In her deeply personal book The First, the Few, the Only (forthcoming), Deepa Purushothaman reveals her experience as an Indian-American woman in the corporate world. Joining The Lavin Agency as a new speaker, she offers this real-world experience as a guiding light for organizations looking to evolve—creating diversity, equity, and inclusion measures that actually work.
Despite being one of the fastest-growing segments in the corporate workforce, women of color remain underrepresented—often among the first, few, or only ones in a department or company. In fact, WOC make up only 18% of entry-level positions and just 3% of the corporate C-suite. The first Indian-American woman to make partner at Deloitte, Deepa Purushothaman experienced her share as a “first, few, and only.” But instead of bringing her down, it inspired her to fight for radical change in the corporate world.
For too long, corporate structures have left WOC feeling underestimated, dismissed, or pressured to conform. In her upcoming book, as well as her passionate talks, Purushothaman offers a call-to-action for women of color to find power within themselves, join together in community, and champion a new kind of corporate environment. “There’s so many things happening in our political world and in general society that this feels like a growing moment for women of color,” says Purushothaman.
It’s long overdue that we expand our definition of what a leader looks like. Audiences will walk away from Purushothaman’s talks with actionable strategies for finding, retaining, and advancing POC in the workplace—as well as learn how to unapologetically advocate for themselves at work.
Discover how work can be truly inclusive for all. Book speaker Deepa Purushothaman today by contacting The Lavin Agency today.
