Smiles & Side-Eyes: Navigating Frenemies at Work

Unpacking Black Women’s Frenemy Culture in the Workplace

The impacts of frenemies—those complex relationships that blend friendship with competition or subtle hostility—can be particularly profound for Black women, especially in professional and academic spaces. While relational aggression can harm anyone, Black women often experience these dynamics within workplaces already shaped by racism, sexism, and tokenism, which magnify both the personal and professional consequences.

Emotionally, navigating frenemies can lead to stress, self-doubt, and burnout. Because many Black women are already isolated in predominantly white or male-dominated environments, losing the support of other Black women can feel like a deep betrayal. This isolation often intensifies feelings of loneliness and emotional exhaustion, leaving individuals questioning their worth or second-guessing their success. The perception of rivalry among Black women may also reinforce harmful stereotypes of divisiveness or “drama,” which can unfairly impact professional reputations.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Wendi Williams, co-author of Frenemies in the Academy: Relational Aggression among African American Women Academicians, to unpack what happens when friendship and rivalry collide at work. The current President of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Williams bridges the worlds of psychology, education, and leadership with clarity, compassion, and transformative insight. With more than two decades of experience spanning higher education and the nonprofit sector, she has dedicated her career to advancing the well-being, leadership, and liberation of Black women and girls—and, by extension, all who seek to lead with purpose in uncertain times.

More Works by Dr. Williams:

• Frenemies in the Academy: Relational Aggression among African American Women Academicians

• Black Women at Work: On Refusal and Recovery

• The Majestic Place: The Freedom Possible in Black Women’s Leadership

• African descent women's conceptualization of ethnic/racial and gender identities

  
  

THIS EPISODE WILL BE AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 16, 2026.

Season 3 Episode 4

Running Time:  38 minutes