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Published Nov 9, 2020

97 Tali Lavarry: Founder of Yum Yum Morale and Author of Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague

Tali Lavarry, founder of Yum Yum Morale and author of "Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague," delves into the systemic barriers of workplace diversity, her journey through corporate tokenism, and the transformative experiences that led her to champion genuine inclusion and leadership-driven change.
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  • Career Moments

    Tali Lavarry's career has been marked by pivotal moments that have shaped her journey toward entrepreneurship and advocacy. She shares how the George Floyd incident became a catalyst for her book, "Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague," to gain traction, leading her to self-publish to ensure the message reached the public swiftly 1. Her book is structured into three phases, including personal stories, professional allies, and confessions addressing various groups, particularly white women, who she identifies as frequent offenders in workplace dynamics 1. explains the concept of white solidarity, where white women often unconsciously side with each other against marginalized individuals, creating significant challenges in professional settings 2.

    I talk about white solidarity, which Doctor D'Angelo, who wrote the book white fragility, talks a lot about white solidarity.

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    This solidarity often overrides facts and truth, making it difficult for marginalized individuals to navigate workplace environments effectively.

       

    Turning Points

    Transformative experiences have significantly influenced Tali's path to writing and entrepreneurship. Her encounter with Barack Obama during a corporate event was a turning point, pushing her towards entrepreneurship after realizing the lack of minority representation in event spaces 3. Despite the success of the event, her manager's focus on criticism rather than celebration was a breaking point, leading her to leave her corporate job 4. recounts a personal crisis following her departure, which led to a profound period of reflection and writing during a stay in a psychiatric hospital.

    I found myself not wanting to live anymore and almost lost my life. And thankfully, friends that were in Texas and Louisiana, down in the south where I'm from, ended up calling and having someone to come and get me.

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    This challenging time became the foundation for her book, as she channeled her experiences into writing, ultimately shaping her advocacy work.

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