Why Black Women Build Ladders When Traditional Pathways Won’t

Episode Title: Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/why-black-women-build-ladders-when-traditional-pathways-wont-Episode Video Link: In this powerful audio episode of A Black Executive Perspective Podcast, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed sit down with Felicia Smith, Founder and Chair of The Climb, to unpack what it really means to navigate corporate systems that were never designed for you.From being overlooked for promotion to discovering the political and strategic realities of executive leadership, Felicia breaks down the invisible tax Black women carry in corporate America and why working hard is not enough.This is a direct conversation about power, influence, emotional intelligence, sponsorship, and collective advancement.If you are climbing the corporate ladder, mentoring others, or trying to understand leadership at a deeper level, this episode delivers clarity and strategy.What You Will Learn• Why performance alone does not guarantee executive promotion • How political navigation and sponsorship shape leadership pipelines • The hidden emotional and professional tax Black women face • Why collective advancement, not individual success, changes systems▶︎ In This Episode00:00 – The System Was Never Built for You02:01 – Meet Felicia Smith07:12 – When the Promotion Didn’t Come10:32 – The Emotional Fallout15:14 – The “Indispensable” Trap18:05 – Learning the Political Game24:18 – The Invisible Tax28:42 – Selling Out or Buying In34:22 – Why The Climb Was Created42:07 – Is There Only One Seat52:41 – Inside The Climb Leadership Program58:23 – It’s Not Your Fault1:04:40 – Build the Ladder and Reach BackIf this episode resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating leadership right now.Because real executive leadership is not about rising alone. It is about changing the system so others can rise with you.🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updatessubscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast onYouTube PodcastsApple PodcastsSpotify PodcastsAmazon MusicOther platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit"if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive changesubscribe to our newslettergive us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcastsshare an episode with a friend, family member or colleague🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExecLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTubeTwitterTikTokWhatsApp⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbitTwitterLinkedInFacebookThis episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email [email protected] .