Visibility, Empowerment and Authenticity

Joanne Lockwood

Tags: inclusive leadership, Authenticity, self-acceptance, personal transformation, Visibility Empowerment, Women’s Voices, Social Conditioning, Breaking Biases, Trauma Recovery, Global Community

Empowering Women Through Visibility and Genuine Self-Expression

Raimonda Jankunaite explores the journey to authentic empowerment, challenging societal norms by boldly reclaiming voice, visibility, and agency for women against a backdrop of cultural expectation and global shifts.

In this thought-provoking episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood welcomes Raimonda Jankunaite to explore the themes of visibility, empowerment, and authenticity. The conversation navigates Raimonda’s personal journey, starting from her upbringing in Lithuania and transformational move to Spain, to finding her voice after experiencing trauma and societal conditioning. She and Joanne discuss how patriarchal expectations and cultural traditions can silence women and minority communities, and how self-acceptance and challenging established norms are crucial in reclaiming agency. The episode unpacks complex issues around gender, power, and the necessity of amplifying marginalised voices, while also addressing timely global shifts and the urgent need for collective action in the face of rising extremism and rollback of inclusion policies.

Raimonda is a visibility and empowerment mentor, international author, and founder of Women Thrive Media—an organisation devoted to providing women a platform to amplify their voices globally. Having lived in Lithuania, the UK, and now Spain, Raimonda offers a unique perspective informed by a breadth of cultural experiences. Her ethos centres on seeing potential in others before they recognise it themselves, helping women own their stories unapologetically. She draws powerfully on her own resilience following personal adversity and social marginalisation, both as an immigrant and as a woman. Raimonda leads an online community exceeding 600,000, publishes Women Thrive magazine, and orchestrates large-scale events and summits dedicated to inclusion and collective empowerment.

Together, Joanne and Raimonda reflect on the societal mechanisms that restrict women, the impact of trauma on identity, and the liberation found in embracing one’s authentic self. Raymonda’s decision to defy superficial expectations—exemplified by shaving her head—and her ongoing encouragement for women to reject imposed limitations are highlighted as acts of personal and political resistance. The discussion expands into strategies for activism, the importance of collective voice, and the role of communities in fostering lasting change.

A key takeaway from this episode is the critical role of authentic visibility in both self and collective empowerment. Raimonda’s narrative is an invitation to embrace personal truth, challenge restrictive norms, and rally for inclusion—reminding listeners that meaningful progress arises when individuals find their voice and use it to ignite change within their communities. This episode offers actionable inspiration for anyone seeking to foster a culture of belonging and resistance in turbulent times.

Published: 04.07.2025

Recorded: 21.02.2025 Episode Length

Duration: 0:59:43

Shownotes:

AI Extracts and Interpretations
app.castmagic.io The Inclusion Bites Podcast - #165 Visibility Empowerment and Authenticity
Other Links
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Inclusion Bites Podcast on YouTube

Clips and Timestamps

Viral Topic: The Reality of Strong Women and Suppression
“I observed women being strong and to some extent fearless, yet at the same time suppressed. Suppressed by domestic violence, by expectation that men have the authority, they are in control, they manage the funds of the house.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:12:15 → 00:12:16]

Fighting for Identity in a New Land: “And I started to build that rebelliousness inside of me to say, look, we have to fight for ourselves, we have to stand up for ourselves.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:12:50 → 00:12:58] Viral Topic—Liberation Through Vulnerability: “But the minute when I took it all off and I saw myself in the mirror, I held my head and I cried and I was like, wow, this is how it feels to liberate yourself of all those things you’ve been carrying your entire life.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:20:58 → 00:21:16]

Viral Topic: Changing Perceptions and Self-Image: “I realised that so much attention used to come to me because of being that. Having that perception of a kind of woman that you are, right? The long blonde hair, the curves or whatever, you know, I used to get a lot of attention and now I realise, okay, I’m not getting that attention and I don’t mind either way because I have a partner, I have family.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:22:45 → 00:23:09]

Viral Topic: Hidden Threats Become Visible
“Something I realised that up until now, the enemy was hiding in the plain sight. It wasn’t as obvious who our enemy was. Now they come out of the woodworks and we know exactly what we’re up against.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:32:44 → 00:32:59]

Viral Topic: The Rapid Erosion of Women’s Rights: “The decades of work that has gone in into diversity and inclusion, into policies, into the work that has been done to build bridges, to build inclusivity, to give rights to minorities overnight being eradicated.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:34:56 → 00:35:16]

Power in Our Choices: “And our choices are, we still have, we hold a lot of financial power in our choices and our voices and as long as we don’t buy into the messaging of disempowerment.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:43:11 → 00:43:24]

The Power of Advocacy: It starts with us. It starts with us having a voice, putting our voice, advocating for ourselves, advocating for others, knowing you’re not the only one in this world and you need to have a voice and be an ally for those who perhaps don’t have a voice.
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:47:27 → 00:47:41]

