The Challenges and Opportunities of Leading While Black

Hello Resilient Leaders,

In this issue, I share a bit more of my personal journey of overcoming adversity as a Black man in corporate America, or "Leading While Black."

These experiences have shaped my professional path and taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, integrity, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Experiences

Working in corporate America as a Black man has been tough.

Leading While Black (LWB) has been a journey marked by significant challenges and profound learnings. All throughout my career, I found myself as the only Black person in meetings, or the only Black person in some form of a leadership role, or the only Black person with a budget for the work I wanted to do.

This not only made me feel isolated but also posed additional hurdles in gaining support for my work.

I often felt like no one understood me, and experienced hostility, even from the people who were directly responsible for hiring me.

This lack of representation made it difficult to feel fully seen, accepted, and confident in myself and my leadership. One particularly challenging moment was at Netflix, when my Manager yelled at me in the cubicle isle in front of my teammates and the clients I was serving.

Another experience was while I was at Amazon, where I was tasked with leading a high-stakes project. Despite my expertise, I faced skepticism and countless microaggressions that questioned my capabilities.

Or while at Google, my Manager surprised me by putting me on a performance development plan after working for the company for less than 6 months stating that I did not meet expectations!

I share these experiences because they are, unfortunately, very common for people who are LWB.

These experience, though disheartening, strengthened my resolve to excel and prove my value. By focusing on building strong relationships and leveraging mentors who believed in my potential, I gradually navigated through these obstacles.

I learned to assert my voice and advocate for myself and others who faced similar challenges. These experiences not only fueled my drive to succeed but also deepened my commitment to fostering inclusive environments where diverse voices are heard and valued.

Learning

Resilience is key to navigating adversity. Embracing your unique identity and using it as a source of strength can help you overcome systemic challenges. Advocacy for diversity and inclusion is not just beneficial but necessary for creating equitable workplaces.

Suggestions

1. Build Strong Relationships: Cultivate a network of mentors and allies who support and believe in you.
2. Assert Your Voice: Speak up and advocate for your ideas and contributions.
3. Leverage Your Identity: Use your unique perspective as a strength and asset.
4. Support Inclusivity: Actively participate in or lead initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion within your organization.

Reflection

What challenges have you faced in your professional journey, and how have you turned them into opportunities for growth?

Let me know in the comments!

Action

Join the conversation about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Reflect on your experiences and take actionable steps to support a more inclusive environment. For resources and support, visit www.consciously.one. Let's work together to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Completion

Overcoming adversity strengthens our resolve and commitment to change. Embrace your journey and lead with resilience and inclusivity.

Consciously ,

Kvon Tucker, Leadership Coach to CEOs and Change Makers