my mother often a story about a day in her childhood
a story about a day in her childhood
a story about a day in her childhood that quite literally changed the very
that quite literally changed the very
that quite literally changed the very trajectory of her life it started out as
trajectory of her life it started out as
trajectory of her life it started out as a normal day not unlike any other for a
a normal day not unlike any other for a
a normal day not unlike any other for a bright precocious little black girl
bright precocious little black girl
bright precocious little black girl growing up in the Jim Crow South but on
growing up in the Jim Crow South but on
growing up in the Jim Crow South but on this day something different happened
this day something different happened
this day something different happened her father received a very special visit
her father received a very special visit
her father received a very special visit it was a familiar face a white man
it was a familiar face a white man
it was a familiar face a white man someone she’d seen before but on this
someone she’d seen before but on this
someone she’d seen before but on this day it soon became apparent that
day it soon became apparent that
day it soon became apparent that something wasn’t quite right
something wasn’t quite right
something wasn’t quite right the conversation between the two men
the conversation between the two men
the conversation between the two men were shall we say a bit more intense
were shall we say a bit more intense
were shall we say a bit more intense than normal and then she heard it her
than normal and then she heard it her
than normal and then she heard it her father’s voice rose up bold and resolute
father’s voice rose up bold and resolute
father’s voice rose up bold and resolute yet calm and firm when he said quite
yet calm and firm when he said quite
yet calm and firm when he said quite matter-of-factly I didn’t raise any
matter-of-factly I didn’t raise any
matter-of-factly I didn’t raise any daughters to work in a white man’s
daughters to work in a white man’s
daughters to work in a white man’s kitchen with that the two men parted and
kitchen with that the two men parted and
kitchen with that the two men parted and my mother’s path to leadership began you
my mother’s path to leadership began you
my mother’s path to leadership began you know it’s certainly true that as 21st
know it’s certainly true that as 21st
know it’s certainly true that as 21st century black women we have infinitely
century black women we have infinitely
century black women we have infinitely more choices and opportunities than
more choices and opportunities than
more choices and opportunities than those that were commonly conferred to
those that were commonly conferred to
those that were commonly conferred to our mothers and our grandmothers and
our mothers and our grandmothers and
our mothers and our grandmothers and certainly those that came many
certainly those that came many
certainly those that came many generations before but as much as things
generations before but as much as things
generations before but as much as things have changed
have changed
have changed so many other things have remained
so many other things have remained
so many other things have remained stubbornly the same and if there is one
stubbornly the same and if there is one
stubbornly the same and if there is one thing that has been absolutely
thing that has been absolutely
thing that has been absolutely consistent throughout the black woman’s
consistent throughout the black woman’s
consistent throughout the black woman’s experience in America it is this black
experience in America it is this black
experience in America it is this black women work it didn’t take a woman’s
women work it didn’t take a woman’s
women work it didn’t take a woman’s movement to infuse us into America’s
movement to infuse us into America’s
movement to infuse us into America’s labor market we’ve been here all along
labor market we’ve been here all along
labor market we’ve been here all along and it’s here we remain to this very day
and it’s here we remain to this very day
and it’s here we remain to this very day we are still more likely than any other
we are still more likely than any other
we are still more likely than any other women in America to work but despite our
women in America to work but despite our
women in America to work but despite our drive despite our determination despite
drive despite our determination despite
drive despite our determination despite our loyalty to America’s labor market
our loyalty to America’s labor market
our loyalty to America’s labor market the fact remains that our ability to
the fact remains that our ability to
the fact remains that our ability to ascend to official spaces of Lee
ascend to official spaces of Lee
ascend to official spaces of Lee ship are exceedingly rare and it’s not
ship are exceedingly rare and it’s not
ship are exceedingly rare and it’s not because at some place that we don’t want
because at some place that we don’t want
because at some place that we don’t want to be according to McKinsey and company
to be according to McKinsey and company
to be according to McKinsey and company and others quite frankly black women are
and others quite frankly black women are
and others quite frankly black women are the most ambitious demographic group in
the most ambitious demographic group in
the most ambitious demographic group in the nation way more than anyone else we
the nation way more than anyone else we
the nation way more than anyone else we want that next promotion and we’re
want that next promotion and we’re
want that next promotion and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to earn
willing to do whatever it takes to earn
willing to do whatever it takes to earn it so our problem isn’t that we’re not
it so our problem isn’t that we’re not
it so our problem isn’t that we’re not leaning in our problem is that we’re
leaning in our problem is that we’re
leaning in our problem is that we’re being shut out according to the Center
being shut out according to the Center
being shut out according to the Center on talent innovation black women enter
on talent innovation black women enter
on talent innovation black women enter the workforce
the workforce
the workforce already as experienced leaders we are
already as experienced leaders we are
already as experienced leaders we are some twice as likely as our white female
