Empowerment at the Intersections: Kat Gabrielle & Khanyi Mnyaka on Advocacy, Identity and Business

This week's episode of Generally Curious features Kat Gabrielle and Khanyi Mnyaka, two trailblazers who have dedicated their careers to empowering marginalized communities. With a focus on intersectionality, radical self-love, and the complexities of navigating various identities, they share their journeys and the impactful initiatives they've been part of. From building businesses in local communities affected by tourism to running accelerators for black and non-binary leaders, their stories are a testament to the power of empathy, resilience, and the importance of seeing beyond one's accolades. Tune in to gain insights into the challenges and triumphs of advocating for equity and inclusion across different spectrums of society. _________________________________________________________ The introduction (00:00:01) Introducing the podcast and its purpose. Advocacy for marginalized communities through travel (00:02:30) KKhanyi discusses her work in helping a small community in the Philippines affected by tourism and raising money for homes. Leadership academy for marginalized leaders (00:04:50) Kat Gabriel talks about her experience facilitating a leadership academy for black and other marginalized leaders. Navigating internalized biases and challenges in professional spaces (00:07:43) Kat shares her experience challenging internalized biases and feelings of inadequacy in professional settings. Intersectionality and its impact on professional endeavors (00:10:53) Khanyi and Kat discuss how intersectionality shapes their work and professional endeavors. Radical self-love and acceptance (00:16:26) Khanyi explains the concept of radical self-love, including accepting and loving the uncomfortable parts of oneself. The therapist's insight (00:19:58) Kat's realization about her giving nature and lack of receiving, leading to self-love and therapy insights. Self-love and people-pleasing (00:21:53) Khanyi discusses the connection between people-pleasing, self-love, and relationships. Challenging conditioning (00:23:08) Kat discusses the conditioning of Black women to always give and her struggle with receiving. Misconceptions about black entrepreneurs (00:24:31) Kat explains that Black women founders are not just focused on charity but are entrepreneurs solving problems. Equity and systemic change (00:25:36) Discussion about the misconception of equity work and the need for systemic change in the workplace. Challenges for DEI practitioners (00:34:04) Kat discusses the challenges faced by DEI practitioners, particularly black women, and the pressure on them to drive change. The role of white women in DEI (00:35:17) Discussion about the prevalence of white women in DEI roles and the need to address the intersectionality of race and gender in recruiting and HR. Accountability and lived experiences (00:36:52) The importance of accountability and understanding lived experiences in DEI work. Nuances of identity (00:37:45) Lindsey emphasizes the importance of understanding the nuances of identity and the limitations of good intentions in DEI work. Impact of initiatives in black communities (00:38:48) Discussion about the impact of initiatives led by white people in black communities and the need for genuine understanding and collaboration. Pigeonholing in DEI (00:39:20) Kat discusses her focus on black women and non-binary folk in DEI and her intentional approach. Empathy in Leadership (00:45:16) Khanyi and Kat discuss the need for empathy in leadership and the challenges in teaching empathy to organizations. Community and Branding (00:48:17) Kat and Lindsey critique the dehumanizing aspects of branding and the importance of genuine community. Embracing a Generalist Mindset (00:52:09) Khanyi and Kat highlight the value of embracing a generalist mindset. Defining Generalist and Professional Journey (00:53:32) Kat defines a generalist as a visionary and emphasizes the importance of showing up in professional journeys.