

    March 30, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    Make em understand sis

  2. Jake Roselli

    March 30, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    more professional whiners brought to you by Ted…

    • E con

      March 30, 2021 at 11:56 pm

      Yep they brought you here right on time 😉

  3. SUGIPULABOULE

    March 30, 2021 at 10:24 pm

    So beautiful lady !!!

  4. SAN VET

    March 30, 2021 at 10:26 pm

    Love from indonesian .

  5. Diana Pina

    March 30, 2021 at 10:27 pm

    Great speech!

  6. Jessica Foster

    March 30, 2021 at 10:28 pm

    Everyone has had this experience at work. The difference is if you’re CIS/white, you don’t get to make excuses about it and use labels to hide behind and not have to examine our own behavior. So tired of this nonsense

  7. J-HUNTER

    March 30, 2021 at 10:28 pm

    Wow nobody clapped. That means she said that to the right crowd

    • E D

      March 30, 2021 at 10:42 pm

      No crowd due to covid? Beginning a sound played!?

  8. parsimonies

    March 30, 2021 at 10:44 pm

    cant get anymore backwards than this

  9. dragonlover3

    March 30, 2021 at 10:53 pm

    Amazing

  10. TOY BOX BRAIN

    March 30, 2021 at 11:10 pm

    LGBTQVHSI+MNOP-SWSM+PIP

  11. B Barns

    March 30, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    She described my daily experience

  12. Cloud ‘

    March 30, 2021 at 11:24 pm

    THIS!!! Feels so good to hear her say the truth. Esp in non profits don’t even get me started

  13. Jeffrey Valkenburg

    March 30, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    Protection of my whiteness? Whom is judging now? To be disagreeable has a toll no matter what race. That makes it difficult but not wrong. Reverse racism is not the answer

    • E con

      March 30, 2021 at 11:55 pm

      reverse racism? 😂

  14. Veronica Rodriguez

    March 30, 2021 at 11:26 pm

    I’ll pass thanks.
    I’ll be me at work regardless ❤

  15. tbukic

    March 30, 2021 at 11:30 pm

    Why does TED publish this rasist nonsense?

  16. cybersekkin

    March 30, 2021 at 11:32 pm

    This holds true for everyone. We value family first, until it causes a problem for the company. Bring your true self to work, as long as it meshes with everyone else. Speak up, except when you disagree with us. This is business and goes against everyone in the business, it is not based on race.

  17. Rachael J

    March 30, 2021 at 11:34 pm

    This is such a needed talk during this time more than ever before

  18. Najee Fisher

    March 30, 2021 at 11:39 pm

    I didn’t expect this to turn towards racism.

    • clearmenser

      March 30, 2021 at 11:41 pm

      That’s TED these days, swimming deep in the sea of woke juice.

    • E con

      March 30, 2021 at 11:55 pm

      I guess if it doesn’t happen to you it isn’t real right?

  19. ahnanda68

    March 30, 2021 at 11:39 pm

    I call it robot Barbie doll. It doesn’t have a color.

  20. parkway5400

    March 30, 2021 at 11:53 pm

    Kept it 💯

  21. mauzzy

    March 30, 2021 at 11:54 pm

    GONNA CRY?

  22. Fightosaurus

    March 30, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    Never heard this myth. Coworkers are a captive audience, not people who choose to be there to be graced by your presence. Treat their time valuably and they might become friends!

  23. Leena Holland

    March 30, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    Love!

  24. John Coppola

    March 31, 2021 at 12:17 am

    Right on point.

  25. Gor Nahapetyan

    March 31, 2021 at 1:19 am

    Was this talk posted before?

  26. varada sukanya

    March 31, 2021 at 11:12 am

    I can feel you Ma’am, the thought of anti-racism should build from childhood as an ethic so that people will stop differentiating the color

  27. elber

    March 31, 2021 at 11:48 am

    So now we need to get rid of professionalism at the workplace? Start your own company with only aggressive, politically obsessed, disagreeable people and see how you’d like it and how successful it’d be.

  28. Neuronhive

    March 31, 2021 at 11:59 am

    “People who wonder if the glass is half empty or full miss the point. The glass is refillable.”

  29. Back Health 101

    March 31, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    Stating unquestionably “diversity is strength “ Is a lie. I can give you unlimited examples.
    Premise is wrong.

  30. Back Health 101

    March 31, 2021 at 12:11 pm

    We all must learn to take feedback…. including you and I as well.

  31. Wilesh Sawant

    March 31, 2021 at 12:12 pm

    It’s takes lot of courage to put these things in front of crowd.

  32. Fong Man

    March 31, 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Truth at work: Nobody cares about your true self.

    They only care what you can do for them.

    • Stephen Recce

      April 1, 2021 at 9:33 pm

      People will be kicking themselves in few weeks or months if they miss the opportunity to buy and invest in bitcoin

    • Chris Taylor

      April 1, 2021 at 9:35 pm

      Bitcoin trading right now will be at every wise individuals list. In few weeks you’ll be ecstatic with the decision you made

    • Amanda Style

      April 1, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      I’ve been hearing of bitcoin trading but it always sounds quite complex and a bit too confusing

    • Stephen Recce

      April 1, 2021 at 9:49 pm

      As a beginner trader you like to take the opportunity to earn a lot of money while learning also… Get a professional broker and start trading crypto I’ll recommend Alex Miller tho

    • Avery Wills

      April 1, 2021 at 9:54 pm

      Wait are you talking about Alex Miller that resides in Arizona, he is a good friend and will help you out

  33. Leo H

    March 31, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    Thank you 👏🏾

  34. Shawn Washburne

    March 31, 2021 at 12:57 pm

    “Try to help others feel more comfortable around you”. That makes me sick.

