Episode 108: Future for Us – An interview with Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno and Aparna Rae

In this episode of Lean the F*ck Out, we talk with Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno and Aparna Rae about the organization they founded, Future for Us, and the work they are doing to help companies grow and recruit womxn of color. Through Future for Us, Sage and Arpana are building an intentional community for womxn of color to build careers and life’s they want and support one another throughout the process.

Future for Us Episode Highlights:

• Future for Us is an intentional community for womxn of color that started in Seattle.
• There is not a womxn of color pipeline problem, companies are missing out on hiring already qualified and ready womxn. 
• Womxn of color are ready and coming together to support one another and get better jobs.
• Future for Us’ ambition is for womxn of color to be leading at the highest levels of corporations. Womxn of color need to build community and support among each other to make this happen.
• Connecting with others like you in a community like this, allows you to learn from those that are similar to you. We are all different and not always cohesive and can teach each other through our own lessons.
• Companies: It’s not enough to say you want diversity, you have to back it up through evidence within your staff.
• Womxn looking to len the f*ck out: lead by example. Give others the courage they need to do the same.
• Leaning the f*ck out is what we owe ourselves so that the next generation can walk lighter. 
• We have the opportunity and privilege to do the work now, unlike many womxn before us.

Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno

Sage is recreating seats of power for and by womxn of color so that our workforce reflects what WoC bring to the table: resilience, ROI, and liberation.

Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and changemaker. As co-founder of ​Future For Us​, a platform dedicated to advancing of womxn of color through community, culture, and career development, Sage has galvanized a nationwide movement to build a future of work reaching new levels of growth through diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Starting her career in pay equity, she provided 4,000+ women with the tools and resources they need to advocate for themselves at work and, as a result, negotiate $500K in salary increases and secure 150 promotions. Sage is an amplifier, advocating for womxn of color at work in top publications and organizations – from Forbes, NPR and GeekWire to SXSW, the Women’s March, Microsoft, Starbucks, and more. 

Sage has gathered a groundswell of support and recognition – a clear signal that our cities, companies, and economy are ready and already fighting for equity at work. Recent accolades include Rising Star Awards from Seattle’s National Organization for Women and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, KUOW Radio’s Boss Tactician Award, University of Washington’s Community Leadership Award, and a nomination for Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2019.  

Sage is a native Hawaiian who looks at systems, processes, and people with an indigenous lens to leave a better world for generations to come. Her story – your story – our story – continues. 

Aparna Rae

Aparna is recreating seats of power for and by womxn of color so that our workforce reflects what WoC bring to the table: resilience, ROI, and liberation.

Aparna is an educator, innovator, and disruptor working at the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and organizational design. Her decades-long career in workforce development has advanced thousands of individuals in under-resourced communities through culturally relevant resources and leadership. 

Beginning her career at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Aparna developed and deployed UBC’s first open journaling system, democratizing research for all, not just the wealthy few with journal access. Aparna has since launched a number of groundbreaking equity initiatives, including​ ​Project Feast​, a platform providing employment pathways for immigrant and refugee women in the food industry, and​ ​Firki​, a highly scalable, nationwide teacher training portal in India.  

Today she is co-founder of ​Future For Us​, a platform dedicated to advancing of womxn of color through community, culture, and career development, and ​Moving Beyond​, an impact practice that operationalizes DEI and supports fund managers, wealth advisors, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators creating positive impact for people and the planet. 

Aparna believes in the power of story and frequently shines a light on equity at work as a presenter, keynote speaker, and panelist. Her voice and vision has been covered in Seattle Business Magazine, Forbes, Geekwire, The Seattle Times, and more. 

Growing up in 5 countries, Aparna witnessed the power of diverse voices early in life. This concept continues to be reinforced personally and professionally: diversity and inclusion is a pathway to success. 

You can find Sage and Aparna online at:

Linked In: linkedin.com/company/future-for-us
Facebook: facebook.com/futureforus.now
Instagram: instagram.com/futureforus.now
Twitter: twitter.com/futurefor_us

If you like the bumper music in each episode, you can hear more from Gretchen’s bands at leanthef-ckout.com/music.