Supporting different versions of our authentic selves

I don’t think I deviate that much away from who I believe I am. And that’s partly due to the people around me. When I first started at Baringa there were a couple of Black people in our team. It was a wonderful, lovely group of people but we were from different walks of life, and there was no one I could properly relate to. As our team gets more diverse it’s easier to find ground with people that have a similar moral compass. Then you can be more of yourself.

I’m more myself at Baringa compared to previous jobs. In my first corporate job I never wore my curly hair out. It was very much slicked back because I didn’t want or accept the curls. It’s been a journey to learn to love my hair and realise that you can still be professional with big hair.

Discovering the code

I guess I’ve always known there’s a code. It’s not openly spoken about, but it’s always there. Since I was little, there’s always been a way to behave; how to come across so you’re not viewed negatively. Then at University it probably hit home most. Applying for certain jobs, behaving a certain way, considering how people may view you. During mock interviews one of my lecturers told me “you can’t rely on your looks to try to get you a job”. And that stuck with me forever because I was very professional, yet he didn’t say it to anyone else. I was really angry.

Working in retail someone didn’t want to be served by me because I’m Black, despite me doing the same job as my colleagues. And being involved in the performing arts, I was rarely booked because darker skin tones weren’t on trend and lighter ladies were preferable. It all comes back to the way we dress, the way we look, our hair, our skin colour etc. It’s a negative thread running throughout.

A culture of connection

Having Black at Baringa and the Diversity Network is very refreshing – I haven’t seen it in other jobs. We do a lot of events, and everyone’s included. You don’t see many Black people around the office so when you do you feel almost instantly comfortable. You connect without having to speak. Yes, Baringa has it’s own culture, and there’s an unwritten code. But everyone’s acceptable of difference which is beautiful.

Towards authentic change

Baringa is doing a great job rewriting the code. Change is happening, but it needs to be authentic – moving in the right way, for the right reasons, and involving the right people at the right time. There’s still a long way to go to where the underlying code isn’t even a thing, which is sad. But it’s a case of filling in all the gaps within all the layers in the organisation.

For example, I’m now returning from maternity leave and looking at the work world through different eyes. I need to work out my new true-authentic-self, and discover how best to show up as a working mum, and not the same me as I was a year ago.

Unless people at the top levels understand, or have been through it, they don’t really know the experiences of others. You notice things that shouldn’t be a certain way or should be in place within support systems.

Keeping up the magic at Baringa

Baringa have been great – supporting me as a Black woman and now as a new parent. My wish is for them not to lose any of their magic as they grow bigger. What they have is something quite special in the way they treat their staff. They need to grow authentically with the message that it's ok to be you. Why should we all be the same? Our life experiences make and build who we are, and whether it’s good or bad it comes together somehow and it works. Why put pressure on everyone to be the same, act the same, think the same, or conform to societal norms. There’s great beauty in difference, so don’t change who you are.