The Silent Trauma of 'Onlyism' in Corporate America: A Call to Action

The brilliance of leadership is evidenced by Rosalind Brewer’s announcement of her resignation as the CEO of Walgreens during Labor Day weekend, 2023.

She is one of our “only” sisters who was working within a system of isolation, unappreciative and terror of the stellar leadership of a Black woman and how her leadership may shine a glaring light on the inequities of so many systems that will bring on a single Black woman executive and force her into solitary confinement.

This glaring lack of representation has given birth to a silent trauma known as 'onlyism.' It's the weighty challenge of regularly being the lone Black woman in sprawling C-suites, grappling with the profound isolation that comes with being "the only." The experience goes beyond professional challenges; it's a constant psychological strain. Each room entered each decision made, carries the unseen burden of representing an entire demographic. And while White women discuss the challenges of a "glass ceiling," Black women confront an even more daunting barrier: a seemingly impossible and isolating concrete wall.

In their seminal work Our Separate Ways, Ella Bell Smith and Stella Nkomo eloquently encapsulate this sentiment, suggesting that upon reaching these pinnacles, Black women may “find corporate America a lonely, hollow, haunted place.”

What happened to all those public commitments following the murder of George Floyd? Was that just something to be a part of what was trending then? What about corporate integrity as a whole? If more corporate leaders, boards, and other vital decision-makers accepted the challenge of one question: what would integrity do? There would be no way that “onlyism” would be acceptable. If corporate well-being programs answered that same question, attention to the accumulated stress of women, particularly women of color, would be a top priority in creating a corporate lifestyle that considered psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Companies can do more than acknowledge this issue; they can actively combat 'onlyism' by changing the company “about” section to include more photos and bios of Black women in their top tier. Such inclusivity not only amplifies underrepresented voices but also enriches the decision-making fabric of an organization.?

If the silent trauma of 'onlyism' resonates with you, or if you're an organization ready to challenge the status quo, reach out to me. For those women bearing the weight of 'onlyism' and for companies keen on dismantling it, I extend my expertise as a dedicated consultant and well-being coach with decades of experience as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor.