I Know I Belong When...

Innovation Unbiased
  • 5.0 (8)
  • MANAGEMENT

Bold voices. Curious stories. Authentic Impact.What does it really mean to belong?Not just to be invited... To be seen. Heard. Needed."I Know I Belong When…" is more than a podcast; it’s a movement. A mirror. A megaphone. It’s where raw truth meets radical hope.Each episode brings you unfiltered conversations with people who’ve wrestled with the question of belonging in the spaces that shape our lives: workplaces, schools, communities, and digital worlds. From the boardroom to the breakroom, from the sidewalks to our living rooms, our guests share the exact moment they knew they were in, and the moments they knew they weren’t.______This is not about feel-good soundbites. It’s about radical accountability.We explore:~  Where equity is the foundation, not a divider.~  The steps it takes to build diverse cultures, not only to survive, though to prosper.~  Ensure inclusion is not just a checkbox; it is a commitment.~  Where accessibility is not an afterthought, but the amplification to thrive.______At the heart of our conversation is the Belonging Formula:"Belonging = (Inclusion × (Diversity + Equity)) ^ Accessibility."It’s not just math; it’s a mindset. A blueprint. A challenge to every leader, builder, and changemaker: Are you creating spaces where every identity is not only welcomed, however, is valued and respected?______Here’s how we do it:[ We Say Names ]Names are not nicknames. They carry legacy, identity, and power. Inspired by #AlwaysChristopher #NeverChris, we explore how honoring someone’s name is the first act of belonging.[ The Moment of Belonging ]A defining story. A turning point. The moment our guest knew: I belong here. We unpack how that moment shaped their confidence, creativity, and connection.[ Navigating Non-Belonging ]We don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Guests share what it felt like to be excluded, erased, or underestimated, and how they reclaimed their space and voice.[ Sustaining Belonging ]What does it take to keep that feeling alive? We explore the systems, rituals, and leadership practices that make belonging a daily reality, not a one-time event.______Why it matters:This podcast is for anyone who’s ever asked: Do I really belong here?And for every leader who’s ready to answer: Yes, and here’s how we’ll prove it.Whether you’re building inclusive teams, designing accessible tech, or rethinking your own role in equity work, these stories will challenge you to show up differently. To lead with intention. To listen with humility. To act with courage.Because belonging isn’t a destination, it’s a practice. And it starts with listening.

  1. Care, share, embrace: Lead with values when the world hands you a tie with Simona Scarpaleggia

    4D AGO

    Care, share, embrace: Lead with values when the world hands you a tie with Simona Scarpaleggia

    What happens when a leader walks onto a stage to accept an award and walks off holding a tie because no one imagined a woman could be leading the company? In this episode of I Know I Belong When…, host Christopher Bylone sits down with Simona Scarpaleggia, former CEO of IKEA Switzerland, United Nations co-chair, author, and a leader whose career has redefined authentic leadership when the room was not built with you in mind. Through first-person storytelling, Simona shares how her grandmother’s words, “if you want to lead, you need to learn, and anything can be learned,” shaped a career spanning boardrooms, global panels, and social enterprises. She introduces her framework of "care, share, and embrace," showing why standing firm on values during backlash is essential. From transforming IKEA Switzerland into a loved brand to empowering women in rural India, she connects belonging to inclusive culture and human-centered innovation. This conversation reframes belonging vs inclusion, positioning workplace belonging as the outcome of strategic inclusion and intentional IDEA work. It offers clarity and language for leaders seeking to create a true sense of belonging at work. Must-hear insights and key moments A grandmother’s ring and the phrase that shaped a global leadership career: “anything can be learned.”Care, share, embrace: a leadership operating system rooted in trust, transparency, and people experience.The tie story: what happens when bias shows up on stage and how Simona responded.How a 500-person store opening, a flood, and a team that said “you go, we have got this” became a defining moment of belongingTransforming a brand from need to loved through values-driven culture, refugee inclusion, and strategic inclusion.Building belonging through social enterprise: how 52 women embroiderers in India grew to over 2,000 through sustainable partnership.Why certification is a foundation, not a finish line.Simona’s standout quotes “If you want to lead, you need to learn, and anything can be learned.”“Care, share, and embrace are the base of my leadership approach.”“They did not even think for a second that a woman could have a leadership position in such a big company.”“I did not have to ask. They told me, you go. We organize everything.”“Standing behind the values gives us strength.”“Those 52 women were proud. A completely different personality came out of them.”“I know I belong whenever I encounter beauty, not only in an aesthetical point of view, but in a meaningful conversation, a spontaneous smile, a little step towards a better world.”Why this episode matters Organizations talk about building belonging, yet struggle to connect values to daily leadership behavior. Simona's story gives leaders practical language and lived examples for creating belonging at work through courage and systems that honor people. It reframes the sense of belonging at work as something leaders build through how they show up, not what they announce. For anyone navigating love and belonging needs in modern organizations, this conversation offers direction rooted in decades of global impact.  Who should listen HR leaders, DEI and IDEA practitioners, executives, and people managers shaping inclusive culture—especially in hybrid or remote environments—and anyone seeking to lead with values and create belonging at work. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    41 min
  2. Beyond performative work: How Hip Hop builds chosen family in inclusive cultures with Manny Faces

    APR 27

    Beyond performative work: How Hip Hop builds chosen family in inclusive cultures with Manny Faces

    What if the clearest blueprint for belonging in the workplace did not come from corporate playbooks, leadership models, or culture decks, but from a global movement rooted in creativity, community, and care? In this episode of I Know I Belong When…, host Christopher Bylone sits down with Manny Faces—award-winning journalist, cultural strategist, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Hip Hop Can Save America! ecosystem—to explore how Hip Hop culture offers leaders practical language for belonging and insight into creating a sense of belonging at work. This conversation reframes belonging vs inclusion, positioning belonging as the outcome of intentional IDEA work rather than a performative gesture. Manny shares how Hip Hop functions as a living framework for inclusive culture, authentic leadership, and human-centered innovation—transcending borders, titles, and institutions. Through first-person storytelling, listeners see how chosen family, psychological safety, and community care show up across spaces—from ciphers and classrooms to workplaces and hospital rooms. This episode is about building belonging, creating people experiences rooted in dignity, and understanding why love and belonging needs are foundational to sustainable culture, especially in remote and hybrid teams. Must-hear insights and key moments Why Hip Hop is culture, not music—and what that teaches leaders about workplace belonging The cipher as a metaphor for psychological safety and belonging at work Why belonging is the outcome of strategic inclusion, not another initiative How chosen family reshapes accountability and community care What tokenism looks like and how leaders can recognize it quickly Lessons from global Hip Hop communities on belonging in remote teams Why lived experience provides language policies alone cannot Manny’s standout quotes “Hip Hop is culture. Culture is how people navigate the world together.”“When you step into the cipher, where you came from does not matter. You belong in that moment.”“If your institution only engages culture during heritage months, the work is not real.”“Belonging feels like family. You know it when you feel it, and you know when you do not.”“We do not need more performative moments. We need people of the culture in positions of power.”“Community care is not theoretical. It shows up in what you are willing to give.”“Belonging crosses borders, languages, and credentials when it is rooted in respect.”Why this episode matters Belonging is not declared; it is experienced through cultures intentionally built on care, trust, and community. This episode provides language for what people feel when they are safe, recognized, and valued, linking workplace belonging to love and belonging needs and showing why symbolic efforts fall short. It reframes belonging as the outcome of inclusive culture and authentic leadership, not performative DEI. Who should listen HR leaders, DEI practitioners, executives, people managers, educators, and anyone seeking to create belonging at work—especially in remote or hybrid environments—and looking for clear, credible language to move from intention to impact. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    41 min
  3. Culture is a system, not a vibe: The accountability leaders cannot skip with Joe Machicote

    APR 20

    Culture is a system, not a vibe: The accountability leaders cannot skip with Joe Machicote

