Episode 35: Black Womaning in Corporate America® With Crystle Johnson

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one compromise, one expectation, and one “I’ll just push through” at a time.

In this episode of Black Womaning in Corporate America®, founder of Kinory® Crystle Johnson joins host Nicole S. Palmer for an unfiltered conversation about burnout, belonging, and the moment she realized her job was something she did—not who she was.

From corporate leadership to building a global community for Black women in Mexico, this conversation explores identity, rest, and the courage to imagine a different future. Whether you’re questioning your next career move or simply trying to remember who you were before work consumed so much of your life, this episode is a reminder that your value has never been defined by your title. 00:00 Welcome 00:44 Meet Crystle Johnson 02:13 An Origin Story of Belonging 04:47 Why Kinory Exists 05:44 The Courage to Center Black Women 08:45 Recognizing Burnout 09:50 FMLA, Recovery & Finding Mexico 13:49 Your Job Is Not Your Identity 17:03 The Truth About Corporate DEI 20:06 Racism, Visibility & Obsession 22:45 Building Kinory in Mérida 25:32 Casa Kinory & A New Vision 28:14 Why Every Exit Needs a Plan 30:25 Don't Leave Your Benefits Behind 33:46 Coming Next Week... 34:17 Outro