Thriving In Intersectionality
A leadership podcast hosted by Dr. Lola Adeyemo
Conversations on leadership, identity, belonging, and power in the world of work.
Thriving in Intersectionality is Dr. Lola Adeyemo’s flagship leadership podcast exploring how identity, culture, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today’s world of work. Through thoughtful conversations with executives, founders, scholars, and changemakers, the show examines how leaders navigate complexity, build belonging, and thrive across diverse career paths.
Established in 2022 • 100+ episodes featuring leaders across industries
ORIGIN & EVOLUTION
Originally launched in 2022 through Immigrants in Corporate, Thriving in Intersectionality began as a platform to amplify immigrant and underrepresented voices in the workplace.
Over time, the podcast has evolved into a broader leadership and career development platform — reflecting the growing complexity of identity, leadership, culture, and power in today’s world of work.
Today, the show features leaders across industries and sectors, offering nuanced perspectives on career growth, leadership transitions, belonging, and organizational influence through the layered lived experiences of its leaders and guests.
HOSTED BY DR. LOLA ADEYEMO
Dr. Lola Adeyemo is a leadership strategist, speaker, researcher, and community builder whose work sits at the intersection of leadership, belonging, identity, and organizational culture. She is the founder of EQImindset and Immigrants in Corporate Inc., and the author of Thriving in Intersectionality: Immigrants, Belonging, and Corporate America.
Through speaking, research, and storytelling, Dr. Adeyemo partners with leaders and organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, navigate complexity, and build cultures where people — and performance — thrive.
Her work spans corporate leadership, higher education, nonprofit governance, and executive development, bringing a research-informed and deeply human lens to the conversations shaping today’s world of work.
WHAT YOU’LL HEAR
In each episode of Thriving in Intersectionality, we explore:
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Leadership and executive decision-making
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Identity, belonging, and career growth
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Reinvention, transitions, and resilience
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Culture, power, and organizational influence
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Lived experience as leadership intelligence
Episodes blend research, reflection, and lived experience — offering thoughtful conversations for leaders, HR and DEI practitioners, and professionals navigating identity, leadership, and career growth in today’s workplace.
AUDIENCE & COMMUNITY
This podcast is designed for:
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Executives and senior leaders
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HR and DEI practitioners
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Organizational leaders and board members
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Early- and mid-career professionals
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Scholars, educators, and changemakers
Whether you are navigating leadership transitions, building inclusive cultures, or reflecting on your own career path, Thriving in Intersectionality offers space for learning, reflection, and growth.
Start Here
New to Thriving in Intersectionality? Begin with a few cornerstone conversations that reflect the heart and depth of the podcast:
Reflecting on a Journey of Stories, Growth, and Belonging
In this milestone solo episode, Dr. Lola Adeyemo reflects on the journey of building Thriving in Intersectionality over 100 episodes — and the deeper lessons on leadership, identity, belonging, and growth that emerged along the way.
Drawing from personal experience, research, and the stories of leaders across industries, Dr. Adeyemo explores the evolution of her own leadership voice, the power of reflection, and what it truly means to thrive at the intersection of identity and impact. This episode offers an intimate and thoughtful look at career pivots, resilience, purpose, and the role of storytelling in shaping leadership journeys.
From Excellence to Impact: Celeste Warren on Authentic Leadership and Equity
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo speaks with Celeste Warren — former Global Chief Diversity Officer at Merck and longtime corporate leader — about authenticity, leadership influence, and driving equity at scale. Celeste reflects on navigating senior leadership, aligning values with impact, and what it truly means to lead with integrity in complex organizational environments.
Strong, Confident, and Enough: Saundra Pelletier on Women’s Health Advocacy and Career Empowerment
In this electrifying and deeply personal conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo speaks with biopharmaceutical CEO and women’s health advocate Saundra Pelletier about leadership, resilience, and the power of self-advocacy. From growing up on welfare in Maine to leading groundbreaking innovations in women’s reproductive health, Saundra reflects on navigating corporate leadership, single motherhood, and a life-changing cancer diagnosis with confidence and purpose.
Leadership, Boards & The Power of Reflection with Dr. Keith Dorsey
Dr. Lola Adeyemo sits down with board strategist, researcher, and executive advisor Dr. Keith Dorsey to explore governance, leadership development, and the role of reflection in effective decision-making. This conversation offers rare insight into boardroom dynamics, leadership maturity, and how leaders cultivate influence and wisdom over time.
The Winding Path to Purpose: Dr. Maggie Marcus on Career Pivots, Cultural Bridge-Building, and Finding Your Thread
In this rich and reflective conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo speaks with Dr. Maggie Marcus about career reinvention, cultural bridge-building, and discovering purpose through a winding professional journey. From the CIA to the classroom to leading a family foundation, Maggie reflects on how seemingly disconnected experiences can form a powerful throughline of leadership, scholarship, and service.
PODCAST PHILOSOPHY
At the heart of Thriving in Intersectionality is a belief that leadership is shaped not only by skills and strategy, but by identity, lived experience, and context.
Through thoughtful dialogue and reflective inquiry, the podcast explores how leaders grow, navigate complexity, and build impact at the intersection of who they are and the work they do.
ALL EPISODES
INTERESTED IN BEING A GUEST?
Thriving in Intersectionality features leaders, executives, founders, scholars, and changemakers who bring thoughtful perspectives on leadership, identity, culture, and belonging.
If you or someone you know would be a strong fit for a future conversation, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome guests who are reflective, generous in sharing their journeys, and passionate about shaping more inclusive and effective workplaces.