loader from loading.io

828: Belonging That Works: Beyond the DEI Checkbox with CEO Jean Ibañez Payne

Support is Sexy

Release Date: 09/17/2025

828: Belonging That Works: Beyond the DEI Checkbox with CEO Jean Ibañez Payne show art 828: Belonging That Works: Beyond the DEI Checkbox with CEO Jean Ibañez Payne

Support is Sexy

Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and mental health. Founder/CEO Jean Ibañez Payne of TI Verbatim Consulting shares how to build humane, people-first cultures—without outsourcing leadership to HR—and her courageous journey as a military sexual trauma survivor choosing healing, daily. Highlights “Going to work shouldn’t suck”: why culture starts at the top, not in HR What HR can do—and why it can’t fix leadership problems alone How TIVC blends qualitative interviews + natural-language AI to turn employee feelings into decisions leaders...

info_outline 827: How to Design a Life Beyond Burnout with Life Coach Jelan Agnew show art 827: How to Design a Life Beyond Burnout with Life Coach Jelan Agnew

Support is Sexy

In this powerful conversation, Life Coach Jelan Agnew, LCSW shares how ICU-level burnout during 2020 became her wake-up call to design life on purpose. She walks us through the mindset shifts that took her from overachievement and overload to presence, sobriety, and self-permission—ultimately moving to Mexico and reshaping her work from one-to-one therapy into coaching, workshops, and speaking. We unpack her "empty notebook" and baseline frameworks, why perfection is just avoidance in a cute outfit, and how focusing on feelings first (not the resume or the how) opens unexpected doors. What...

info_outline 826: How to Practice Self-Care on Your Own Terms with Asutra CEO Stephanie Morimoto show art 826: How to Practice Self-Care on Your Own Terms with Asutra CEO Stephanie Morimoto

Support is Sexy

Episode theme: Self‑care on your terms, scaling with intention, and growing a modern wellness brand without burning out. Guest: Stephanie Morimoto — CEO & Owner of Asutra; partner with Venus Williams; champion of practical self‑care. What you’ll learn What “self‑care on your terms” looks like (micro‑rituals you can actually keep). Why Stephanie bought a business she loved—and how she knew she’s a 10→100 builder, not a 0→1 founder. The pivot from big‑box retail to QVC, Amazon, and a high‑growth DTC engine—and why mass retail is tough without huge ad...

info_outline 825: You Can’t Unknow the Truth — Preserving Black History with Historian JerriAnne Boggis show art 825: You Can’t Unknow the Truth — Preserving Black History with Historian JerriAnne Boggis

Support is Sexy

In this powerful and timely episode, I’m honored to connect with historian JerriAnne Boggis — Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire — for a deeply resonant conversation about history, healing, and holding onto the truth. JerriAnne shares her personal journey from Jamaica to New Hampshire, the legacy of Black women trailblazers, and the 450-year untold story of Black lives in one of America’s whitest states. She reminds us that Black history isAmerican history — and once you know the truth, you can’t unknow it. Together, we talk about: 🧭 The importance...

info_outline 824: Written in the Waters Author Tara Roberts on Diving into History, Discovering Your Purpose & Following the Unconventional Path show art 824: Written in the Waters Author Tara Roberts on Diving into History, Discovering Your Purpose & Following the Unconventional Path

Support is Sexy

What an absolute JOY it was to reconnect with my sister-friend and former colleague from our Essence magazine days, the brilliant storyteller and explorer Tara Roberts! 🧡 Tara is someone I’ve admired for decades—not only for her sharp editorial mind and deep heart, but also for her fearless pursuit of meaningful storytelling. And in this conversation, we dive (pun intended!) into her latest transformational journey—literally and spiritually—as a National Geographic Explorer and author of the gorgeous memoir "Written in the Waters." Tara takes us behind the scenes of how a visit to...

info_outline 823: How to Face Your Fears, Be Resilient and Begin Again with Immigration Attorney Gina Diaz show art 823: How to Face Your Fears, Be Resilient and Begin Again with Immigration Attorney Gina Diaz

Support is Sexy

In this inspiring episode of Support is Sexy, host Elayne Fluker speaks with Gina Diaz — immigration and real estate attorney, entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and advocate for women’s empowerment. From being deported twice as a child before finally settling in the U.S., to becoming a single mother at 19, to beating ovarian cancer in her early 30s, Gina’s journey is a testament to resilience and fearless reinvention. She opens up about the emotional toll of her experiences, the strength she found in her faith and family, and the power of choosing gratitude over self-pity. Now one of...

