Bozoma Saint John: 4 lessons on authenticity
- Carly
- Apr 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Connection Mentors
The Connection Mentors Series
Healthy relationships are the foundation of well-being, but the strength of our connection to our authentic self creates the blueprint for how we show up in relationships with others. It takes courage to walk the path of authenticity.
This series celebrates the stories of those who live on their terms—honoring their truth, authentic strengths, and deepest desires. Embracing our unique expression as human beings creates a meaningful and impactful life.
May this series inspire you to step closer to your truth—or surrender fully to the wisdom of your inner knowing.
Connection Mentor: Bozoma Saint John
“Your greatest counsel is your voice within. Some people say it’s your spirit talking, or your gut, or your intuition. Whatever you call that murmuring, it can quiet everyone around you and allow you to tap into your truth.”― Bozoma Saint John
Bozoma Saint John—aka Badass Boz—lives authentically and urgently. Born to Ghanaian immigrants in Middletown, Connecticut, on January 21, 1977, she spent part of her childhood in Ghana before her family eventually settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There, she learned lifelong lessons about the power of authenticity and how to connect with people from all walks of life.
She’s been the marketing genius behind some major cultural moments—most notably Beyoncé’s 2013 Super Bowl performance—and has held CMO roles at some of the world’s biggest tech companies, including Apple, Uber, and Netflix.
Many admire and are fascinated by Bozoma’s rise, partly because she’s done it all while remaining unapologetically herself. While it may seem like her impressive career path resulted from strategic planning, her most notable career moves were guided by intuition and a deep commitment to honoring her authentic desires.
Here are four powerful lessons on authenticity from the life of Bozoma Saint John.
Listen to your gut and know when to leave behind what doesn't serve you.
In several interviews, Bozoma has mentioned that the Sunday scaries are a signal—it’s time to go. After the passing of her ex-husband, Peter Saint John, just four months shy of his 44th birthday, Boz made a commitment to live more urgently and intentionally. She often speaks about the power of intuition, believing that our internal counsel is the wisest guide in decision-making.
If a job no longer excited her, or a relationship or situation no longer sparked passion, that became her cue to move on. Interestingly, she’s shared that no one celebrated her most significant career moves—whether it was joining Beats by Dr. Dre, Uber, WME, or Netflix.
She defied others' cautious warnings and doubts, knowing they came from a place of love. But ultimately, it was her intuition that led her, and those instinctive moves resulted in deep lessons and transformative life shifts.
You are the center of your universe. Let people rise to meet you.
In interviews, Boz has recalled a childhood memory where her mother taught her a powerful lesson about embracing her roots and authentic self.
Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and attending a predominantly white school, she often stood out and had to master the art of finding ways to connect with others. Like many young immigrants and children of immigrants, she felt the pressure to assimilate.
One day, she finally felt like she’d made it into the “in” group when she got to host a sleepover with the popular girls from school. While preparing for the festivities, Boz caught a whiff of her mom cooking traditional Ghanaian cuisine. Slightly panicked and eager to fit in, she pleaded with her mom to serve something more aligned with mainstream American culture.
Her mom firmly declined and gently reminded her that if she were at her friends’ house, she would be eating their food and speaking their language—so now that they were at her house, they would eat her food and speak her language.
That moment cemented a lifelong lesson: the importance of embracing and proudly sharing your authentic self. Let people meet you where you are, rather than shrinking yourself to meet them at their level.
When you stop playing other people’s games, your life and career will unfold in unimaginable ways.
While working in middle management, Boz reached a turning point—she realized she couldn't win at the game traditionally required to rise to the C-suite. That insight emboldened her to become more fearless and honest, freeing her from the pressure to follow the prescribed steps she’d been told were necessary to succeed. Releasing that tight grip on convention opened her up to a wider range of possibilities.
Ironically, she still made it to the C-suite—and was even inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame.
When asked if there’s a blueprint she can offer others, Boz emphasizes the importance of self-awareness: getting to know your authentic self, identifying what you’re truly good at, and sticking to that. Aside from her talent, one way she expressed her boldness professionally was through her fashion, pushing boundaries with bold looks and big hair.
People’s opinions about what was “too much” or “inappropriate” for her role never fazed her. She showed up as her whole self, unapologetically.
Don’t be afraid to go against the grain and follow your curiosity and authentic desires.
After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in English and African-American Studies, Boz followed her curiosity and moved to New York City, where she began temping as a receptionist at Spike Lee’s agency.
One day, as Spike walked past her on his way to the office, a young Boz boldly asked if he was carrying a script. She then asked if she could take a look at it. He agreed and said, “Let me know what you think.”
A young and naive Boz read through the script and marked it up with a red pen to the shock of her colleagues. That bold move and her honesty earned her Spike's respect and a full-time role at the agency.
Living a life of authenticity may not guarantee you a spot in the C-Suite, but it will absolutely lead to a more meaningful and adventurous life.
“No one is above me in my life.”— Bozoma Saint John
Xx
Carly
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