Don’t Lose Yourself on the Way Up

Don’t Lose Yourself on the Way Up

From Black-Liberation.Tech by Renée Jordan, Ph.D.

May 5, 2026 · 14 min · Season 7 · Episode 14

About this episode

Dr. Renée discusses the importance of identifying non-negotiables early in one's career to maintain integrity and cultural identity.

Naming Your Non-Negotiables Early When you’re just starting out, every opportunity can feel urgent. Internships. Projects. Free resources. New spaces. It can feel like you have to say yes to everything just to get your foot in the door. But here’s the truth: Not every open door is meant to be walked through at the cost of yourself. In this episode of Black-Liberation.Tech , Dr. Renée explores what it means to identify your non-negotiables early —especially for women, and girls navigating academic, digital, and professional spaces. Through real experiences from her doctoral journey, she breaks down the difference between flexibility and self-erasure , and shares the values you must protect as you grow: Protecting your cultural identity and voice Taking up space and asking questions with confidence Setting boundaries around time, energy, and privacy Staying connected to community while advancing This episode also expands the conversation on boundaries in real, everyday ways: Knowing when to ask for extensions instead of burning out Prioritizing quality over perfection Understanding that “free” opportunities can still come with hidden costs Learning when to say no—even when…

People in this episode

Host: Renée Jordan, Ph.D.

Topics covered

  • non-negotiables
  • boundaries
  • cultural identity
  • professional growth
  • women in academia
  • self-care

Keywords

  • opportunities
  • self-erasure
  • flexibility
  • community
  • success
  • boundaries
  • academic spaces

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