Unlocking Authenticity: Why We Hide Who We Are at Work - And How to Redefine Culture from the Inside Out - Paperback

by Shivani Uberoi (Author), John Amaechi (Foreword by)

In Unlocking Authenticity, author, leadership coach and workplace culture expert Shivani Uberoi delivers a powerful and refreshingly honest exploration of what it really means to be yourself at work... and why so many of us struggle to do it.

From subtle workplace norms to deeply ingrained beliefs about who we need to be to succeed, Unlocking Authenticity unpacks the hidden cost of constantly 'fitting in' and what it takes to break free.

Through real-life stories, including experiences of navigating race and identity, challenging stigma around masculinity and fatherhood, redefining possibility after disability, and the hidden pressures of privilege, motherhood and neurodiversity, the book brings to life the complex realities behind how we show up at work and in life.

Full of insight, inspiration and practical wisdom, Unlocking Authenticity invites you to reflect on your own journey and gives you the tools to show up more fully as yourself, while creating a culture where others can do the same.

Inside the book:

• Relatable, real-life stories that reveal how and why we cover different parts of ourselves at work.

• Practical tools and reflective exercises to help you build self-awareness, challenge bias and strengthen psychological safety.

• Insightful frameworks to create cultures where people don't have to fit in but can thrive as their best selves.

An essential read for leaders, managers and individuals who want to create environments where people can do their best work without pretending to be someone they're not.

Back Jacket

What would workplaces be like if we didn't have to hide?

Across organizations, talented people constantly adjust who they are. Some adapt, others suppress who they are entirely. The cost is real. The hidden taxes on identity, energy, mental health, connection and performance quietly add up, and some pay far more than others.

In Unlocking Authenticity, Shivani Uberoi combines compelling stories, lived experience and leadership insights to reveal how cultures reward conformity, and what leaders can do to change that. Th is is a humane, practical guide to reducing the cost of fi tting in and creating workplaces where people can show up fully, be themselves, and thrive.

Author Biography

Shivani Uberoi is a leading voice in workplace inclusion, helping companies create cultures where everyone belongs and thrives. A TEDx speaker, board advisor, and former leader at Sky and PwC, Shivani has spent over a decade driving sustainable change in organizations.

At Sky, Shivani founded two employee networks that grew to 5,000+ members, harnessing the power of community and connection. She set up The Wallflower Academy to use her deep EDI expertise, storytelling and corporate leadership experience to support organizations to build belonging in their teams.

Her passion for inclusion is personal, as detailed in her TEDx talk 'Why fitting in will screw you up', and she eventually found power in authenticity. Now, she helps leaders unlock that same potential in their teams.