some twice as likely as our white female
some twice as likely as our white female counterparts to have already had
counterparts to have already had
counterparts to have already had experience leading in our communities
experience leading in our communities
experience leading in our communities doing things like starting youth
doing things like starting youth
doing things like starting youth initiatives like leading school boards
initiatives like leading school boards
initiatives like leading school boards like heading community service
like heading community service
like heading community service organizations and of course we know we
organizations and of course we know we
organizations and of course we know we come from an entire history that spans
come from an entire history that spans
come from an entire history that spans until this very day
until this very day
until this very day of leading movements that are quite
of leading movements that are quite
of leading movements that are quite literally changed the world so yes we
literally changed the world so yes we
literally changed the world so yes we know how to lead but in spite of our
know how to lead but in spite of our
know how to lead but in spite of our experiences both inside and outside of
experiences both inside and outside of
experiences both inside and outside of the professional sphere and no matter
the professional sphere and no matter
the professional sphere and no matter our credentials and our professional
our credentials and our professional
our credentials and our professional abilities what we found is that black
abilities what we found is that black
abilities what we found is that black women are also more likely than anyone
women are also more likely than anyone
women are also more likely than anyone else to say that we’ve never received
else to say that we’ve never received
else to say that we’ve never received any assistance from any senior level
any assistance from any senior level
any assistance from any senior level colleagues at work when it comes to
colleagues at work when it comes to
colleagues at work when it comes to helping us pierce through an earn and
helping us pierce through an earn and
helping us pierce through an earn and leadership position it’s as if we’ve
leadership position it’s as if we’ve
leadership position it’s as if we’ve been professionally abandoned left to
been professionally abandoned left to
been professionally abandoned left to sink or swim on our own and what
sink or swim on our own and what
sink or swim on our own and what sometimes might feel like shark infested
sometimes might feel like shark infested
sometimes might feel like shark infested professional waters so what does this
professional waters so what does this
professional waters so what does this all mean it means that for black women
all mean it means that for black women
all mean it means that for black women especially we’re likely to experience
especially we’re likely to experience
especially we’re likely to experience situations in which our aspirations and
situations in which our aspirations and
situations in which our aspirations and our abilities fail to align with
our abilities fail to align with
our abilities fail to align with opportunity as it stands today nearly
opportunity as it stands today nearly
opportunity as it stands today nearly three times as many black women aspire
three times as many black women aspire
three times as many black women aspire to leadership then is the case among
to leadership then is the case among
to leadership then is the case among white women but when we see who actually
white women but when we see who actually
white women but when we see who actually acquires those position
acquires those position
acquires those position two very different realities emerge as
two very different realities emerge as
two very different realities emerge as it stands right now nearly a quarter of
it stands right now nearly a quarter of
it stands right now nearly a quarter of white women actually acquire senior
white women actually acquire senior
white women actually acquire senior executive positions even though just
executive positions even though just
executive positions even though just eight percent say that’s ultimately
eight percent say that’s ultimately
eight percent say that’s ultimately where they aspire to be now when we
where they aspire to be now when we
where they aspire to be now when we compare that to the situation
compare that to the situation
compare that to the situation experienced by black women we see that
experienced by black women we see that
experienced by black women we see that only two percent acquire executive
only two percent acquire executive
only two percent acquire executive leadership positions even though 22
leadership positions even though 22
leadership positions even though 22 percent say that’s ultimately where we
percent say that’s ultimately where we
percent say that’s ultimately where we want to land now I’m not gonna sit here
want to land now I’m not gonna sit here
want to land now I’m not gonna sit here today and make the argument that
today and make the argument that
today and make the argument that necessarily 22 percent of black women
necessarily 22 percent of black women
necessarily 22 percent of black women should be an executive leadership but
should be an executive leadership but
should be an executive leadership but what I will say with confidence is
what I will say with confidence is
what I will say with confidence is something is horribly wrong with this
something is horribly wrong with this
something is horribly wrong with this picture
picture
picture America is leaving significant levels of
America is leaving significant levels of
America is leaving significant levels of talent and ability and brilliance
talent and ability and brilliance
talent and ability and brilliance completely untapped so when we look at
completely untapped so when we look at
completely untapped so when we look at the very top of the leadership realm we
the very top of the leadership realm we
the very top of the leadership realm we find that this problem is magnified we
find that this problem is magnified we
find that this problem is magnified we know that as recently as the year 2000
know that as recently as the year 2000
know that as recently as the year 2000 only for white women held a position of
only for white women held a position of
