Mark: Most people think getting a seat at the table is the ultimate goal. But what if the real power move is realizing the table was never meant for you... and deciding to build your own? That's the revolutionary idea we're exploring today. Michelle: I love that. It completely flips the whole script on what success is supposed to look like. This feels like the perfect entry into today's book. Mark: Exactly. We're diving into More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) by Elaine Welteroth. And what's fascinating is that Welteroth isn't just a writer; she lived this. She became the youngest-ever and only the second Black editor-in-chief in Condé Nast's 107-year history, completely transforming Teen Vogue from a fashion mag into a powerhouse for youth activism and social justice. Michelle: And that transformation is really at the heart of her first big challenge, isn't it? This idea of being the 'First, Only, or Different' in the room.

Mark: It's a concept she borrows from the legendary TV producer Shonda Rhimes, this idea of being the "First, Only, Different," or FOD. It's the experience of walking into a room and knowing you're representing more than just yourself. When Welteroth was appointed to lead Teen Vogue, the headlines weren't just "New Editor Appointed." They were "First Black Woman..." and "Youngest Ever..." Michelle: That's so much pressure. It's like you can't just be good at your job; you have to be a symbol. You're carrying the weight of history and expectation before you've even picked out your new office plant. Mark: Precisely. And that pressure manifests in really subtle, insidious ways. She tells this story about being on a business trip, meeting with global heads of major beauty brands. A senior white executive greets her, shakes her hand, and says, "Gosh, you must be so tired. I know they’ve been working you like a sla—." She catches herself mid-word, laughs nervously, and moves on. Michelle: Wow. That's one of those moments that just stops you in your tracks. How do you even respond to that professionally? You're there to represent your brand, but you've just been hit with this massive, painful microaggression. Mark: You don't. Or at least, she didn't in that moment. She just pasted on a smile and carried on with the meeting. But she later shares the story with her colleague, Phillip Picardi, who is a white man, and he is furious on her behalf. His outrage actually helps her process her own feelings, because she had become so accustomed to just absorbing those moments and moving on. Michelle: That's the insidious part, isn't it? You get so used to navigating these spaces that you almost normalize the unacceptable. But does being a 'token,' as she sometimes felt, also come with a certain kind of power? A chance to change things from the inside? Mark: Absolutely. That's the pivot she makes. She realizes her "otherness" is her superpower. It gives her a perspective that no one else in the room has. This comes to a head during the planning for a cover shoot with the actress and activist Amandla Stenberg. Michelle: Oh, I love Amandla. What happened? Mark: The team was brainstorming, and the default was to use a well-known, established white hairstylist. It was the safe, easy choice. But Elaine put her foot down. She insisted they hire Lacy Redway, a brilliant Black hairstylist who she knew would understand the nuances of Amandla's hair and identity. Michelle: That sounds like a small decision, but in that world, it's a huge statement. Mark: It was a battle. She had to push against the current of "how things are done." But she won. And the result was this iconic cover, shot in Harlem, with Solange Knowles interviewing Amandla. It was a celebration of Black girl magic, created by a team that authentically understood the culture. She writes, "In order to change the stories, you must change the storytellers." That became her mission. Michelle: It's this idea that representation isn't just about who is on the cover. It's about who's behind the camera, who's styling the hair, who's writing the words. Mark: Exactly. She was using her seat at the table not just to be present, but to pull up more chairs for others. But that drive to change things from the inside wasn't just about creating opportunities. It was about responding to real-world pain.

