36. When Best Practice & Professional Are Code For Whiteness

REPRESENTED with Annie Gichuru

Have you ever stopped to question who defines "best practice" or what it really means to be "professional"? I’m breaking down how these seemingly neutral terms often act as codes for whiteness, shaping the standards we’re all expected to follow—whether in the workplace or the coaching space. We’ll explore three critical areas where this plays out:

1. Corporate Dress Codes & Professional Appearance: Did you know Black women are 2.5x more likely to have their natural hair labeled “unprofessional”? Even in 2024, natural styles like braids or afros can prevent people from advancing in their careers. I’ll share shocking statistics and explain how “professionalism” often centers whiteness.
2. The Online Coaching Space: From the case studies we see to the frameworks we’re told to follow, the coaching industry is dominated by white experiences. I’ll reveal how these models exclude the lived realities of people of colour and how we can create more inclusive learning environments.
3. Frameworks That Ignore Systemic Barriers: Many success strategies assume that everyone has equal access to resources, networks, and opportunities—but that’s far from the truth. I’ll unpack why frameworks rooted in whiteness fail to account for the unique challenges faced by people of colour.

Links:
Crown Act: https://www.thecrownact.com/
Statistics: https://www.thecrownact.com/research-studies
I'd love to invite you to dive deeper into this work by joining me for the next round of my 10 week online program REPRESENTED. We are currently enrolling with Thursday 10th October start date. Check out all the details and join us 👉🏾 https://anniegichuru.com/represented
Get Instant Access to my Microaggressions 101 Live Training Replay where I teach you how to hold safeR spaces in your online coaching business that will see you serve a wider and more racially diverse audience 👉🏾 https://anniegichuru.com/lt