What’s Really Holding Black Women Back At Work… And It’s Not What You Think

Historically, women, and black women, in particular, have been treated in ways that actively hinder their professional development. Laura Knights, founder and CEO of Knights Consulting LLC, joins me to discuss the systemic barriers and what we can do to dismantle them. You’ll hear us discussing ideas, such as:The glass ceiling. This concept does not accurately describe the experience of black women at work. According to research conducted by McKinsey, it doesn’t fit most women at all. The biggest barrier is what they coin the “broken rung”- the first step into leadership.Systemic barriers. The most common systemic barriers that actively stunt black women’s professional growth include a lack of quality feedback, mentoring, and corporate resistance to doing equity work.How black women experience burnout. A Black Women Thriving report shared that burnout is a survival mode for black women, which is also applicable on a societal level, not just in the workplace. Imposter syndrome. The original research for imposter syndrome excluded black women, so it does not reflect their lived experiences. Using the framework of imposter syndrome creates false narratives about themselves that black women internalize, when the barriers to their success are external and systemic. ResourcesLaura Knights on LinkedIn | Twitter | WebsiteReframing Imposter SyndromeBlack Women LeadingEvery Level Leads