    What if the reason your culture initiatives are stalling has nothing to do with motivation, engagement, or vibes, and everything to do with systems, accountability, and how leaders show up every single day? In this episode of I Know I Belong When…, Christopher Bylone is joined by Joe Machicote, retired CHRO, organizational culture engineer, executive coach, and author of Own Thy Stuff. Joe brings more than three decades of leadership experience into a deeply human conversation about belonging in the workplace, building belonging, and why culture only becomes inclusive when it is designed, practiced, and owned. Through powerful first-person stories, Joe shares what it feels like to be told you do not belong before you even understand the language for exclusion, how mispronouncing a name can quietly erode a sense of belonging at work, and why accountability is not punitive. Accountability is relational, connective, and essential to creating belonging at work. This episode gives leaders, HR professionals, and DEI practitioners the language they have been searching for. It explores belonging vs inclusion, the difference between intent and impact, and how authentic leadership requires the courage to look again at how we show up. Joe reframes workplace belonging as the outcome of strategic inclusion, human-centered innovation, and everyday behaviors that either build trust or dismantle it. If you are searching for another word for belong, or looking to understand the deeper meaning behind love and belonging needs at work, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a blueprint for action. Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments Why culture fails when leaders treat it as a feeling instead of a systemHow accountability creates psychological safety and a stronger people experienceWhat mispronouncing names teaches us about belonging in the workplaceThe difference between intent and impact, and why leaders must own bothHow early experiences of exclusion shape confidence, leadership, and voiceWhat it means to engineer culture through self-mastery, communication, and trustWhy belonging in remote teams still depends on accountability and relationshipsJoe’s Standout Quotes “Culture is not a vibe problem. It is a systems problem.”“We do not know who our authentic selves are without feedback.”“You cannot control others, however you can always control your own behavior.”“Accountability is attractive because it builds trust.”“Respect means to look again.”“Belonging grows when people are accepted for how they contribute, not how they conform.”“Leave everything and everyone a little better than you found them.”Why This Episode Matters Organizations talk often about inclusion, engagement, and values. This episode goes deeper by showing how sense of belonging at work is built through accountability, trust, and systems that reinforce human dignity. Joe’s story gives listeners language for belonging, especially those navigating imposter thoughts, exclusion, or leadership pressure. It reframes belonging as the outcome of IDEA work, not just another initiative. Who Should Listen This episode is for HR leaders, DEI practitioners, people managers, executives, and anyone asking how to create a sense of belonging at work. It is especially relevant for leaders shaping inclusive culture, supporting remote or hybrid teams, and seeking practical ways to move from intention to impact. If you care about people experience, strategic inclusion, and human-centered innovation, this conversation belongs in your ears. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    41 min
  4. When you are valued: Small moments that change culture with Dr. Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander

    APR 13

    When you are valued: Small moments that change culture with Dr. Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander

    What does it actually mean to feel valued at work, not in theory, not in policy language, but in lived experience? In this deeply human episode of I Know I Belong When…, host Christopher Bylone sits down with Dr. Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander, a pioneering legal scholar, educator, and culture shaper whose life’s work helped define how organizations understand fairness, dignity, and people’s experiences. From creating the first employment law course in colleges of business to shaping global DEI standards, Dr. Bennett-Alexander has spent decades translating justice into everyday practice. This conversation explores how workplace belonging is built through small moments, human choices, and leadership behaviors that signal value. Through stories of quilting, gardening, teaching, and standing up when something does not sit right, listeners gain language for belonging and clarity about how inclusive culture is created in real time. Must-Hear Insights & Key Moments Belonging is built through everyday interactions, not mission statements.Why small leadership moments shape inclusive culture more than large initiatives.How quilting and gardening offer powerful metaphors for workplace belonging.The difference between being invited and being valued at work.Why value-add thinking matters more than culture fit.How leaders unknowingly allow bias to live between intention and action.Standout Quotes from Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander I try to always walk the walk, that it is all about love.Quilting teaches me the importance of pieces that do not seem to fit together, that do.There was a gap between what I was teaching and what was in their heads.You put something small in the ground and out comes something extraordinary.I know I belong when I can be in a space and feel valued for what I bring to the table.Nobody may know who picked up that trash, but the world is better because someone did.Why This Episode Matters Many organizations say they want to build belonging, yet struggle to define what that means in practice. This episode reframes belonging as the lived outcome of strategic inclusion and authentic leadership. Dr. Bennett-Alexander offers language, perspective, and lived wisdom that help leaders move beyond compliance toward cultures where people feel seen, respected, and valued in everyday moments. Who Should Listen This episode is for HR leaders, DEI practitioners, executives, managers, educators, and team leaders who want to create a sense of belonging at work. It is especially relevant for leaders navigating remote and hybrid teams, where small signals of value matter more than ever. Anyone seeking language for belonging and practical examples of inclusive leadership will find this conversation meaningful. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    41 min

