Friday Meetup #SpeakerSeries
About the Session:
Black, Brilliant, and Belonging: Thriving in White Spaces as Your Whole Self by Doctor Ruth C. White
Black, Brilliant, and Belonging is a transformative conversation led by acclaimed mental health and equity expert, Dr. Ruth C. White, that centers the power, resilience, and brilliance of Black individuals navigating predominantly white spaces. This session offers an empowering exploration of what it means to not just survive—but truly thrive—while embracing your full, authentic self.
Through personal insight, research, and lived experience, Dr. White will unpack the psychological, emotional, and professional complexities of code-switching, identity suppression, and the unspoken pressures Black people face in white-dominated institutions. But more importantly, this session offers strategies for reclaiming joy, cultivating community, and asserting unapologetic excellence—on your own terms.
Whether you're a student, professional, or leader seeking to foster belonging in your life or workplace, this session is an invitation to envision and embody a future where Blackness is not just accepted but celebrated.
About our Guest Speaker:
Doctor Ruth C. White, Lumora Coaching & WellMindPlus
Dr. Ruth C. White, PhD, MPH, MSW, RSW, has over 20 years of experience as a speaker, writer, and consultant in the areas of mental health and wellbeing, as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Her expertise has led to numerous media appearances, including features on The Today Show, BBC, Women’s Health, and more.
She is a sessional lecturer in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto and holds a full-time EDI role at the Rotman School of Management. In addition, she manages a growing psychotherapy practice and has recently launched a new coaching practice.
Dr. White is the author of several influential books, including The Stress Management Workbook, Bipolar 101, Preventing Bipolar Relapse, and Everyday Stress Relief. She has also contributed thought-provoking articles on mental health to prominent publications such as Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Tracy Anderson Magazine, Modern Healthcare, and HuffPost.
Inspired by her own journey of illness, recovery, and resilience with bipolar disorder, Dr. White is widely recognized as a subject matter expert on stress management, compassion fatigue, burnout, mental wellness, and the stigma of mental illness—particularly as it intersects with race and culture.
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BTI Friday Meetups are a weekly source of information and inspiration for the Black Talent Initiative community. This is a space to share, learn, and engage with talented leaders driving meaningful change.
What BTI Friday Meetups Offer:
• Engaging Updates – Share accomplishments and celebrate progress across the BTI network.
• Inspiring Speakers – Hear from trailblazers and changemakers shaping a brighter future.
• Thoughtful Discussions – Collaborate and explore solutions for systemic change across industries.
• Meaningful Connections – Build lasting relationships with like-minded professionals and leaders.
Join us and be part of the conversation!