Thriving beyond the margins

Redefining success on our own terms

There is an unspoken truth for those of us who exist in spaces that were never designed with us in mind. Whether it’s boardrooms, classrooms, or entire industries, many of us from communities that have been dismissed, overlooked or even excluded, Black, Brown, women, parents and caregivers, neurodivergent, first-generation professionals, or those balancing multiple identities often find ourselves constantly navigating environments that are not set up for us to truly thrive. For example, only 5% of executive roles in Fortune 500 companies are held by Black professionals, and women occupy just 8% of C-suite positions (McKinsey, 2022).

Yet, we do.

We learn the rules, we adjust, we adapt, and we push forward. But what if thriving meant more than just surviving and assimilating? What if, instead of constantly misshaping ourselves to fit into these spaces, we redefined what success looks like on our own terms?

The Weight of Margins

The margins are where many of us begin. It’s where we are told to be a certain way to be accepted, what professionalism looks and sounds like, that we have to work twice as hard for half the recognition, where our ideas are questioned before they are considered, and where the systems and people around us often expect our silence rather than our brilliance.

As a Black woman leader, a mother, and someone who is neurodivergent, I’ve personally felt the weight of being in spaces where I, nor my perspectives were never the intended participant. The pressure to perform at an unnatural standard, to prove my worth, to navigate unwritten rules, to conform outside of my values and to constantly translate my experiences into something palatable for others, many times felt overwhelming and exhausting. And yet, the reality is, many of us don’t have the privilege to opt out. We have families to support, goals to reach, and communities relying on us to make a way.

Shifting the Perspective

Thriving beyond the margins isn’t about ignoring the barriers and rules, it’s about understanding them and then deciding how we will move through, around, and best of all beyond them. It’s about recognizing that we don’t have to sacrifice our well-being for the sake of validation. It’s about embracing our authenticity, finding joy in the midst of resistance, and building our own ecosystems of support and joy.

Thriving means:

• Reclaiming our narratives – We define what success means to us, not the systems that were created to harm and exclude us.

• Honoring our needs – Rest, community, and boundaries are not luxuries; they are necessities for human life and sustainability.

• Leveraging our uniqueness as power – The very things that make us different are the sources of our greatest strengths.

• Building beyond the existing structures – Sometimes, the best way to thrive is to create new spaces rather than seek permission to fit into old ones.

  
  

A New Path Forward

Thriving beyond the margins is a journey, not a destination. It’s a continuous process of unlearning, healing, and stepping fully into who you/we are without apology. It requires courage, community, and the radical belief that we belong, not because we have assimilated, but because we have claimed our space in the world.

For those of us who have spent a lifetime making room for ourselves, know this: you are not alone. And together, we are redefining what it means to thrive.

Wherever you are on this journey, I see you. And I hope you know that your presence, your voice, and your existence matter and are powerful.

We are not just surviving anymore. We are thriving. On our own terms. Beyond the margins.

Stay tuned for more insights and tips on redefining success and thriving in the totality of life.