Ep 4 | Why Does It Feel So Wrong To Be Yourself At Work?

Season 1, Episode 4: Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Yourself at Work? (with Priya Bates)

Episode Description:

How much of yourself do you really bring to work—and how much do you feel you have to leave behind to fit in?

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee welcome special guest Priya Bates, award-winning internal communications strategist, co-founder of A Leader Like Me, and author of Building a Culture of Inclusivity. Together, they unpack the emotional, cultural, and organizational barriers that make authenticity feel risky—and why belonging is the true foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

 

They explore:

• What it actually means to “belong” at work
• Why so many professionals feel pressure to conform to dominant cultures (white, male, heteronormative)
• The difference between “culture fit” and “culture add” in hiring and leadership
• How microaggressions and assumptions—like “Where are you really from?”—erode trust
• The evolution of DEI since the murder of George Floyd, and how to move beyond performative inclusion
• Strategies to move from fear and discomfort to courageous conversations
• How leaders can foster safe, diverse environments by embracing their own growth and bias awareness

With real stories, practical takeaways, and unfiltered honesty, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what inclusion feels like—not just what it looks like on a spreadsheet.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Why we’re nervous to talk about DEI—and why we must
• 05:00 – Priya Bates joins: redefining inclusion and belonging
• 10:00 – Belonging as a personal and cultural journey
• 15:00 – Identity, immigration, and “Where are you really from?”
• 20:00 – Why “being yourself” at work still feels risky
• 25:00 – From culture fit to culture add: evolving hiring mindsets
• 30:00 – Microaggressions, code-switching, and corporate expectations
• 35:00 – Representation, internal communications, and the value of difference
• 40:00 – DEI as business advantage, not checkbox
• 45:00 – Unlearning bias and embracing discomfort
• 50:00 – Modern leadership: from alpha types to empathetic innovators
• 55:00 – Building inclusive teams with intention
• 01:00:00 – Tools, resources, and reflections for change

 

Books & Resources:

• Building a Culture of Inclusivity by Priya Bates & Advita Patel
• A Leader Like Me – Global DEI community by Priya & Advita
• Harvard’s Implicit Association Test (IAT)

 

Mic-Drop Moments:

“Belonging means you can show up with all of who you are—and be valued for it.”

“Diversity without inclusion is decoration. Inclusion without belonging is just obligation.”

“The goal isn’t to erase differences. It’s to appreciate them.”

 

Connect with Us:

Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom

Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication

 

Special Thanks:

We’re deeply grateful to Priya Bates for joining this conversation and sharing her leadership, vulnerability, and vision for a more inclusive world of work. Thanks to the entire Local Wisdom and SBX Productions teams for helping us make space for the conversations that matter most.

 

Let’s Talk About Belonging:

Do you feel like you can be yourself at work? What’s helped—or hurt—that feeling? Share your reflections with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, or at whydoesitfeelsowrong.com. Let’s keep making workplaces feel more human, one honest conversation at a time.

Special thanks to digital communication agency Local Wisdom (www.localwisdom.com) for really believing in our mission and making this podcast possible. 

If this episode made you think differently, laugh, or even yell out loud, we want to hear about it! Connect wi