In this episode, my colleague describes growing up in the Ivory Coast in a STEM-oriented family who deeply valued education and achievement. She describes being raised with a strong sense of pride, possibility- what could be referred to as ‘Black excellence.’ 
In this episode, she shares her journey of coming to America for college and reflects on the cultural differences she experienced between African and African American communities. This conversation opened my eyes to the complexity and diversity within the global Black experience and how the concept of excellence can be shaped by context, history, and place. 
I feel fortunate to have engaged in such a thoughtful and sensitive conversation about race, culture, and identity with a coworker—especially in a work setting, where these conversations are rare.