Michelle: Which brings us to this powerful idea of making lemonade from life's lemons, as the book puts it. It's a theme that runs so deep in the narrative. Mark: It's central. And it's crystallized in one of the most gut-wrenching moments in the book. It's the summer of 2016, and she's at home, scrolling through Facebook, when she sees the live video of Philando Castile being shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop, with his fiancée and her daughter in the car. Michelle: I remember that video. It was horrifying. Unforgettable. Mark: For Welteroth, it was a breaking point. She describes it as the emotional wall she'd built to cope with the constant barrage of racial injustice just crumbling. She's on the floor, sobbing, filled with this profound grief and rage. It's a feeling she says is familiar to so many Black people in America—a constant, simmering rage. Michelle: I can't even imagine the weight of that. To carry that grief into a corporate office at Condé Nast and try to translate it into action. What did she do? Mark: She felt she had to do something. As she puts it, "As writers, as magazine editors... we are the cultural agenda setters." So she organized a silent protest at Teen Vogue. She sent an email to the entire staff, inviting them to make signs and participate in a social media campaign with the hashtag #ItCouldBeMe. Michelle: That's a bold move in a corporate environment. How was it received? Mark: It was powerful. Staff members, both Black and white, showed up. They held signs. They showed solidarity. She personally invited senior white staff to participate, making it clear that this wasn't just a "Black issue," but a human issue. It was a moment of turning that raw, personal pain into a collective, public statement. Michelle: Is this what she means by 'More Than Enough'? That your pain, your identity, your full experience is not something to be hidden at work, but something to be used as fuel? Mark: I think that's exactly it. The book won an NAACP Image Award, and it's often described as part-memoir, part-manifesto. It’s not just her story; it’s a call to action. She quotes her mother saying, "Sometimes the things that hurt the most propel you the farthest." She lives that. She takes the pain of the "slave slip-up," the grief of Philando Castile's death, the frustration of being underestimated, and channels it into her work. Michelle: That's the lemonade. It's not just about surviving; it's about creating something transformative from the bitterness. Mark: And it worked. That August, Teen Vogue put three Black models on the cover—Imaan Hammam, Aya Jones, and Lineisy Montero. The creative director was skeptical, saying Black models don't sell. That issue ended up being their highest-selling cover of the year. Michelle: It beat out the Kylie Jenner issue, right? Mark: It did. It proved that authentic, inclusive storytelling wasn't just morally right; it was good business. It was a massive validation of her entire approach. Michelle: But using your full self as fuel like that, day in and day out, has to lead to burnout. It seems like the final step in this journey isn't just about fighting the system, but about knowing when to walk away to save yourself.

Mark: That's the final, and perhaps most difficult, lesson in the book. The ultimate act of claiming your space isn't just about getting the corner office; it's having the courage to leave it. For years, she was in this intense, all-consuming relationship with a man she calls "Future Husband." Michelle: The stories about him are a wild ride. The diamond earrings, the "interview shoes," the pressure to be this perfect CEO's wife... Mark: It was a classic case of losing yourself in a relationship. She was molding herself to fit his expectations, shrinking to make him feel bigger. The relationship ends in a dramatic, painful betrayal—she receives an anonymous email revealing he's having a baby with another woman. Michelle: Oh, that's brutal. And it happens right as her career is taking off. Mark: Exactly. It forces this massive reckoning. She has to rebuild herself. And that process of reclaiming her identity after the breakup is what prepares her for her biggest professional decision. After Teen Vogue's print edition is shut down, she's at a crossroads. Condé Nast wants to keep her, to build a new venture around her. It's the dream, right? A custom-built role, blessed by Anna Wintour herself. Michelle: It sounds like everything she'd been working for. Why would she even consider walking away? Mark: Because she started listening to her own inner voice. And she sought counsel from someone who understood the path she was on: the filmmaker Ava DuVernay. Michelle: A true icon. What was her advice? Mark: Elaine tells Ava her whole story, the triumphs, the struggles, the offer from Condé Nast. And Ava listens, then asks a simple, powerful question: "Why would you do that?" She challenges the premise that staying is the only option. Ava tells her, "I think the universe is calling you to be a little bit braver right now." She reframes leaving not as a failure, but as a "powerful, decisive" story. Michelle: Wow. "The universe is calling you to be a little bit braver." That's a life-changing sentence. Mark: It was for her. It gave her the clarity she needed. She walked into Anna Wintour's office, thanked her for everything, and resigned. She chose the unknown, her own path, over the gilded cage. She chose herself. Michelle: So the ultimate act of 'claiming your space' is internal. It's about self-worth. It's not about the title or the office; it's about knowing you are enough, with or without them. Mark: That's the core message. It's a journey. First, you carry the burden of being different. Then, you learn to use that difference as fuel. But the final, most powerful step is realizing your worth isn't tied to the space you occupy at all. You are the space.

Michelle: That's such a profound evolution. It’s a roadmap for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. You start by trying to fit in, then you try to change the system from within, and finally, you realize the system itself is the limitation. Mark: And it’s a journey of realizing that the validation you seek from others—from a boss, a partner, an industry—can never replace the validation you give yourself. Welteroth's story is a testament to the fact that you can achieve every external marker of success and still feel empty if you've lost touch with your own purpose. Michelle: The book ends with this beautiful idea: "When the world tells you to shrink, expand." It's not about fighting back in anger, but about growing into your own power, on your own terms. Mark: It’s a powerful and necessary message. The book is a guide for anyone who has been made to feel small, and a reminder that your story, your voice, and your presence are not just enough—they are essential. Michelle: It really makes you wonder, what 'table' are you fighting for a seat at, and what would it look like to build your own instead? Mark: That's the question, isn't it? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What does 'claiming your space' mean to you? Join the conversation on our social channels. Michelle: This is Aibrary, signing off.