Keisha Chapman · Author of Reality Check
REALITY CHECK · BY KEISHA CHAPMAN
The rules of work
no one handed you.
Reality Check is a practical guide to workplace culture, visibility and career decisions for professionals who didn’t inherit a playbook.
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Talent is everywhere. Access isn't.
Some people start their careers with sponsors, mentors and networks already in place. Others have to build access from scratch. Keisha calls this the Inheritance Access Gap. Take Flyt prepares students and early-career professionals to close it, with results your organization can measure.
Results you can report: every engagement includes a Readiness Report with before-and-after readiness scores, confidence gains, action plans and a 90-day follow-up.
Experience from: OgilvyOne Worldwide · Delta Air Lines · Advance Auto Parts · Inspire Brands · Walden University ·
Norfolk State University · University of Texas · Mayor of East Point, Georgia
For colleges and schools
Prepare career-ready graduates. Workshops, a graduation-preparation course, and internship readiness for high school students.
For employers
Speed up time to productivity and keep your early-career talent. First 90 Days onboarding sessions and career fair partnerships.
For youth programs
Equip your people with a proven framework. The FLYT Facilitator Kit, bulk books and job-readiness training.
Who This Book Is For
Some people walk into their careers with mentors, sponsors and someone at home who explains how work really works. Others are figuring it out in real time. Reality Check is for the second group: first-generation professionals, new graduates and anyone learning the unwritten rules by experience. It is also for the mentors, managers and leaders who want to prepare the people coming behind them.
Why This Work Matters
Talent is everywhere. Access to guidance is not. Reality Check helps close the Inheritance Access Gap by making the unwritten rules of work easier to understand.
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Recognize the unwritten rules of workplace culture.
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Make your ideas and contributions visible.
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Prepare for conversations about pay and career growth.
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Build relationships that open doors.
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Choose practical next steps with clarity, integrity and purpose.
Reality Check
I remember sitting in one of my first meetings, nodding along as acronyms flew and power shifted around me. I had the degrees and the drive. What I didn't have was a playbook. Reality Check is the conversation I wish someone had with me: 14 honest chapters on imposter syndrome, pitching ideas, salary and money, side hustles, resumes, reviews, managing up, professional branding, networking, balance and purpose. Every chapter ends with a Reality Check and a Check Yourself list you can use right away.
Give them the guidance you wish you’d had.
A practical gift for the graduate, new professional, or career changer in your life. Paperback $14.99. Shipping and applicable tax are shown at checkout.
Work With Keisha
I work with campuses, employers, faith communities and conveners who want honest, practical conversations about how work really works and who gets access.
Keynotes and Conversations
Keynotes, panels and moderated conversations for conferences, campuses, churches and professional gatherings. Talks include The Map Nobody Handed You and From Performance to Purpose.
The FLYT Program
Ninety days of one-on-one or small-group mentoring, built around your FLYT Readiness Assessment results. You retake the assessment at day 90 to measure your growth.
Flyt Check Workshop
An interactive session for campuses, cohorts and new-hire programs. Participants score themselves on the FLYT Framework, work through real scenarios from Reality Check and leave with a 30-day plan.
Meet Keisha
Rooms That Weren't Built With You in Mind
I'm a Baltimore native and a graduate of Norfolk State University and The University of Texas. I began my career in 2005 and spent years in marketing and communications, from the OgilvyOne Associates Program in New York to corporate and banking roles in Georgia. Along the way I faced imposter syndrome, unresponsive leadership, setbacks and burnout, and learned that many talented people stall not for lack of ability, but because no one handed them the unwritten rules. I call it the Inheritance Access Gap. Today I serve as Mayor of East Point, Georgia.
A Comprehensive Career Vantage Point
With 20 years of experience across journalism, tech, corporate management, and elected office, I offer unique insights into institutional culture. I help individuals navigate complex organizations without the benefit of established networks or historical roadmaps.
Grounded in Practical Expertise
My perspective is built on decades of professional experience, leadership, and grassroots advocacy. This is authentic wisdom gained through practice, designed to provide clarity for those facing systemic barriers.
Exploring My Work: Reality Check
My book, Reality Check, exposes the hidden expectations of the institutional world. It provides tactical frameworks for high-achieving professionals building careers without a traditional playbook to guide them.
Core Principles and Philosophical Foundations
Guided by faith, I am dedicated to stewardship, integrity, and human dignity. I advocate for leadership that nurtures potential rather than extracting utility, equipping leaders to act with precision and responsibility.
Engage and Partner
Connect with these ideas by reading Reality Check, booking a speaking engagement, or joining the dialogue. Together, we can build institutional environments that are transparent and equitable for everyone.