only for white women held a position of CEO of a fortune 500 company
CEO of a fortune 500 company
CEO of a fortune 500 company but by September of 2016 that number had
but by September of 2016 that number had
but by September of 2016 that number had grown more than fivefold to 22 now I
grown more than fivefold to 22 now I
grown more than fivefold to 22 now I would certainly be the first to say that
would certainly be the first to say that
would certainly be the first to say that even 22 isn’t enough right when you
even 22 isn’t enough right when you
even 22 isn’t enough right when you compare that to the hundreds of white
compare that to the hundreds of white
compare that to the hundreds of white men who hold those positions that number
men who hold those positions that number
men who hold those positions that number really is quite minuscule however we’re
really is quite minuscule however we’re
really is quite minuscule however we’re at least moving in the right direction
at least moving in the right direction
at least moving in the right direction when you look at the trend of the number
when you look at the trend of the number
when you look at the trend of the number of white women who hold these positions
of white women who hold these positions
of white women who hold these positions it’s actually been going up in recent
it’s actually been going up in recent
it’s actually been going up in recent years but as it relates to CEOs of color
years but as it relates to CEOs of color
years but as it relates to CEOs of color that number has actually been trending
that number has actually been trending
that number has actually been trending down so much so that as it stands today
down so much so that as it stands today
down so much so that as it stands today the number of black CEOs has actually
the number of black CEOs has actually
the number of black CEOs has actually fallen from 12 to now only five for
fallen from 12 to now only five for
fallen from 12 to now only five for Latinos it’s dropped from a high of 13
Latinos it’s dropped from a high of 13
Latinos it’s dropped from a high of 13 to now only 9 for asian-americans it’s
to now only 9 for asian-americans it’s
to now only 9 for asian-americans it’s fallen from a high of 15 to now just 10
fallen from a high of 15 to now just 10
fallen from a high of 15 to now just 10 in fact the realities experienced by
in fact the realities experienced by
in fact the realities experienced by these two groups are so divergent but as
these two groups are so divergent but as
these two groups are so divergent but as it stands today the number of white
it stands today the number of white
it stands today the number of white women who are
women who are
women who are cos actually nearly equals that of the
cos actually nearly equals that of the
cos actually nearly equals that of the number of all people of color of both
number of all people of color of both
number of all people of color of both genders combined now when we look at
genders combined now when we look at
genders combined now when we look at specifically the situation experienced
specifically the situation experienced
specifically the situation experienced by women of color we see that just to
by women of color we see that just to
by women of color we see that just to hold the position of CEO of a fortune
hold the position of CEO of a fortune
hold the position of CEO of a fortune 500 company and as two black women just
500 company and as two black women just
500 company and as two black women just one the example of Ursula burns is the
one the example of Ursula burns is the
one the example of Ursula burns is the only black woman who has ever held that
only black woman who has ever held that
only black woman who has ever held that position in the entire 60-year history
position in the entire 60-year history
position in the entire 60-year history of this list and even her stellar
of this list and even her stellar
of this list and even her stellar example is set to come to an end by the
example is set to come to an end by the
example is set to come to an end by the end of this year as her company
end of this year as her company
end of this year as her company restructures and she is scheduled to be
restructures and she is scheduled to be
restructures and she is scheduled to be replaced by a white man now what I find
replaced by a white man now what I find
replaced by a white man now what I find particularly intriguing about this
particularly intriguing about this
particularly intriguing about this situation is quite frankly we know
situation is quite frankly we know
situation is quite frankly we know better we know that diversity is good
better we know that diversity is good
better we know that diversity is good for business
for business
for business we know that it leads things to things
we know that it leads things to things
we know that it leads things to things like better innovation more creativity
like better innovation more creativity
like better innovation more creativity higher profits and overall better
higher profits and overall better
higher profits and overall better outcomes for companies we know this to
outcomes for companies we know this to
outcomes for companies we know this to be the case but in terms of how it is
be the case but in terms of how it is
be the case but in terms of how it is actually practice we find that companies
actually practice we find that companies
actually practice we find that companies ultimately tend to privilege gender
ultimately tend to privilege gender
ultimately tend to privilege gender diversity over racial diversity even
diversity over racial diversity even
diversity over racial diversity even though they’re both critically important
though they’re both critically important
though they’re both critically important and what’s especially intriguing and
and what’s especially intriguing and
and what’s especially intriguing and interesting and quite frankly ironic
interesting and quite frankly ironic
interesting and quite frankly ironic about this situation is that as we are
about this situation is that as we are
about this situation is that as we are here today this nation is undergoing a
here today this nation is undergoing a
here today this nation is undergoing a tremendous demographic shift so much so
tremendous demographic shift so much so
tremendous demographic shift so much so that the majority of babies born in
that the majority of babies born in