    • Roja Janeman

      March 31, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      Y? Isn’t that human?

    • Ferdy TM

      April 1, 2021 at 11:55 am

      Ahh yeah. I’m sure your great fun at parties

    • kendall cuddles

      April 4, 2021 at 6:55 pm

      Agreed. If you’re uncomfortable around me, that says more about how trash you are.

  35. Randy PP

    March 31, 2021 at 1:17 pm

    lost me at latinx

  36. Bobtheroblox Builder

    March 31, 2021 at 1:56 pm

    Where’s johhny?

  37. •PARK SAYURI•

    March 31, 2021 at 3:18 pm

    Beautiful

  38. Darren Cheng

    March 31, 2021 at 4:37 pm

    It always takes time to digest racism related topic.

  39. Danny Chapman

    March 31, 2021 at 5:26 pm

    People will be kicking themselves in few weeks if they miss the opportunity to buy and invest in bitcoin

    • Elizabeth Morris

      April 2, 2021 at 12:03 am

      Seeing alot of successstories, he must be honest and trustworthy for people to talk this good about him

    • Dave Lopez

      April 2, 2021 at 12:21 am

      Contact him through What=App

    • Dave Lopez

      April 2, 2021 at 12:22 am

      +1 = 7 = 8 = 5 = 2 = 0 = 9 = 9 = 7 = 1 = 3

    • Elizabeth Morris

      April 2, 2021 at 12:31 am

      @Dave Lopez thanks for he’s info

    • Dave Lopez

      April 2, 2021 at 12:41 am

      @Elizabeth Morris Believe me he’s the best when it comes to Cryptocurrency trading, your profit is assured.

    • E con

      April 3, 2021 at 9:13 pm

      @all please report these spam threads

  40. Pablo Carbonari

    March 31, 2021 at 5:27 pm

    It’s true. But no matter your race, gender, age, disability, etc. the truth is companies don’t care about your full authentic self, but instead of what you can do for their benefit. Yes, this should change… hopefully it will, if the biggest companies embrace such change.

  41. Hans Peterson

    March 31, 2021 at 6:11 pm

    Welcome to being an adult and conforming to the company ethos propaganda displayed on posters in the office lol. The only job you can be yourself at is one you don’t mind loosing.

  42. Peter Barker

    March 31, 2021 at 6:17 pm

    .. I’m blind.????
    ..what is colour…
    ..visual or mental. …?

  43. Peter Barker

    March 31, 2021 at 6:18 pm

    ..know your as elf..
    ..uppity n

  44. Johan Jansson

    March 31, 2021 at 8:02 pm

    Great speech.
    *Applauding*

  45. VanaraCody

    March 31, 2021 at 8:07 pm

    Thank you for addressing Abelism in this

  46. K T

    March 31, 2021 at 8:33 pm

    This makes me think of college education. It is essential and we encourage everyone to get a degree however the way it is designed it is not suppose to let everyone flourish or succeed. So you either study hard or befriend others who studies hard. The system hasn’t change much in ages because it has worked for those who is in power now hence they don’t need it to work for everyone, there is no incentive for it to change. They don’t really care if you personally succeed so they will not accommodate you. All the slogan about inclusiveness is pretty hypocritical

  47. Lisa Love Ministries

    March 31, 2021 at 9:12 pm

    1 Corinthians 15 👑

  48. DeLaSoul246

    March 31, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    The more I reflect on my life as an autistic adult in the workplace, the more I see parallels with many of the experiences of racial minorities. Sadly.

    “Help us deal with the trauma we cause you by not talking about it because, frankly, it’s making our workplace tense and people are uncomfortable with it. Also, we support you and we’re here for you. Let us know if there’s anything you need.”

    Gather round the gaslight, children.

  49. Jude Cundiff

    March 31, 2021 at 11:47 pm

    Thank you! Just decided yesterday that I’m looking for a new job AGAIN thanks to my job not making me feel welcome as a queer individual who comes from a totally different cultural background than these people, and we are all white!

  50. Karen Lucas

    April 1, 2021 at 6:50 am

    Got news for you. This happens to white women as well.

    • kendall cuddles

      April 4, 2021 at 6:54 pm

      And not just women either. Men too.

  51. Samtagri

    April 1, 2021 at 8:46 am

    Another rant with some anecdotal evidence and lots of bullshit. TED talks are becoming pathetic.

  52. Dawn Shimp

    April 1, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    Wow so true.

  53. Saurabh Mishra

    April 1, 2021 at 6:34 pm

    I work in the company where we have Authenticity as one of the values of company

  54. Smi Co

    April 2, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    I like the gist of it, but it dilutes the argument if you make it about race or minorities. This is a problem that affects people of all genders and ethnicities.

  55. Shawn Cox

    April 2, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    I know exactly how she feels.

  56. zahida zahoor

    April 3, 2021 at 1:59 pm

    I gave this a thumbs down because it was non specific, the culture and party she talked about was too fuzzy for me to understand why she felt discriminated against.

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The end of the year is often a time to reflect and spend time with family — activities that may seem joyful or anxiety-inducing, depending on your circumstances. Psychologist Guy Winch offers actionable advice on how to manage your emotions with confidence during the holidays, from setting boundaries to healing heartache — above all reminding you that emotional health is possible, as long as you’re informed and willing to do the work. (This live conversation was hosted by TED’s Whitney Pennington Rodgers. Visit ted.com/membership to support TED today and join more exclusive events like this one.) (Recorded at TED Membership on December 4, 2024)

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