Hair and Inclusivity in the Workplace with Jessica Morrobel 💇🏽‍♀️

In today's episode we sit down with content creator Jessica Morrobel to chat about identity, hair and inclusivity in the workplace. Jessica has such great advice for navigating hair and discrimination in the workplace, and this episode is a real treat! 

💇🏽‍♀️ This is part two of my chat with Jessica, be sure to tune into part one, "From Corporate to Content Creation with Jessica Morrobel" to learn more about content creation and Jessica's journey!

💇🏽‍♀️ Jessica Morrobel is a dynamic travel and lifestyle influencer known for her engaging content on curly hair care, travel experiences, and style featured on @travelingwithjessica. Drawing on her rich background in journalism and marketing within travel, technology, finance, and publishing, Jessica brings a vibrant and adventurous spirit to her work. More than just sharing posts and stories, she's on a mission to motivate her followers to dive into life enthusiastically, pursue continuous learning, and express themselves authentically. Jessica's impactful collaborations include work with brands like Sephora, Kate Spade New York, Nike, and Pinterest, and she was formerly a part of Disney Creators Lab.

 💇🏽‍♀️ Check out Jessica's content, as she champions these issues in her content!

• Jessica’s Website, Traveling With Jessica
• Jessica’s TikTok
• Jessica’s Pinterest
• Jessica’s Instagram
• Jessica’s YouTube

🎙️ Want to help Multitudes reach more listeners? I would love if you shared this episode with a friend!

🎙️ You can find out more about Multitudes by checking out multitudespodcast.com!

🎙️ Liked this episode?  Head over to our IG @multitudes.podcast and leave a comment or DM there! 

Transcript

0:00

Hello, and welcome back to the multitudes podcast. I'm your host, Nicole Carter. And this is part two of my conversation with Jessica Mirabelle. And in part one, we talked about how Jessica started out in content creation, managing her time, finances and tips on content creation. And in part two, we are talking more about the actual content which touches upon the topics of identity, Hare and inclusivity in the workplace. And in this episode, we talk about Jessica's journey up embracing natural hair and corporate environments. We also touch upon tips and advice for responding to a negative hair comments in the workplace and the crown act, a California law, which prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture. And all of this has led to Jessica's advocacy, which she shares throughout her pot forums. so I'm thrilled to be having this conversation today and as always, thank you so much for being here for listening, and you can learn more about multitudes@multitudespodcast.com. And on Instagram at multitudes dot podcast.

Nicole 1:18

I love that you focus on conversations on natural hair in the corporate world. you have wonderful hair tips. And I invite anyone who's listening, like you should definitely check it out. They're really fun to see. And can you talk about your haircare journey and how it

Jessica 1:34

started? Yes, absolutely. So. When I worked, well, let me go a little further back before corporate America, throughout university, I struggled a little bit with my identity because I went to a predominantly white school and there weren't as many You Students that were, that had a similar hair texture to mine. So, and, there, there was nothing wrong with that. I really enjoyed my experience at the university that I attended, but I also struggled with my identity in the sense that because there was no one else who had my own hair texture, I almost felt forced. To fit in with the community back then and so I would do things like straighten my hair or I would do keratin treatments just so I can have straight hair throughout university and I ended up carrying that with me throughout corporate America because again I was working in spaces where there wasn't necessarily anyone else that had textured hair. And I realized that this didn't always necessarily bode well for me back then, because there came a certain time in my career where I built the courage to go to work and embrace my curly hair texture. And I didn't think that I would be ostracized for it. But unfortunately, that was And as a result of that, I started receiving less opportunities in the workplace. And so I really had to muster up the courage to find myself and discover my identity. And a lot of that came through connecting with other friends who maybe have had shared experiences. experiences, talking with my family and really discovering my roots and where I come from. And so I started using my platform, which was then my personal page now turned traveling with Jessica to share that journey with people who following me at the time and talk about. Just some of the things that I, I had gone through and also talking about that journey because I was at one point, I did begin transitioning from chemically straightened hair to natural hair and so I. We've talked a lot about how our identity can be partially rooted in hair politics. And so now I just like to use my platform to continue voicing my opinions and thoughts and any learnings whether it's from others, from journals, from articles, from statistics, I like to use all of that information to share it with my audience in turn, hopefully helping them. Better show up to the workplace or just in their life as their true, authentic self. And that really means tapping into their creativity, which really goes back to something that I, that I had to do to ultimately be able to show up as myself at work and beyond. And that helped me find my community. Even at work, I started moving into new work environments. That were a little bit more diverse and inclusive, and it was really fulfilling at one point because I realized that, you know what, I could show up as my, as myself and have an impact and it was a win win situation and it made me feel empowered. And so I hope it's something that I can now do for others. While of course, still sharing some of the struggles that I faced along the way, because I may have gone through that natural hair journey, but I am Still on that journey now.