Viral Topic: The Importance of Community Action
“It’s not a time to stay quiet and just do nothing. See what you can do within your community. Events, host podcasts, start those conversations, become more vocal, be more empowered to speak up.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:49:34 → 00:49:50]

Empowering Women Globally: “My whole entire mission is to create a platform, global platform for women to have a voice, to be advocates to.”
— Raimonda Jankunaite [00:53:23 → 00:53:30]

Definition of Terms Used

Visibility Empowerment

Definition: Visibility empowerment refers to the process of encouraging individuals, particularly those from marginalised groups, to be seen and heard authentically in society and professional spaces, thus enhancing their self-worth and influence.
Relevance: This concept is central to challenging societal norms that silence or overlook women and minorities, paving the way for greater inclusion by showcasing diverse experiences and fostering confidence.
Examples: Creating platforms for women to speak at conferences, sharing personal narratives in publications, or facilitating events that spotlight underrepresented voices.
Related Terms: Authenticity, Amplifying Voices, Representation, Social Inclusion
Common Misconceptions: Visibility empowerment is not merely about showcasing individuals for diversity’s sake; it is fundamentally about fostering empowerment, influence, and systemic change.

Social Conditioning

Definition: Social conditioning involves the lifelong process by which societies transmit norms, expectations, and roles to individuals, shaping behaviours and beliefs from early childhood onwards.
Relevance: The episode explores how social conditioning enforces gender roles, often suppressing women’s voices and ambition, and reinforcing patriarchal standards that define value through conformity.
Examples: Girls being discouraged from leadership roles, women being expected to prioritise appearance or homemaking, and men being discouraged from showing vulnerability.
Related Terms: Gender Norms, Patriarchy, Stereotypes, Internalised Bias
Common Misconceptions: Many believe social conditioning is a thing of the past or only occurs in traditional societies, whereas it persists widely in both overt and subtle forms globally.

Unapologetic Authenticity

Definition: Unapologetic authenticity is the state of living and expressing one’s true self without shame, guilt, or fear of judgement; it involves a conscious rejection of societal expectations and self-imposed limitations.
Relevance: Raymonda discusses her personal journey towards unapologetic authenticity as both healing and empowering, positing it as critical for women reclaiming their identity and agency after trauma or marginalisation.
Examples: Publicly embracing a unique style (such as a shaved head), openly discussing experiences of trauma, or making choices unconstrained by tradition or cultural expectations.
Related Terms: Self-Acceptance, Empowerment, Personal Agency, Vulnerability
Common Misconceptions: Unapologetic authenticity is sometimes mistaken for arrogance or disregard for others, when it is actually rooted in self-respect and integrity.

Marginalised Characteristic

Definition: A marginalised characteristic refers to an identity trait—such as gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or disability—that is subject to systemic prejudice or exclusion from mainstream society and structures of power.
Relevance: The episode highlights how individuals possessing marginalised characteristics are often rendered voiceless, facing inherent barriers to participation, recognition, and advancement.
Examples: Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, being an immigrant with limited language proficiency, or facing discrimination due to sexual orientation or race.
Related Terms: Intersectionality, Minoritised Groups, Social Exclusion, Disempowerment
Common Misconceptions: Some presume marginalisation results only from overt discrimination, but it frequently operates through subtle institutional biases and cumulative social factors.

Masking

Definition: In this context, masking is the psychological act of concealing or suppressing aspects of one’s identity or emotional state to conform with societal expectations or to avoid negative judgement.
Relevance: Raymonda shares how, after experiencing trauma, she put on a ‘mask’ to function in daily life, hiding her pain and true self—a common phenomenon among those affected by societal oppression or personal adversity.
Examples: Smiling through distress, adhering to beauty standards despite discomfort, or refraining from expressing controversial opinions to avoid criticism.
Related Terms: Emotional Labour, Camouflage, People-Pleasing, Coping Mechanism
Common Misconceptions: Masking is sometimes seen as deceitful or weak, when in practice it is often a survival tactic necessitated by adverse environments or systemic injustice.

List of Words/Phrases and Episode-Driven Definitions

Visibility Empowerment: The act of empowering individuals to be seen and heard in their authentic selves, thereby challenging exclusion and enabling influence.
Social Conditioning: The process by which societies instil behavioural norms, roles, and expectations that reinforce conformity and hierarchy, particularly regarding gender.
Unapologetic Authenticity: Expressing one’s true self without fear or shame, regardless of societal expectations or potential for judgement.
Marginalised Characteristic: An identity trait that is systematically disadvantaged or excluded within societal structures, influencing one’s access to voice and agency.
Masking: Suppressing or hiding aspects of the self or one’s experience as a means of fitting in or protecting oneself from harm.