Breaking the Invisibility Tax: The Science Behind Who Gets Heard with Chloé Nwangwu

When Bearing Witness®: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Storyteller

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When brand scientist Chloé Nwangwu discovered that crucial Yemen voices were excluded from peace talks during its civil war, she realized something profound: brands teach others how to treat you. This revelation led her to develop groundbreaking research on what she calls the "invisibility tax" - the hidden costs that under-recognized groups must pay to gain visibility in spaces where decisions are made.

In this episode, Chloé illuminates how visibility biases shape whose voices are heard in critical conversations. Through the lens of behavioral science, she explains how these biases manifest in systematic ways, from the "racial attention deficit" to the "ambition penalty," creating barriers that keep vital perspectives out of influential spaces.

For nonprofit storytellers, her insights reveal how unconscious biases might be influencing which stories we choose to amplify and which remain in the shadows.

Chloé challenges listeners to examine their role in what she calls the "ecosystem of influence," particularly those who serve as gatekeepers in the nonprofit sector. She argues that true recognition equity requires more than passive awareness - it demands active participation in seeking out under-recognized voices and ideas.

This conversation isn't just about making space at the table. It's about understanding how our choices as storytellers and marketers can either perpetuate or help dismantle systemic barriers to visibility.

About Chloé Nwangwu

Chloé Nwangwu, the Brand Scientist, is the director of NobiWorks, a brand visibility consultancy rooted in behavioral science. She equips underrecognized brands with visibility strategies and systems scientifically formulated to help them neutralize visibility biases while commanding — and keeping— attention in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Most recently, she advised the first refugee delegation to the UN.

Connect with Chloé

NobiWorks Resource Page | Instagram | LinkedIn

About Host Maria Bryan

Maria Bryan is a trauma-informed storytelling trainer. She helps nonprofit leaders tell powerful and impactful stories that resist harm. Maria has over fifteen years in marketing communications in the public sector. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, and is professionally certified in Trauma & Resilience, Trauma-Informed Space Holding, Trauma-Informed Coaching, and Somatic Embodiment & Regulation. Maria is a firm believer that storytellers make the world a healthier, safer, cleaner, and happier place.

Connect with Maria
Speaking & Training | LinkedIn | Email

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