Nicole 5:31

Yeah, thank you so much for sharing. and I appreciate what you have to say about creating inclusive environments around hair in the workplace, because I do feel like it's not something that is always talked about in the workplace, but I do feel like it is on the mind of a lot of people, especially women of color who struggle with the question of like, do I wear my hair natural or do I not wear my hair natural? I'm curious about if you could share more about that experience you had that was negative when you wore your hair natural, if you'd like

Jessica 6:06

to share with us, yeah. I'll give you one instance. I had worked in a specific environment where I showed up with my naturally curly hair and I had a fro at the time when I showed up to this specific work environment and my manager had called me out for being a distraction in meetings and calling me a hair distraction and I was like, Oh my Initially, that was extremely discouraging, but I soon realized that I knew I had to really tap into myself and everything that I had learned throughout the years and challenge those traditional norms that have historically marginalized certain types of hair textures and styles and I stood up for myself so I started sharing, well, not started, but I shared that experience slowly, but surely with my audience. And so because of that, there was more interest in dialogue around discussing hair and creating inclusive environments in the work. Place. And I'm just glad that this conversation has gained more prominence due to these ongoing conversations. And so again, I just hope to continue having these discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially like in the context of the workplace. I just really, I really, my hope is to continue to connecting with individuals with natural hair, particularly. Those from diverse ethnic backgrounds that have faced discrimination, whether it's like biases or microaggressions related to their hair choices, because I just. I want to continue this movement towards greater acceptance and celebration of diverse hairstyles and cultural expressions. And that really means continue to hold space for conversations around laws and regulations that have been enacted to protect individuals from discrimination based on their natural hairstyles. For example, the Crown Act. And again, just prompting more discussions and initiatives, especially within corporate America and other professional settings. But again, really talking about focusing on the goal of creating more inclusive environments and beyond. Right? Because these things might happen at home for some people, they might happen in certain friend groups. And so I just want to be mindful of, of all these things and just. continue to, to hold space for these conversations.

Nicole 8:50

yes. The crown act is, it stands for create a respectful and open world for natural hair. And it's a California law, which prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture. It's like the first legislation. And that's. at the state level in the US that prohibits that discrimination. I'm curious about when that moment when your supervisor mentioned. Like, your hair is a distraction if you do remember, how you responded or, how you would. respond now to someone who says that to you in the workplace?

Jessica 9:27

You know, responding to negative hair comments at work is such a sensitive situation. And I think it's really important to remember that. Every situation is unique and the appropriate quote unquote appropriate response. It can vastly Depend based on like specific circumstances The first thing that I would say is like definitely assess your situation and consider your comfort level And the workplace dynamics to and like the cultural workplace dynamics when you're responding to a negative hair comment but First thing I would say is stay calm and remain composed. Take a deep breath and respond with a calm demeanor to help diffuse tension and keep the conversation productive. I know that personally in the past, I might have wanted to outburst a little bit when someone has said something negative, but over time I've learned that I need to address the situation and the issue directly. By assertively addressing the comment and expressing myself and saying things like I felt uncomfortable when you made that comment about my hair and I have found that that specific approach helps foster a sense of understanding and it does encourage a respectful dialogue because you have to remember that not everyone Has common sense. I'm just going to say And so with that, I say educate and use that opportunity to inform others or that particular person about different hair types and textures and styles. And if there's no time in the moment, create the space for it, right? Create a space at work, whether it's with the person who said it, To you and then maybe an hr representative some people might think that's a stretch, but I think it is important to Explain that diversity in hair is natural and that everyone's hair is unique and of course tap into Discussing if it's applicable to you, the cultural significance or personal preference behind your hairstyle. But only if you want to share that, because I do know that that might be a personal topic for some people. But again, I have found that educating others, it can help challenge those stereotypes and promote inclusivity in the workplace, which is why I do think that going back to including HR in that conversation, it is important.

Nicole 12:00

I also love that you are mentioning, like, to the extent that you feel comfortable because it can be very personal and maybe you're not at the point where you're ready to have that conversation. And also, like, you may not be fully comfortable to address it. with your supervisor, but maybe with HR. I started. With my hair like definitely pressed and over time in the corporate setting felt more comfortable wearing my hair natural I'm curious about like if anyone's listening and they're kind of at an at a point in their hair care journey Where they're not sure like how should I wear my hair to work? What advice or thoughts do you have for them?

