In this episode of Being Brown at Work Live, I finally sat down with the incredible Natalie Parker, founder of Natalie Parker Enterprises and host of the podcast "So Your Boss Sucks, Now What?"
Natalie and I stripped away the corporate "safe-speak" to talk about the real work of 2026: Self-Preservation. We explored why Black and Brown women often default to service and performative excellence at the expense of our own health and purpose. Natalie's own 2022 near-death experience served as a powerful reminder that we have "one life to live", and we shouldn't spend it all putting points on someone else's scoreboard.
The Performative Trap: We discussed how we've been conditioned since childhood to work for the "gold star." But in the corporate world, that 80-hour week often leads to burnout, not the promotion you were promised.
The "Oven Drawer" Reality: Just because you've always used your career a certain way doesn't mean it's its true purpose. Your job is a transactional agreement—it is a tool for your life, not the totality of it.
Managing Up in a Self-Awareness Vacuum: With only 8–12% of people possessing true self-awareness, your manager might be "sucking the life out of you" without even realizing it. We discussed why their lack of training is not your burden to bear.
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Connect with Natalie:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-renee-parker/
Instagram: @natalieparkerenterprises
