You’ve earned your place. So why does it still feel like you have to prove it?

In this powerful opening episode, host Bunmi Ogunbona shares a deeply personal reflection on what it means to belong on paper — but not always in the room. Through stories from her early career in Australia and her move to London, she explores how identity, race, culture, and power shape the way we are seen — and how we start to see ourselves.

From microaggressions at the till to questions about her “real” origins, Bunmi unpacks the emotional and mental labor of navigating systems not designed with you in mind. She explores how identity and perception intersect with professionalism, self-expression, and silent codes of power — and how that tension follows us across continents and careers.

This episode is part storytelling, part reflection, and part challenge: for those who’ve felt invisible in spaces they’ve earned, and for leaders who hold power in those spaces to ask: “Who’s still missing? And how can I help let them in — as they are?”

Topics covered:

• Racial microaggressions and coded professionalism
• The tension between authenticity and acceptability
• The costs and calculations of code-switching
• Identity shifts across geographies
• Coaching themes around belonging, bias, and power

Whether you’ve lived this or are ready to listen more deeply, this episode opens the door to conversations many carry silently.

The Work No One Sees is hosted by Bunmi Ogunbona — executive coach, facilitator, and curious human exploring the quieter side of success.

Some reflections in this episode are inspired by real coaching or facilitation experiences. These are always anonymised and often blended across sessions or workshops. The stories shared reflect my personal learning — not anyone else’s.

This podcast is not therapy or personalised advice. If you need professional support, please reach out to a qualified provider.

Original music sourced via Descript’s royalty-free music library. 🙏🏽

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New episodes every Thursday(ish).