Episode 17

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Published on:

28th Apr 2025

How to Outsmart the Bias You Can’t Prove: Don’t Fight the System. Outsmart It.

Unspoken rules. Invisible barriers. Exhausting double standards.

In this compelling episode, Dr. Arin N. Reeves joins host Natalie Luke, PhD, to unpack the hidden dynamics that hold women and underrepresented professionals back—especially in leadership. Drawing on decades of research and personal experience, Arin explores how to navigate microaggressions, exclusion, and manipulation without losing your mind— or your career.

If you've ever felt like you're playing by a rulebook no one handed you, this conversation is your guide to owning your power, protecting your energy, and outsmarting the system from the inside.

🔍 What We Cover:

  • The invisible workplace rules that shape career outcomes
  • Why emotional labor falls disproportionately on women
  • How to respond to microaggressions and subtle exclusion
  • The danger of trying to “prove” your value in a toxic environment
  • Why intuition is a legitimate form of data
  • How to find the real allies (and spot the enablers)
  • Arin’s favorite disarming phrase that ends arguments instantly
  • What to do when DEI gets stripped away—but bias remains

🛠️ Tools + Takeaways:

  • Arin’s 10-Question Game Plan to deal with liars, gaslighters, and gatekeepers
  • Practical advice on how to amplify other women in meetings
  • The power of strategic silence—and the phrase: “You’re right.”
  • Building networks that neutralize toxic power

📚 Resources Mentioned:

👩‍💼 About Dr. Arin N. Reeves:

Dr. Arin Reeves is a sociologist, researcher, and author specializing in workplace culture, leadership, and inclusion. She is the President of Nextions, a leadership consulting firm that helps organizations build smarter, more inclusive systems. Arin has worked with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, universities, and nonprofits to support meaningful and measurable change.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow:

If this episode spoke to you, please consider:

  • ✨ Subscribing to UnCeiling You with Natalie Luke
  • 💬 Leaving a review on Apple or Spotify
  • 📩 Sharing this episode with a friend who’s navigating hidden workplace barriers

Mentioned in this episode:

Thrive in 25

Let's Thrive in 25. https://unceiling-you.captivate.fm/thrive-in25

Thrive in 25

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About the Podcast

Career Advancement for Ambitious Women: UnCeiling You
Ambition Unleashed
UnCeiling You Podcast

Are you interested in breaking barriers, redefining success, and embracing the boldness of your ambition? UnCeiling You is the podcast for people who are ready to silence their inner critic, tackle workplace challenges, and unlock their full potential.

Who Is This Podcast For?
UnCeiling You is tailored for ambitious people across various stages of life:

-> The mid-career professional looking to advance.
-> The aspiring entrepreneur ready to take bold steps.
-> The working mom balancing career and family.
-> Women navigating workplace dynamics, self-doubt, and ambition.

This podcast is for you if you're ready to take radical responsibility for your growth and be inspired by the journeys of women who've redefined their ceilings.

What’s the Format?

This podcast combines solo episodes with interviews with accomplished people. In Season 1, we’ll explore the internal barriers professional, honest, hardworking people face in the workplace, exploring themes like silencing your inner critic, navigating ambition, and embracing imagination. Each episode is 30 minutes long, perfect for your commute to work or a quick dose of inspiration during your day.

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We cover a range of topics to help you grow personally and professionally, including:

-> Breaking through self-doubt and imposter syndrome.
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-> Building resilience, confidence, and authenticity in the workplace.
-> Practical tools for aligning your values with your goals.

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About your host

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Natalie Luke

As a woman who has experienced multiple career transitions and climbed the ladder in various industries, I stand before you as a living testament to the incredible potential within each of us. From starting as a high school science teacher to pursuing a Ph.D. and exploring new business opportunities for the companies that employed me, my journey has taken me through roles in sales, sales training, marketing, and clinical research in the healthcare industry. I have faced challenges and moments of self-doubt throughout my career, but I have always embraced resilience and adaptability to grow and reinvent myself. Now, as the author and founder and host of the UnCeiling You Podcast, I am dedicated to empowering women like you to unlock your true potential, overcome obstacles, and create fulfilling careers. With our episodes, resources, and supportive community, we will embark on a transformative journey together, UnCeiling the limitless possibilities within each of us. Let's embrace this opportunity for growth, connection, and transformation as UnCeil our potential and let the ripple effect unfold!