How My Black Daughter Changed My World by Showing Me Hers

The COMPOSURE Podcast

Dec 8 2021 • 1 hr 3 mins

This week, COMPOSURE author Kate Purmal is joined by her daughter, Mariah Driver! This mother-daughter conversation is a special one, full of insights on identity, race, privilege, and the many ways the intersection of those pieces of who we are affect the way we show up in the world — and the ways the world treats us in return.

This conversation touches upon the business and the personal — both in Mariah’s expertise as a leader in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and in her personal relationship with her mom. She and Kate discuss, candidly, the many ways their relationship has changed and grown through the difficult conversations they’ve had over the past year about how Mariah’s identity as a black woman affects the ways she navigates her own life.

The episode also provides insight into the uniquely challenging experience of being a member of an “out group” in the business world and the many discomforts that come along with not feeling a sense of belonging. Mariah shares from the many lessons she’s learned throughout her time as a DEI leader and gives advice to anyone who is struggling to find ways to mindfully support members of the BIPOC community in the workplace.

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Mariah is the Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Webflow, where she designs systems and experiences that enable everyone to show up authentically and grow to their full potential.

Through all her work, Mariah seeks to question, reimagine, and redesign the systems and practices that surround us to ensure that all people can access equitable opportunities and build a better world. Mariah’s work is grounded in her training and research in social scientific methods, critical race theory, and organizational psychology.

Mariah identifies as a black, disabled woman and the proud mom of her 12-year-old chocolate lab, Callie.

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