Women's Journal

From Boardroom to Balance: Meet the DEI Leader Helping Women Thrive at Work

From Boardroom to Balance Meet the DEI Leader Helping Women Thrive at Work
Photo Courtesy: Chichi Okpara

In today’s corporate world, where high demands often overshadow personal well-being, one leader stands out for her commitment to empowering women to thrive professionally without compromising their values or personal lives. Chichi Okpara, a former Senior Vice President at Goldman Sachs and Head of Diversity Talent Programs at Amazon, has channeled her expertise into founding Her Power Pose, a platform dedicated to supporting high-achieving women as they pursue career success in harmony with their well-being. Okpara offers a transformative message through Her Power Pose: women may achieve career alignment, visibility, recognition, and advancement without burnout.

Chichi’s journey is both inspiring and deeply personal, shaped by her professional experiences in some demanding environments and her family’s challenges. When her third child faced a cancer diagnosis, Okpara gained new insight into the delicate balance of career and personal life. This experience crystallized her mission to support women in demanding roles, ensuring they have the tools to advance without losing themselves to corporate pressures. Her Power Pose aims to reshape how women perceive success, guiding them to reach new career heights in alignment with their values.

Empowering Women Through Two Distinct Academies

Her Power Pose offers two key programs: the Career Coach Academy and the Calibrate Leadership Academy. Each academy is uniquely designed to address women’s career challenges and provide a structured path to professional growth, personal fulfillment, and resilience.

  1. The Career Coach Academy
    Launching in January, The Career Coach Academy aims to help women secure roles that align with their strengths, passions, and values. Okpara envisions this academy as a supportive community where women can receive coaching, connect with like-minded professionals, and work toward landing roles that honor their professional aspirations and personal integrity. In a job market that often prioritizes speed over alignment, The Career Coach Academy encourages a more thoughtful approach, guiding women to pursue roles that resonate with their core values. This program embodies Okpara’s philosophy that success should not require personal compromise, offering a path where career aspirations and well-being can coexist.
  2. Calibrate Leadership Academy
    For women who have already established their careers and aim to advance in their roles or navigate the nuances of Corporate America and achieve their career goals, Calibrate Leadership Academy provides targeted support to navigate corporate structures effectively. High-achieving corporate women face unique visibility, recognition, and work-life balance challenges. Calibrate is designed to help women address these challenges head-on by providing strategic resources for gaining visibility and recognition within their organizations. Okpara shares her insights as a DEI leader and certified coach through this academy, guiding women to make impactful contributions while maintaining their boundaries. This initiative demonstrates that professional growth and personal well-being are not mutually exclusive goals, even in demanding corporate settings.

A Unique Perspective Rooted in DEI Leadership

Chichi Okpara brings a rich, multifaceted perspective to Her Power Pose, shaped by her significant roles in diversity, equity, and inclusion at Goldman Sachs and Amazon. Her experience has given her a deep understanding of women’s systemic challenges in corporate settings, from limited visibility to inequitable recognition. As a former DEI leader, she emphasizes creating spaces where women’s contributions are valued and celebrated. She believes that achieving true equity means addressing these barriers head-on, and she has made it her mission to equip women with strategies that foster both personal empowerment and corporate success.

Her Power Pose extends beyond traditional coaching by integrating Okpara’s values as a diversity practitioner. She understands women’s complexities, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, and seeks to create a supportive ecosystem where every woman can thrive. By addressing the often-overlooked nuances of corporate dynamics, Her Power Pose empowers women to advocate for themselves while building strong professional networks and advancing their careers.

Shifting the Narrative for Women in Corporate America

Her Power Pose and its programs represent more than career coaching; they embody a movement toward redefining success for high-achieving women. Okpara’s journey highlights a fundamental shift in corporate culture, where women are encouraged to potentially succeed without sacrificing their personal lives. Through Her Power Pose, she is helping women embrace the idea that setting boundaries, seeking balance, and advancing in their careers may be harmonized.

Chichi Okpara’s mission is clear: empower women to break down barriers, cultivate resilience, and navigate their careers authentically. Her Power Pose is a beacon for corporate women seeking to thrive in their careers while staying true to their values. This platform champions a new narrative in corporate America that celebrates women’s achievements and well-being as complementary—not conflicting—goals. Through Her Power Pose, Okpara is forging a future where career success is not a compromise but a reflection of one’s true self.

Published by: Annie P.

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