  5. TRAILER

    The belonging movement starts here: Bold voices, curious stories, and the future of inclusive culture

    The belonging movement starts here: Bold voices, curious stories, and the future of inclusive culture Tune into "I Know I Belong When..." Season 3, and be a part of the movement. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    1 min
  6. What inclusive leadership actually looks like: Season 2 voices on the behaviors of belonging

    APR 6

    What inclusive leadership actually looks like: Season 2 voices on the behaviors of belonging

    What does inclusive leadership look like when performance drops, language gets honest, and ordinary moments become the measure of everything? That is the question Season 2 of I Know I Belong When… answered across twelve extraordinary voices who shared something rare: their receipts, their scars, and their strategies. Together, they offer a masterclass in what it actually looks like to live and lead in ways that make belonging in the workplace real, repeatable, and rooted in daily behavior. In this Season 2 recap, host Christopher Bylone — Principal Strategist at Innovation Unbiased — brings the most powerful voices back into focus. Guided by the Inclusive Behaviors Framework and the Belonging Formula, this episode distills four core behaviors — Committed to Diversity, Actively Inclusive, Multicultural Agility, and Purposefully Unbiased — into lived experiences. This is not a highlight reel. It is a language lesson and a leadership audit. Belonging is not a program you launch — it is a practice you choose every day. If you have searched for the words to describe belonging — or the cost of its absence — this episode gives you that language through real voices. Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments Belonging is an outcome, not a feeling. Stacey Gordon draws a clear line: belonging results from active inclusion — it cannot be handed to anyone.Your name is the first thing your parents gave you. Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson reframes name pronunciation as a foundational act of seeing someone.Sponsorship over mentorship. Mike Lynch challenges leaders to use their political capital to create visibility for others.Bumble, Stumble, Grace, Rise. Simone Morris offers a framework for recovering when you get it wrong.Say good morning. And mean it. Ama Agyapong shows how small acts shift culture.The act is its own distortion. Dr. Jade Singleton names the cost of performing professionalism.We needed both Malcolm and Martin. Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson highlights nuance in leading with conviction.Standout Quotes from Season 2 “Belonging is the result of my active inclusion. Inclusion is an action. It is not something we talk about. It is something we do.” — Stacey Gordon“There is something special about external validation — about someone seeing something in you and calling it forward.” — Deni Ferrell“How you expect to be addressed is how I want to address you.” — Chris Courneen“Your showtime is at work. Who you are regularly becomes muscle memory.” — Ama Agyapong“If you have that fire inside to say something, speak up — because somebody else is thinking the same and needing to hear what you have to say.” — Courtney Turich“Commit to one person in your organization. Sponsor someone whose identity is different than yours. Use your own political capital to create visibility for them.” — Mike Lynch“When I stopped trying to perform, I felt that deeper sense of belonging and trust.” — Dr. Jade SingletonWhy This Episode Matters Belonging vs inclusion is widely misunderstood. This episode clarifies the difference: inclusion is what leaders do, belonging is what people experience over time. It offers a practical bridge from intent to impact for those building inclusive cultures across remote, hybrid, or in-person teams. Who Should Listen Leaders ready to move from intention to action — HR professionals, managers, IDEA practitioners, and anyone seeking to create a genuine sense of belonging at work. Whether you are new or experienced, this recap leaves you with clear behaviors you can apply immediately. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    27 min
  7. Psychological safety's intent vs. impact: Awareness, accountability, measurable with Mike Lynch