info_outline 822: How to Overcome Complex Shame with Dr. Zoe Shaw show art 822: How to Overcome Complex Shame with Dr. Zoe Shaw

Support is Sexy

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, I speak to my brilliant friend Dr. Zoe Shaw, author of the upcoming book—Stronger in the Difficult Places—about what she calls Complex Shame. Dr. Zoe defines Complex Shame as "a hidden emotional wound many women carry from childhood or relational trauma." Dr. Zoe Shaw is a licensed psychotherapist, motivational speaker, podcast host of Stronger In The Difficult Places, relationship coach and fitness fanatic. She is a mom to 5, and is passionate about helping women overcome complex shame and find strength in difficult relationships, including...

info_outline 821: How to Deal with a Difficult Boss show art 821: How to Deal with a Difficult Boss

Support is Sexy

As an executive coach, speaker and facilitator of leadership development workshops, I lean into my specialty around Soft Skills -- which are non-technical skills such as empathy, emotional intelligence, adaptability and resilience -- and teach on the topic in diffferent forums.  One place I teach is as an instructor is on LinkedIn, where I have over 78,000 followers and where one of my courses on "How to Deal with a Difficult Boss" has surged to over 15,000 students in the past couple of weeks. I have lots of theories on why that surge is happening (long story short: folks are...

info_outline 820: How to Network and Build Authentic Connections with WomenTech Network Founder Anna Radulovski show art 820: How to Network and Build Authentic Connections with WomenTech Network Founder Anna Radulovski

Support is Sexy

Anna Radulovski is author of Chief in Tech: How Women Are Breaking the Silicon Ceiling and Leading with Impact and she is the Founder and CEO of WomenTech Network — a global community with 150,000 members across 179 countries. WomenTech Network provides mentorship, career development, and networking opportunities connecting women with industry leaders at top companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM. Anna also hosts host the Women in Tech Global Conference and the Chief in Tech Summit, which is coming up on May 20, 2025. The summit brings together thousands of executives and...

info_outline 819: So Now What? (And Other Questions During Mass Layoffs) show art 819: So Now What? (And Other Questions During Mass Layoffs)

Support is Sexy

Laid off? Worried about being laid off? You are not alone! It's a tough time and we're all experiencing it together. In the first two months of 2025, approximately 221,812 Americans have lost their jobs—a 33% increase compared to the same period in 2024*. These losses are across every sector, from government jobs to the private sector, hitting us all hard. There are no easy answers on when it will end and improve. The uncertainty, the ever-changing workforce and the constant reorgs can lead to stress, anxiety, grief and the looming question: So now what? What should I be doing to prepare...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Content note: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault and mental health.

Founder/CEO Jean Ibañez Payne of TI Verbatim Consulting shares how to build humane, people-first cultures—without outsourcing leadership to HR—and her courageous journey as a military sexual trauma survivor choosing healing, daily.

Highlights

  • “Going to work shouldn’t suck”: why culture starts at the top, not in HR

  • What HR can do—and why it can’t fix leadership problems alone

  • How TIVC blends qualitative interviews + natural-language AI to turn employee feelings into decisions leaders can act on

  • Equality vs. equity you won’t forget (think: the job is on the 2nd floor—equity is the elevator)

  • Layoffs with humanity: transparency, notice, benefits, and reputation

  • Jean’s story as a military sexual trauma survivor: shame, rock bottom, and choosing life

  • Daily practices to reclaim your worth: therapy, medication without stigma, movement, community, and permission to step back

Quotes

“Culture starts at the top. You can’t outsource leadership to HR.”
“Equality is being qualified for the job on the second floor. Equity is the elevator.”
“Being perfect is too boring.”
“I stopped outsourcing my worth—and I chose to live.”

About our guest

Jean Ibañez Payne is the founder & CEO of TI Verbatim Consulting (TIVC), a culture and people-operations firm using AI + human expertise to align leadership strategy with what employees actually feel and experience. She’s a Certified Diversity Executive and the author of Reclaim Your Worth (also in Spanish and a children’s edition).

Links & Mentions

Connect

  • Jean: LinkedIn

  • Elayne: LinkedIn

  • Listen & share: Send this episode to a leader ready to build a humane workplace.

Resources & Support

If you’re in immediate danger: Call 911 (U.S.) or your local emergency number.

Sexual assault support (U.S.)

Mental health & crisis (U.S.)

Outside the U.S.

If this episode was helpful, please share follow, rate, and review—your support helps more listeners find these stories.