The problem of practice centered in this doctoral study is the lived experience of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, or BIPOC, professional staff at a large, public, research one university. The purpose of this Action Research study was to investigate emotional labor and (racial battle) fatigue, and their frequency and impacts on BIPOC sense of belonging and retention within the organization. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 consisted of nine BIPOC professional staff, each minimally masters-degree level professionals. Action steps in Cycle 2 included facilitating conversation circles with four diversity/DEIB leaders and practitioners on the Cycle 1 data with a goal to discuss how the data can inform change at their institutions. Findings included DEIB self-work (as a means of addressing implicit bias), horizonal harm -- BIPOC to BIPOC, and being in conversation (as a mode of locating impacts on a collective). Implications for practice include shifting the conversation (to be explicit and honest about BIPOC exploitation) and understanding the difference between the D, the E, the I, and the B in DEIB (because they are different with different measurements). [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]