    MAR 30

    Psychological safety's intent vs. impact: Awareness, accountability, measurable with Mike Lynch

    Psychological safety is often treated as a feeling. This episode turns it into a leadership practice you can name, measure, and repeat. In this episode, host Christopher Bylone welcomes Mike Lynch, founder of MJL Consulting Group and author of From Ally to All In, for a human, leadership-credible conversation on belonging in the workplace and what it takes to move from supportive intentions to creating belonging at work through visible impact. Together, they explore building belonging as the outcome of IDEA work: not a slogan, not a checkbox, and not performative inclusion. You will hear how authentic leadership shows up in everyday moments that shape workplace belonging and people experience: getting someone’s name right, repairing harm without centering yourself, and using influence to amplify voices that are not being heard. The result is language for belonging that helps teams build an inclusive culture, practice strategic inclusion, and apply human-centered innovation across roles, remote or in person. If you have been searching for synonyms of belonging, another word for belong, or how love and belonging show up inside leadership decisions, this story-driven episode gives you vocabulary plus next actions. It is also a guide for belonging vs inclusion: what is the difference, and why workplace belonging depends on intent and impact in equal measure. This is the heart of I Know I Belong When: stories that help you say, “I know I belong when …” and then lead with that truth. Must-hear insights and key moments Why believing in inclusion is not the same as advancing it, and how leaders shift from allyship to all in action.A practical repair loop: correct quickly and cleanly, repair privately, then change systems so harm does not repeat.How to create a sense of belonging at work when conversations get messy: stay at the table, stay grounded, stay accountable.The “open door” myth, and a measurable alternative: listening sessions, theme tracking, and closing the feedback loop.Human-centered innovation in meetings: track distribution of airtime so decision power is shared.Beyond engagement scores: promotion velocity and retention patterns as signals of workplace belonging.Sponsorship that changes outcomes: using political capital to create visibility and opportunity for others.Mike’s Standout Quotes “Believing in inclusion was not the same as advancing it.”“Allyship can be passive, however, leadership is really active.”“Correct quickly and cleanly.”“Intent is invisible, however impact is measurable.”“Accountability is not punishment, it is really around improvement.”“Amplification is the awareness with a megaphone.”“Belonging is not about comfort. It is about contribution.”Why this episode matters Psychological safety and workplace belonging rise or fall on the gap between intent and impact. This episode offers language for belonging that leaders can use to reduce harm, increase trust, and build belonging in remote teams and in-person cultures through measurable behaviors, not performative promises. Who should listen HR and people leaders shaping inclusive culture, DEI and IDEA practitioners driving strategic inclusion, managers building belonging across remote or hybrid teams, and anyone who wants practical guidance on how to create a sense of belonging at work while practicing authentic leadership with accountability. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    31 min
  8. Leading head & heart: Honor names, set boundaries, deliver results with Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson

    MAR 23

    Leading head & heart: Honor names, set boundaries, deliver results with Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson

    Belonging in the workplace is not a slogan. It is the lived experience of being invited, seen, heard, and needed. In this episode of I Know I Belong When, host Christopher Bylone sits with Dr. Cornell Verdeja-Woodson, former head of DEIB and talent development at Pixar Animation Studios and an organizational change leader. Together, they turn workplace belonging into leadership practices you can repeat: honor names, clarify values, set boundaries, and still deliver results. If you have searched for synonyms of belonging or another word for belong, you are not alone. People want language for belonging, especially in remote and hybrid teams where signals can get lost in messages and meetings. Cornell offers first-person stories that make inclusive culture feel doable, tying authentic leadership to love and belonging needs and to people’s experience outcomes. When you listen, you can finish the sentence “I know I belong when” with actions, not abstractions. This is strategic inclusion for anyone focused on building belonging through human-centered innovation, where IDEA work is the engine and creating belonging at work is the outcome. Bring a notebook, then share it. MUST-HEAR INSIGHTS & KEY MOMENTS Burnout often starts as misalignment with purpose and values, so pause and re-align.Protect your peace with boundaries, even when you cannot leave the job.Name practices are belonging practices: nicknames without consent erode trust.Self-belonging comes first, then you can build belonging in the workplace with others.Early non-belonging data: body tension, masking, and rewriting emails out of fear.Durable metrics: who stays, who engages, and who participates beyond the minimum.Leading with head and heart includes caring with limits, then connecting support to resources.DR. CORNELL’S STANDOUT QUOTES “Belonging does not necessarily always come externally. It actually starts internally.”“When you do not honor that name, it actually makes people feel like they do not belong, like you do not see me.”“Mistakes happen. People mispronounce things and that is okay. Are you putting in the effort to get it right?”“If you are waiting for the world to make you feel like you belong, you will be waiting for a long time.”“I feel it in my body. I feel uneasy. I find myself masking certain things.”“If we are not feeling safe, we will go on to the next thing.”“I am not your therapist. I am not your coach.”WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS Belonging vs inclusion is a common confusion: inclusion is what leaders do, belonging is what people feel. This conversation provides a clear bridge from intent to impact, along with a grounded view of how to foster a sense of belonging at work without turning it into a vibe. You will leave with language for real-time moments and metrics that keep workplace belonging accountable. WHO SHOULD LISTEN People leaders, HR and DEI practitioners, and culture builders who want to build belonging to show up in everyday moments. Managers supporting belonging in remote teams where belonging is easier to misread. Anyone repairing trust after a name mistake, a missed cue, or a creeping sense of non-belonging. If you want a stronger sense of belonging at work, a clearer answer to “how to create a sense of belonging at work,” and a leadership approach that honors head and heart, this episode is your playbook. An Innovation Unbiased Production https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/about-the-show

    39 min
See All (39)

Trailer

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Bold voices. Curious stories. Authentic Impact.What does it really mean to belong?Not just to be invited... To be seen. Heard. Needed."I Know I Belong When…" is more than a podcast; it’s a movement. A mirror. A megaphone. It’s where raw truth meets radical hope.Each episode brings you unfiltered conversations with people who’ve wrestled with the question of belonging in the spaces that shape our lives: workplaces, schools, communities, and digital worlds. From the boardroom to the breakroom, from the sidewalks to our living rooms, our guests share the exact moment they knew they were in, and the moments they knew they weren’t.______This is not about feel-good soundbites. It’s about radical accountability.We explore:~  Where equity is the foundation, not a divider.~  The steps it takes to build diverse cultures, not only to survive, though to prosper.~  Ensure inclusion is not just a checkbox; it is a commitment.~  Where accessibility is not an afterthought, but the amplification to thrive.______At the heart of our conversation is the Belonging Formula:"Belonging = (Inclusion × (Diversity + Equity)) ^ Accessibility."It’s not just math; it’s a mindset. A blueprint. A challenge to every leader, builder, and changemaker: Are you creating spaces where every identity is not only welcomed, however, is valued and respected?______Here’s how we do it:[ We Say Names ]Names are not nicknames. They carry legacy, identity, and power. Inspired by #AlwaysChristopher #NeverChris, we explore how honoring someone’s name is the first act of belonging.[ The Moment of Belonging ]A defining story. A turning point. The moment our guest knew: I belong here. We unpack how that moment shaped their confidence, creativity, and connection.[ Navigating Non-Belonging ]We don’t shy away from the hard stuff. Guests share what it felt like to be excluded, erased, or underestimated, and how they reclaimed their space and voice.[ Sustaining Belonging ]What does it take to keep that feeling alive? We explore the systems, rituals, and leadership practices that make belonging a daily reality, not a one-time event.______Why it matters:This podcast is for anyone who’s ever asked: Do I really belong here?And for every leader who’s ready to answer: Yes, and here’s how we’ll prove it.Whether you’re building inclusive teams, designing accessible tech, or rethinking your own role in equity work, these stories will challenge you to show up differently. To lead with intention. To listen with humility. To act with courage.Because belonging isn’t a destination, it’s a practice. And it starts with listening.

Information

  • Creator
    Innovation Unbiased
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 I Know I Belong When...
  • Show Website
    I Know I Belong When...