How Identity Has Influenced a Director of Marketing's Career at Hedley and Bennett
Alice's career journey highlights a growing awareness of how being an Asian-American woman has shaped their experiences, from initially overlooking potential biases in homogenous work environments to actively engaging with diversity initiatives and recognizing microaggressions as systemic issues rather than personal failings. The realization that feedback on their "tone" and positivity may be rooted in biases, coupled with the desire for future workplaces that openly discuss these challenges, underscores their ongoing navigation of these complexities.
Overcoming Challenges, Workplace Challenges, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Imposter Syndrome
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alice Khabituyeva
Director of Marketing
Hedley & Bennett
Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and 2017
UCLA Anderson
Economics
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Communication and Marketing
Took Out Loans, Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Alice's journey in recognizing the impact of her identity as an Asian-American woman on her career progression, from initially not recognizing biases to actively seeking inclusive work environments.
2. The importance of finding a supportive work culture where open discussions about diversity and inclusion are encouraged, and the realization that microaggressions are systemic and not solely individual issues.
3. Alice's evolving understanding of the "bamboo ceiling" and "glass ceiling", and how she has learned to identify and question how her identity impacts her work experiences, such as feedback on her tone and demeanor compared to her male counterparts.
Transcript
As an Asian-American woman, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
It's something that I'm still learning to navigate, and it's really important. I don't think it's something you ever stop exploring: how your identity impacts you in the workplace.
I'm fortunate enough to be in a small working environment with coworkers I'm close to, allowing me to openly talk about how my identity impacts me when it does come up. When I worked at bigger companies, I didn't really recognize this at first.
At NPR, I was working with mostly white women. I didn't really take note of that or understand how that might have impacted me at the time. Then, in my next job, which was much more multicultural, I got to start thinking about it a little more.
My friends and I led AAPI Month events to celebrate and engage with our culture. That was one of the first times I started to really identify how I should present myself and think about myself as an Asian American woman.
In my next job in consulting, many firms do a great job of having inclusive clubs and events. There was one event that really stuck with me and started a much more introspective journey. It was a virtual talk during COVID by our Asian American Club.
A female Asian American partner spoke about the "glass ceiling," and academic professors discussed the "bamboo ceiling" and the glass ceiling for women. I realized all these anecdotes and stories about microaggressions weren't just about me as a unique person.
I always thought issues with how I was spoken to or the opportunities I was given were personal failings. I thought it was something with me that I couldn't overcome. Then, I started to see the ways my identity as an Asian American woman impacted my abilities.
I received a lot of feedback on my tone and how positive I was. It often felt like I had to navigate this feeling, wondering if a white man in my situation would have dealt with the same things.
Right now, I don't have a ton of answers for this. But just having that question and perspective, and recognizing that so many others face similar challenges, is important. Finding a culture or team environment that allows you to talk about these issues is crucial.
This is something I'm still definitely navigating. I'm recognizing its impact on my day-to-day life and want to talk about it more openly. It's a requirement I'll need in any job moving forward. It's definitely a big part of my day-to-day work.