59 - Privilege

Let’s make something beautiful – flipping the script on privilege

 

Welcome back to Blended!

 

Today, we’re taking on a topic that’s been a part of many of our conversations here on Blended, from immigration to education – privilege.

 

According to a March 2025 report, conventionally attractive employees earned $20,000 more than co-workers due to an apparent ‘pretty privilege.’ Meanwhile, another report revealed that white people as a group have better employment outcomes than their black peers. There’s even tall privilege – taller men earn more and are more likely to be seen as leaders.    

 

There are so many different types of privilege at play – but are they all negative?

 

Our guests will be taking a closer look today. They’ll be exploring what privilege really means, its relationship to bias, the mindset of accepting or rejecting privilege, and our shared responsibility in tackling the negatives and leveraging personal privilege for good.

 

 

IN THIS EPISODE:

 

[00.57] Introductions to our Blended panelists.  

·       Dr Lee – Owner at CRHT Health Equity

·       Christy – Professional Services Consultant at Tenstreet

·       Nik-Keisha – Founder of Nik-Keisha Moodie Coaching and Development 

·       Bobbie – Founder at Carlton PR & Marketing and Innovation Women

 

“The reality is that working in DEI is really hard right now. The DEI space has been reduced to almost nothing, so people are pivoting. Because the things that DEI did still need to be done, even if DEI is something that companies are trying to move away from.” Dr Lee

 

“I understand firsthand the challenges that come with limited access to resources, mentors and visibility. So my mission is to create inclusive actionable pathways to success because, when we empower those who are often overlooked, we don’t just build businesses, we build legacies.” Nik-Keisha

 

[08.00] The group discuss what privilege really is, and what it means to them.

 

·       Earned vs unearned

·       Spans multiple areas, from gender to ability to race

·       Intersectionality

·       Context

·       Network

·       Resources

·       What you’re born with

·       Built relationships

·       Struggles aren’t equal

·       Defensiveness

·       Privilege as a trigger

·       Mentorship

·       Education

·       Projection

·       Insecurity

·       Masculinity

·       Self-awareness

·       Emotional intelligence

·       Conference appearances

·       Perception

 

 

 

“Privilege is any unearned advantage, usually attributed to a physical attribute.” Christy

 

“Intersectionality is the continuum between privilege and penalty… Where you have privilege in one place, you may not have it in another… Privilege is contextual.” Dr Lee  

“There’s a masculine tendency to prove something, to project insecurities when you feel like you’re being criticized… I’m starting to understand how my masculinity gets triggered into producing a performance... But the reality is that the majority of us don’t have the introspection to recognize when that trigger has been set, let alone the emotional intelligence to step back.” Dr Lee

“The population looking like that sends a message – those people are the perceived authority. Someone that an audience may perceive as more expert, more credible, even if they have the exact same qualifications.” Bobby

 

[30.43] The panel explore how society has built set narratives around privilege, and people’s reactions to it.  

 

·       Unlearning learned behaviors

·       Curiosity

·       Open conversation

·       Asking good questions

·       Bias

·       New trend for ‘personality hiring’

·       Self-worth

·       Lack of understanding/awareness

·       Confidence

·       Lived experience

·       “Check your privilege”

·       Fear of invalidation

·       Privilege creates a disconnect

o   People that do or do not want to recognize their privilege

·       Denial/deflection 

·       Opportunity

·       Having to prove yourself to others

 

“You might have to unlearn some things, and come in with the thought that: ‘I don’t know everything.’ Conversations are super important, and I don’t think one person is ever right… Ask the question: ‘What do you mean by that?’” Nik-Keisha

“We can’t talk about privilege without talking about bias.” Christy

“We’re assuming, we’re bringing our own bias into these conversations… We need to go into them with an open mind. I always try to challenge myself to learn from people, no matter who they are, what they look like, or where I think they come from – because I could very well be wrong.” Christy

 

[01.02.15] The group discuss responsibility, and the roles that individuals, organizations, and society as a whole play in privilege.

·       Mentorship vs sponsorship

·       Leadership

·       Financial backing

·       Personal vs systemic

·       Accountability

·       Pressure and risk

·       Transferable skills

·       Access

·       Demystifying privilege

·       Negative vs positive

 

[01.20.05] The panel sum up their thoughts from today’s discussion. 

“Imagine a world where privilege is seen as an opportunity to create a better world for those coming behind us.” Dr Lee

 

RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:

You can connect with Dr Lee, Christy, Bobbie and Nik-Keisha over on LinkedIn.