Jessica 12:42

Yeah. Oh, man. That's such a good question because there came a time in my career where I was not sure what to do with my hair. But honestly, sometimes I wake up in the present moment, like moment in time, and I still might not know what to do with my hair because it's a, personally, it's a long process, but for anyone who's struggling to figure out how to wear their hair on the workplace or, or they need tips, I would say like, Seek inspiration. I still do that to date. And so maybe go on Pinterest or, or Instagram and look for hair inspiration that suits your personal style because that will help you remain authentic, right? Especially at work. And then of course, if you don't want to look for inspiration online, look to your community, to your friends, to your family, to have these dialogues and these conversations, because at the end of the day, while you're, while you might take those tips that they might give to you, it is super important to stay true to yourself and like, don't feel this pressure to conform to. other people's choices. But again, I always think it's, it's great to create space for those, for those dialogues. And then going on to my next point experiments, like, don't be afraid to try different hairstyles. Again, really going back to the point of finding something that works for you, whether it's up juice or half up hairstyles or just a full blown throw. I think discovering like, and playing around with different styles. You'll ultimately find what works for you. And then that'll help you feel more confident and comfortable with wearing whatever that style is in a professional setting. At the end of the day, the most important factor is you feeling confident in your chosen hairstyle, natural or not, regardless of where you pulled inspiration from, because when you feel good about your hair. Whether it's natural or not, it will ultimately and positively impact your overall demeanor and professionalism at work. So at work and beyond. So choose a hairstyle that aligns with your personal style, play around with different looks, and hopefully that, that will help you feel more empowered in the workplace. So again, seek inspiration and, and play around with, with different looks. Don't feel like you have to conform to just one specific style.

Nicole 15:07

I love all of those tips. Inspiration from online, from your community, experimenting as well. And just like at the end of the day. It's about you feeling comfortable, and I love that, and I know, like, in terms of seeking inspiration like, you have great hair care tips, and you've presented a lot of your hair care journey, it's garnered millions of views on TikTok and you have gone viral for some of your hair care content and how has that impacted how you feel about your content?

Jessica 15:39

Yes, thank you for your kind words, by the way. When it comes to going viral, it definitely like initially it brings this sense of excitement. I also have felt a sense of accomplishment, right? And then it also gives a sense of accomplishment. Like immediate validation, right? Because you're seeing these numbers. But I will say that from a personal perspective, virality in the immediate term can come with a sense of pressure. because The impact of going viral on like a creator's perception, it can vary. And so I think for me, while it gives the sense of immediate validation, I am trying not to focus on the numbers. I really look at the impact on the community. So what content is going viral and how has it impacted someone else in a positive manner? I look at that as a takeaway and I'm trying to look at the numbers a little bit. Less because I I don't want that pressure of like having to constantly go viral because again I did struggle with that at the beginning. So what I will say is that going viral can be a transformative Experience that can shape it can shape a creator and I would say that if you go viral Use it as leverage to Tailor your future strategies, your goals, and your relationship with your audience because that's something that I have done and I'm working towards, you know, continuing to do all of that and more in, in my content now, regardless of whether it's viral or not.

Nicole 17:38

I would love to know from you, Jessica, in what ways do you contain multitudes? and in what ways do you feel that you are

Jessica 17:48

paradoxical? I contain multitudes in various aspects. Of my life my beliefs and my opinions. Like these are so heavily shaped by my personal experiences, my cultural background, my exposure to different perspectives and my education. And I think these things just overall contribute to my individuality and yeah, I think that as someone who has transitioned from corporate to full time creator and just Always being naturally curious just by nature. I am completely unafraid to rock the boat a little bit. I don't want to say that I am not not someone who's not satisfied with like the quote unquote status quo But I do find myself in a state like a moving state of like what if how so why not? And so again, I'm just I'm not afraid to challenge this sort of conventional wisdom Um, so I'm not saying that I'm the kind of person who's disrupting things just for the sake of doing so, but I'm always looking for a way to make, like, make improvements in, in my life and in, in my career. So yeah.

Nicole 19:13

Amazing. Love it, Jessica. Thank you so much for everything that you've shared today and all of the ideas and insights and inspiration that you've provided us. And would love to know where we can find you online and how we can support you.

Jessica 19:30

Absolutely. Thank you so, so, so much for having me on your podcast. This was such a great conversation. And you can find me at traveling with Jessica across Instagram, Tik TOK, Pinterest, and YouTube. And you can also check out my website at travelingwithjessica. com. And if you'd love to connect with me, feel free to shoot me an email at hello at travelingwithjessica. com.

Nicole 19:59

And we'll put all of that in the show notes. And thanks so much again.

20:08

I love the message of how you choose to wear your hair is your decision. Whether you opt for natural hairstyles or something different, what's important is that the choice reflects you and empowers you. and be sure to check out Jessica's content and you can find all of those links in the show notes and unwell to today's podcast.com. I hope you enjoyed this week's episode and thank you so much for listening And if you found this episode to be helpful or insightful, I would love if you shared with a friend. I'm wishing you a wonderful week and I will see you soon.