Articles & Resources

Black Women Are More Than a Diversity Hire and It’s Past Time to Make Space For Them As Leaders

Chief, February 2022
While opportunities for more leaders to enter the C-Suite have certainly expanded over the last few years, representation of Black women at the highest levels of leadership still remains low. Despite ongoing diversity pledges and mandates, specifically after the racial unrest following George Floyd’s death in 2020, Black women currently make up less than 5% of C-Suite leaders. 

Women in the Workplace 2021

McKinsey & Company, September 2021
A year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, women in corporate America are even more burned out than they were in 2020 —and increasingly more so than men. Despite this, women leaders are stepping up to support employee well-being and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, but that work is not getting recognized.

Dear Black [woman] Boss,

Reflective MedEd Newsletter, September 2021
This essay comes from that “sanctuary of empathy” borne out of an exercise of reflection and the acceptance that equity practice is often imperfect, and becoming antiracist should include vulnerable reflections of our own failure and growth.

Black professional women are exhausted. They’re finally claiming the time to rest.

The Washington Post, August 2021
Inspired by Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka, many of the Black women I know in the business world say they are taking steps this year to reclaim their rest.

Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome

Harvard Business Review, February 2021
 “Imposter syndrome,” or doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud at work, is a diagnosis often given to women. But the fact that it’s considered a diagnosis at all is problematic. 

Tulane’s first Black woman program director was dismissed. It’s sparking a national outcry.

The Lily, February 2021

Dr. Princess Dennar’s termination from her Program Director position comes about five months after she filed a lawsuit against Tulane, alleging persistent discrimination and calling out specific faculty members for racist remarks and behavior — including one comment that White students might not rank Tulane favorably if it had a Black program director.

‘We’ve made no progress’: Healthcare boards 87% white, Leverage Network study finds

Becker Healthcare, February 2021

Healthcare doesn’t have the kind of diversity needed in its governing bodies and C-suites to address racial disparities, according to a study from the Leverage Network, an organization that promotes Black leadership.

Women of Color and Their Challenges With Navigating Office Politics

Diversity, Inc. 2021

Interesting article about how women of color are faced with challenges as they are held to different “professional” standards; their behavior is more heavily scrutinized as they are compared against negative stereotypes, they may lack support or advocacy from colleagues and managers and, likewise, often lack the mentors or sponsors necessary to advance.  Diverse women leaders may find they are one of few, and ostensibly asked to represent their entire race and gender.

What if Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In?

NY Times, November 2020
Professor Loretta J. Ross is combating cancel culture with a popular class at Smith College

How Black women became New York’s power players

City & State NY, November 2020
First-hand accounts of the barriers and triumphs in New York’s political world

The Essence of Leadership

Short inspirational YouTube video on leadership by General Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State