Balancing Act

Q: What do you need to yield to in order to move on up, and what is non-negotiable?


A: There’s a tension that doesn’t get talked about enough…

The tension between climbing the ladder and keeping your soul intact while you do it.

If you’re navigating academic or professional spaces where excellence is expected—but cultural authenticity feels optional—this is for you.

Because at some point, you will be asked—directly or indirectly:

What are you willing to adjust to move forward?
And what will you refuse to give up?

That’s not just a career question.
That’s an identity decision.

During my Ph.D. prospectus defense, I faced this exact tension.
To move forward, I had to make significant changes:

• I cut nearly 30 pages from my proposal
• I reframed my research question—from “why” to “what are the perspectives”

Those were not easy decisions.

But they were strategic compromises.

They strengthened my methodology.
They clarified my argument.
They changed the how—but not the why.

Then came a different kind of feedback:

A suggestion to use a “more homogeneous sample” to simplify the study.

And I knew immediately—that was a line I would not cross.

Because centering the diverse, lived experiences of Latinas, Afro-Latinas, and Black women in technology…

That wasn’t just part of my research.

That was the purpose.

And compromising that wouldn’t have made my work stronger--it would have made it incomplete.

So how do you navigate that balance?

Here’s the framework I want you to carry with you:

1. Protect your “Why,” flex your “How”
If feedback helps you improve delivery—structure, clarity, efficiency—stay open.

But if it asks you to dilute:

• who your work serves
• why it matters
• or the community it represents

That’s not refinement.
That’s redirection.

And you get to decide if that aligns.

2. Create a “Not Right Now” strategy
Not every idea needs to be executed immediately to be valuable.

When I cut those 30 pages, I didn’t erase them—I archived them.

Because brilliance doesn’t disappear.
It evolves. It finds another entry point.

Your ideas still have a future—even if they’re not needed in this moment.

3. Move like a strategist, not just a perfectionist
Your journey will require adjustment.

Think of it like a jam session--you listen, adapt, and respond in real time.

But you never stop playing your instrument.

You don’t abandon your sound.
You learn when—and how—to bring it in.

You do not have to choose between ambition and authenticity.

They were never meant to be separated.

You can evolve, adapt, and grow--without breaking the core of who you are.

Reflect with me:
What is one adjustment you’ve made recently that helped you move forward--without compromising your deeper purpose?

​Let’s talk in the comments 👇🏾

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