DID YOU ‘SEE’ BEYONCé IN 2024?

I mean, did you really see her - truly appreciate the epic feat she has achieved?

This year in the United States, Beyoncé’s album, Cowboy Carter:

• Debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
• Made Beyoncé the first woman to debut her first eight albums at number one.
• Spent an impressive eight consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Country Albums Chart.

Did you also know that this album was a response to the treatment she experienced at the Country Music Awards in 2016?

In 2016, following her performance with the Dixie Chicks, Beyoncé, despite her status as a global superstar, faced significant backlash for stepping into a predominantly white genre. Many criticised her involvement, and some even tried to erase her performance from public memory by removing her from promotional materials and online discussions.

A Personal Highlight in 2024

One of my highlights this year was being invited to speak about belonging at the Barefoot Coaching Ltd Conference, based on the theme of 'Belonging'.

While I thoroughly enjoyed donning a cowboy hat and performing the do-si-do with the unsuspecting yet very accommodating Andy Chandler PCC , the event offered an opportunity to share an important truth: even global superstars do not always belong or feel welcomed in all spaces.

Beyoncé herself says:

“I feel honoured to be the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. My hope is that years from now, the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.

This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating us on our musical history.”

This album draws significant inspiration from cowboy culture - a culture often perceived as white but deeply rooted in Black history.

Beyoncé’s work not only reclaims this history but also challenges the dominant narrative of who gets to belong in these cultural spaces.

Transforming Exclusion Into Empowerment

Beyoncé has transformed her experience of exclusion into a mission to:

1. Unearth the true history of country music, uplifting women and artists who have been erased or forgotten.
2. Use her songwriting to teach us about the authentic roots of country music.
3. Take up space and create space for others to enter the country music scene, especially those who may not have felt welcome before.

She is changing the face of country music because she recognised she didn’t belong, and importantly, the country music industry is better for it.

What Coaching Can Learn From Beyoncé?

If we want to change the face of coaching and build spaces that are truly inclusive, where all of us feel we belong, it will take all of us. Beyoncé’s journey teaches us the power of:

• Doing the work to understand the roots of exclusion.
• Telling accurate, transformative stories.
• Taking up space while making space for others.

What steps are you taking to transform your spaces into places of true belonging for 2025? Let’s be inspired to do the work, together.

If you are Coach or Supervisor and want to join our accredited January training programme 'Coaching Now: Inclusive Coaching for a Changing World', there is still time, enrolment closes 15th January.

About Bernice Hewson

Bernice Hewson is a racial equity scholar, anti-racism educator, and founder of Raising Racial Consciousness Ltd. She partners with organisations to embed racial equity into their structures and practices and facilitates coach training through Barefoot Coaching Ltd and Henley Business School , equipping coaches to address systemic inequities.

As a Senior Coach Practitioner, Bernice helps individuals and teams navigate workplace dynamics, develop inclusive leadership skills, and thrive professionally. Her tailored approach empowers clients to unlock their potential, leverage their strengths, and achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes. She creates non-judgmental spaces for learning, unlearning, and fostering equity-driven change.

Bernice holds a master’s degree in Culture, Diaspora, and Ethnicity from Birkbeck, University of London, and is an EMCC Senior Practitioner.