WOC and Allies: Business and Career Realtalk with Elaine Lou Cartas
Struggling with what to do next? Need honest realtalk cause you're tired of the curated highlight reels on the socials? And want strategies to get out of your own way?
Your host, Elaine Lou Cartas, the oldest daughter of a Filipino immigrant, is an award-winning Business and Executive Career Coach for women of color and allies. Elaine is like you - she’s been fired, quit jobs, changed careers three times, and been in debt. Elaine’s success story? She’s always done what’s true to herself and wants you to know it’s possible too. She’s a former grassroots organizer and nonprofit fundraiser who raised $11 million.
LA Weekly awarded Elaine as the #1 Thought Leader in 2023, and MSN recognized her as the Best Leadership & Executive Coach in 2024. Elaine has online courses with LinkedIn, Duke, Brown, Penn and USC.
On the WOC and Allies: Business and Career Realtalk® Podcast (formerly known as the Color Your Dreams podcast), Elaine reminds you that your definition of happiness in work and life can evolve. Elaine's podcast guests include team members, clients, friends, and even family members who discuss real challenges and how they honored their own voices. As a business owner and career leader, this podcast is here to help you overcome overwhelm, while protecting your peace. So bring your coffee, tea, or boba for some realtalk every other Thursday! @elainelou_ // www.elainelou.com
WOC and Allies: Business and Career Realtalk with Elaine Lou Cartas
119: How to Lead When You’re “THE ONLY”
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Being “the only” in the room, the only woman, the only woman of color, the youngest person, the only one who thinks differently can be both an honor and a heavy responsibility. In this episode, I share how to navigate that experience while still earning respect, making an impact, and opening doors for others to join you at the table.
You’ll hear:
- My personal journey of being “the only” from being born, my childhood to adulthood
- The tug-of-war blending in with honoring yourself
- 6 proven strategies to lead confidently as “the only” without burning bridges or betraying yourself.
- How to be discerning about when to stay quiet, how to identify the right people to build relationships with and why you should take up space
- Why your presence in the room isn’t just about you, it’s about representing voices that aren’t there yet.
Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running your own business, or navigating high-stakes rooms, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to not just survive as “the only,” but to thrive and influence change.
Where We Can Connect:
Schedule a Business & Career Review call with me to see if it’s a good fit to work together: elainelou.com/call
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