“Don’t just think of yourself as a diversity hire. Think of yourself as an intersectional leader.” This is the challenge issued by Abhi Gupta, a seasoned Marketing Science strategist and proud Lime Network Member, during our recent partnership with Out for Undergrad (O4U).

As part of the O4U Breakthrough speaker series in a talk titled Converging Divergences: Navigating Life with Intersectional Identities, Abhi shared how their career—spanning the fashion industry, organizational behavior consulting, and high-level tech analytics—is a testament to the power of refusing to fit into a mold.

As we sit directly between Pride Month and Disability Pride month, we are bringing back the powerful lessons learned during this event.  Whether you are navigating a new career path or looking to lead with more empathy, here are five tips Abhi shared on how to turn your authentic self into your greatest competitive advantage.

1. View Intersectionality as a Data Integrity Initiative

Businesses are often looking for hidden variables— factors that drive results even when they aren’t immediately obvious. Ignoring intersectionality in leadership is like ignoring these variables; you lose the full picture. When you bring your full self to the table, you are providing the critical data needed to build products and strategies that don’t just work for the majority, but for the global human experience.

“Don’t just think about yourself as diversity hires, but really think about yourself as intersectional leaders, people who bring an influential amount of information that industry and folks around you need.” – Abhi Gupta

2. Master the Art of Narrative Diplomacy

At work, we are often tasked with translating complex ideas to stakeholders who may not share our lived experiences. Abhi calls this narrative diplomacy. It’s the ability to connect with a skeptic not just by presenting more data, but by connecting on common ground and helping them see why an inclusive approach benefits the entire business.

“When you sit at the intersection of multiple identities, you become an almost expert in narrative diplomacy. You understand that the skeptic in the room isn’t just looking for more data. They’re asking to be seen and to be understood.” – Abhi Gupta

3. You Are Here to Stand Out

There is a powerful temptation in corporate environments to fit yourself into a mold, but Abhi argues that this is a waste of your resources. Staying true to who you are allows you to spot the gaps that others miss. Your specific way of thinking is exactly what your team needs to innovate.

“When you blend in and when you try to become someone else, you lose yourself in the process, and what happens is you start to do things that are not necessarily aligned with your own values and belief systems. So for me, it’s not necessarily outshining others, but staying true to who you are.” – Abhi Gupta

4. Find Your Community Multiplier

If you find yourself in a homogeneous workplace, don’t feel like you have to carry the burden alone. Use Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) or create your own forums to bring new perspectives to leadership as a collective.

“The way I’ve tackled it is by raising my hand and saying, ‘Can we create a group specifically around diversity initiatives,’ or ‘can we create a group of people who have different backgrounds come together and provide feedback to leadership as a group together?’” – Abhi Gupta

5. Stay Curious

Abhi’s career path—moving from fashion to consulting to the tech industry—is a testament to the power of curiosity. By saying yes to new experiences, even those outside your traditional field, you gain a broader perspective that adds value to your current role.

“My superpower is probably curiosity. I’m very curious about people… I’m curious about processes… how can I improve something?” – Abhi Gupta

Watch the full webinar for more helpful insights and share your stories and tips in the comments!