The First, The Few, The Only: Deepa Purushothaman

Deepa Purushothaman is an author, speaker, and co-founder of nFormation.com - a company for women of color by women of color. It provides brave, safe, new space for professional women of color.    Deepa is also a Women and Public Policy Program Leader in Practice at the Harvard Kennedy School. She also has a book The First, The Few, The Only. How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, which Harper Business published March 2022.   She spent more than twenty years at Deloitte and was the first Indian American woman and one of the youngest people to make partner in the company’s history. Deepa was a National Managing Partner of Inclusion at Deloitte and the US Managing Partner of WIN (Women’s Initiative), Deloitte’s renowned program to recruit, retain, and advance women.   Deepa experienced being an outcast at an early age as she was only one of three colored girls in a class of 500 students. And even after she got into the right schools and the right jobs, she never felt like she fit in. This is what prompted her to write her book.    In our conversation, Deepa talks about her journey to success, how she overworked until work is not working for her anymore, and how nFormation helps other people of color.    In this episode, you will learn:   Deepa’s unique, albeit unhealthy, superpowers How her illness changed her life How Corporate America was not made by women or designed for women and is not a meritocracy Knowing when it’s time to leave your job Acknowledging and healing the trauma that women have endured in the workplace How women of color should use their superpowers, especially in this moment   Quotes:   “Great leader helps people that work on their team find their power” - Deepa Purushothaman.    “If you continue to conform and do what you’re told, eventually, you will be unhappy and feel powerless” - Deepa Purushothaman.    “Not every culture is going to work for you” - Deepa Purushothaman.    Resources:   Deepa Purushothaman Website   The First, The Few, The Only. How Women of Color Redefine Power in Corporate America, Deepa Purushothaman   nFormation, for The First, The Few and The Onlys   TED Talk - 4 Ways To Redefine Power At Work To Include Women Of Color Rha Goddess and Deepa Purushothaman