that the majority of babies born in America right now babies of color and so
America right now babies of color and so
America right now babies of color and so as this nation is becoming browner and
as this nation is becoming browner and
as this nation is becoming browner and browner the reality is that the
browner the reality is that the
browner the reality is that the leadership structures within this nation
leadership structures within this nation
leadership structures within this nation is becoming wider and wider even if
is becoming wider and wider even if
is becoming wider and wider even if those leadership structures are now more
those leadership structures are now more
those leadership structures are now more inclusive of women and 2015 the working
inclusive of women and 2015 the working
inclusive of women and 2015 the working mothers Research Institute released a
mothers Research Institute released a
mothers Research Institute released a report that found in part that white
report that found in part that white
report that found in part that white women really didn’t believe they had an
women really didn’t believe they had an
women really didn’t believe they had an interest and helping women of color
interest and helping women of color
interest and helping women of color close the leadership gap so if you
close the leadership gap so if you
close the leadership gap so if you happen to be wondering why you should
happen to be wondering why you should
happen to be wondering why you should even care about the professional
even care about the professional
even care about the professional advancement
advancement
advancement women who look like me then let me
women who look like me then let me
women who look like me then let me remind you your future is intricately
remind you your future is intricately
remind you your future is intricately linked with our future our perspectives
linked with our future our perspectives
linked with our future our perspectives our professional abilities our loyalty
our professional abilities our loyalty
our professional abilities our loyalty and yes our diversity is absolutely
and yes our diversity is absolutely
and yes our diversity is absolutely essential to making sure that the
essential to making sure that the
essential to making sure that the employers of today and tomorrow have an
employers of today and tomorrow have an
employers of today and tomorrow have an authentic understanding of the shifting
authentic understanding of the shifting
authentic understanding of the shifting needs and desires of a changing customer
needs and desires of a changing customer
needs and desires of a changing customer base that we are experiencing and today
base that we are experiencing and today
base that we are experiencing and today and throughout the future and so in that
and throughout the future and so in that
and throughout the future and so in that way your professional stability and
way your professional stability and
way your professional stability and growth is directly linked to the degree
growth is directly linked to the degree
growth is directly linked to the degree to which the voices the perspectives and
to which the voices the perspectives and
to which the voices the perspectives and yes the leadership of women of color is
yes the leadership of women of color is
yes the leadership of women of color is activated respected and acted upon but
activated respected and acted upon but
activated respected and acted upon but beyond that very real dollars and cents
beyond that very real dollars and cents
beyond that very real dollars and cents implication let me also remind you that
implication let me also remind you that
implication let me also remind you that none of us are free unless all of us are
none of us are free unless all of us are
none of us are free unless all of us are free if you consider yourself to be
free if you consider yourself to be
free if you consider yourself to be among those who is in favor of the full
among those who is in favor of the full
among those who is in favor of the full liberation of women a type of liberation
liberation of women a type of liberation
liberation of women a type of liberation that frees us from discrimination and
that frees us from discrimination and
that frees us from discrimination and oppression in any and all fours
oppression in any and all fours
oppression in any and all fours then you must reject the comfort of the
then you must reject the comfort of the
then you must reject the comfort of the familiar in the seduction of
familiar in the seduction of
familiar in the seduction of self-interest none of us should be
self-interest none of us should be
self-interest none of us should be satisfied with images like this one
satisfied with images like this one
satisfied with images like this one shared with the world by an editor who
shared with the world by an editor who
shared with the world by an editor who was very satisfied and happy and proud
was very satisfied and happy and proud
was very satisfied and happy and proud that her entire team was made up of
that her entire team was made up of
that her entire team was made up of women but apparently oblivious to the
women but apparently oblivious to the
women but apparently oblivious to the fact that it was completely devoid of
fact that it was completely devoid of
fact that it was completely devoid of women of color we must all recognize
women of color we must all recognize
women of color we must all recognize that all women are not white women and
that all women are not white women and
that all women are not white women and because of that diversity among women is
because of that diversity among women is
because of that diversity among women is just as critical just as necessary just
just as critical just as necessary just
just as critical just as necessary just as vital and imperative as gender
as vital and imperative as gender
as vital and imperative as gender diversity is in the broader context if
diversity is in the broader context if
diversity is in the broader context if your gender equality does not include
your gender equality does not include
your gender equality does not include women who look like me then let me tell
women who look like me then let me tell
women who look like me then let me tell you that’s not true gender equality at
you that’s not true gender equality at
you that’s not true gender equality at all thank you
”
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