Too Black To Be White, And Too White To Be Black

Holly Straker-Humphreys reflects on growing up as a mixed-race woman in predominantly white spaces, and the long process of becoming comfortable “in the middle” of two worlds. She shares how subtle signals—especially around Afro hair, media representation, and workplace norms—shaped her sense of identity and belonging, even without overt racism.

From there, the conversation widens into what inclusion looks like in practice at work. Holly talks about the importance of community, mentoring and finding managers and peers who amplify your voice, alongside the pressures that come with being “the only one in the room.” Joanne and Holly explore psychological safety, the fear of getting it wrong, and how inclusion professionals can create spaces where leaders can learn without defensiveness while still being challenged.

They also critique common organisational approaches to DEI, including over-reliance on employee resource groups and token “exec sponsors” without the infrastructure, strategy, metrics and shared leadership accountability to make change stick. The episode closes with reflections on the emotional toll of inclusion work, the need for resilience and support networks, and how both personal lived experience and organisational systems have to shift if inclusion is to move beyond performative activity.