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How to Break the System & Forge Your Own Path to Success

by Mercedes Swan
Feb 16, 2026
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Do you ever think about how... as little Black girls, we're told a lot of things? 

  • What's appropriate
  • How to be
  • What to believe in
  •  & what's possible

We don't know it, but years later, we grow up carrying ALL of that around. 

Those experiences guide our career paths, who we partner with, and what we think success looks like.

But as little AND grown Black girls, how much of that centered on ourselves?

How much of that supported the system at play, seen but often unnamed, called misogynoir?

I recently had the opportunity to sit down on the Pave Her Way Podcast to talk about my journey to becoming the Career Love Coach, including some of the experiences that defined it. 

My personal growth from that little girl whose dreams were wrapped up in the ideas of others and my journey to becoming a woman who believed she could create a beautiful life... is a journey that I hope all Black women go on in their own way. 

I hope that you listen to this episode, and that it inspires you to create your own vision of success. 

LISTEN NOW: 

The Career Love Coach & DEI & HR Manager Trailblazer - Pave He...

Mercedes Swan is the Career Love Coach and creates empowering and safe places for high-performing and purpose driven Black women. She is ...

www.buzzsprout.com

How to analyze the patterns of misogynoir & break the system in your life?

A guide & reflective prompts for full members of the Black Woman Bliss Community. 

Trigger warning: Some of these prompts may trigger trauma related to family and upbringing. If you feel that addressing these topics might negatively impact your healing journey, scroll to the next section of the newsletter. 😘

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