It was two and a half years ago, but I can still taste it—that mix of confusion, grief, fear, and exasperation from the job hunt after a layoff.

I kept hearing the same things:

“You’re overqualified.”
“You don’t quite fit this role.”
“Your resume doesn’t really make sense.”

Externally, I wanted to push back. But internally, I ingested a more dangerous thought: Maybe I don’t make sense.

After months of searching, I wasn’t just frustrated. I was starting to question whether I had ever even had the value I thought I did.

And I don’t think this is just my story.

We are living in a deeply strange moment in the world of work. And understatement, I know.

We have more ways than ever to describe ourselves, and somehow, we’re becoming harder to see. The systems we’re operating in were never designed to hold the full complexity of a human being. So they flatten us. They reward what can be easily categorized. And they pass over what can’t fit neatly into boxes. Over time, that oversimplification shapes who gets seen, who gets valued, and who gets to access power.

Today’s guest has been working on this exact problem for years. Dr. Sarabeth Berk Bickerton is a professional identity researcher and the leading expert on what she calls hybrid professionals—people whose careers don’t fit neatly into a single box.

In this conversation, we explore a radical and deeply hopeful idea: That your power doesn’t come from fitting into the system. It comes from naming yourself. We talk about professional identity, belonging, the hidden cost of trying to “fit,” and what it means to be seen, known, and valued in a world that keeps trying to simplify you.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How her personal pain point with feeling stuck in a box evolved into over a decade of research and a unique way of solving the problem
Why naming our unique professional identity is essential for owning your power and standing out against AI
Why we need to get clear on the language for the intersection of our skills, abilities, talents
The three levels of belonging and how they impact how we feel seen and valued at work
Understanding the three core identities and how they help us name who we are and how we can excel at work
Why it’s essential to have a real, embodied connection with the words you choose to describe your professional identity

Learn more about Dr. Sarabeth Berk Bickerton:

Resources: