Episode 1: From Silos to Solidarity: Empowering All Voices and Allyship with Black Colleagues

In this episode of Belonging@Haas, Brittany Jacob hosts a conversation between MBA students Beyoncé Haseley-Ayende and Princess Adedoyin, who explore the significance of community and allyship among minority groups, particularly Black women, in predominantly white academic and social environments. The conversation delves into personal experiences of inclusion and alienation, the importance of safe spaces, and overcoming social barriers.

Brittany then gains insights from Dr. Merrick Osborne, a PhD in Organizational Behavior, who further unpacks the dynamics of racial identity, self-segregation, and steps toward genuine integration at Haas and beyond.

*Belonging at Haas Podcast is produced by University FM.*

Show Producer: Niveda Kumar, Race Inclusion Initiative 

Developed in partnership with the Haas MBA Student Government Association

Show Links:

• Brittany Jacob’s LinkedIn
• Brittany Jacob’s Instagram
• Beyoncé Haseley-Ayende’s LinkedIn
• Princess Adedoyin’s LinkedIn
• Merrick Osborne’s Faculty Profile at Haas
• Merrick Osborne’s LinkedIn
• Merrick Osborne’s Website
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race
• Black Business Student Association
• Pew Research: Race Is Central to Identity for Black Americans and Affects How They Connect With Each Other
• Pew Research: A look at historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S.
• Structuring local environments to avoid racial diversity: Anxiety drives Whites' geographical and institutional self-segregation preferences
• Organization-level Inclusion Signals: Positive Effects for Both LGBT and non-LGBT Employees
• Does intergroup contact increase children’s desire to play with diverse peers and reduce experiences of social exclusion?

Episode Quotes:

Princess began finding ways to impact Black women’s lives as she embraced her identity

[8:36] Princess Adedoyin: When I was at Bain, my recruiting was specifically for Black women to get into consulting. Even though I do care about other people too, I think that's something that a lot of times you can fall off on those types of things. And so, I really try to prioritize that. When I joined [a] startup, all the work products were specifically for Black women or fems. My business prioritized Black women. And then the future businesses I want to delve into, I really want to prioritize Black women, especially within the beauty space, the textured hair care space. That's always something I'm thinking about, like, how can I impact Black women's lives? And how can we have a better future for ourselves?

Beyonce’s commitment to embracing her Black identity 

[12:42] Beyoncé Haseley-Ayende: I wanted to feel safe, and for me, that meant making a commitment to learn more about the Black community. What does it mean to be Black? [The] Black culture. I really did a deep dive. I spent that time building connections, but also just doing my own research so that I could feel like I belonged.

What Beyoncé wishes people knew about why Black girls and other marginalized individuals stick together

[23:19] Beyoncé Haseley-Ayende: I wish more people understood to not take it personally when we decide to stick with people that maybe look like us or people we feel more comfortable with at the time. I think this can happen to anyone when you're entering spaces where you're the only one. I think it's a natural human inclination to now want to assimilate or try to do what the majority group is doing. And if you're constantly in spaces where the majority doesn't look like you and maybe have behaviors or interests that may not be your own, you tend to start living basically outside of your own body like outside of yourself you're engaging in activities that like doesn't really feel true to you if that makes sense and so I think after a while it just becomes a bit draining.

How to build a safe, inclusive space at Haas for marginalized communities without tokenizing them

[35:49] Dr. Merrick Osborne: The question isn't how do we make spaces more amenable for people to come together. The question should be how do we make a culture amenable for marginalized people to offer their insights on how to make a more integrative community. So rather than approaching a Black person for the first time and saying, how do I make Haas better? Just get to know that Black person for who they are, so that when you are faced with this opportunity to make Haas better, you're not tokenizing them by calling them out because you've never met them. And from there, you'll have a much richer, much better informed idea of how to make Haas better for them, your workplace better for them, and even just your friendship, relationship, mentorship, acquaintanceship better.