Strategies for Women of Color in Leadership
For many women, especially African American/Black women, the journey to leadership is filled with unique challenges that test both resilience and determination. Navigating through racial and gender-based obstacles, they often face the dual burden of excelling in their roles while overcoming societal and organizational biases. After setting ambitious career goals, the next crucial step is maintaining the motivation and focus needed to achieve them. Staying motivated in the face of these challenges isn’t just about surviving the journey—it’s about thriving and leading with purpose.
From societal biases to internal doubts, overcoming these hurdles requires strength, persistence, and intentionality. The path may feel arduous, and the obstacles can seem insurmountable. But as we’ll explore today, breaking through these barriers is not only possible but empowering. The five women interviewed in this study faced their own limitations—racial, gender, or a combination of both—yet they turned those challenges into opportunities for growth and success. This is a story of perseverance, a tale of triumph in the face of adversity.
Embrace Your Purpose
Maintaining motivation often begins with understanding your ‘why.’ Why are you striving for this particular goal? When you connect your career goals to your deeper purpose—whether it’s financial freedom, breaking generational cycles, or representing underrepresented voices in leadership—you stay driven. As the women in this study demonstrated, despite encountering barriers, their purpose fueled their determination.
For example, one participant shared her experience of confronting racial bias during an interview for a more advanced clinical role. As she recounted the moment her list of qualifications was crumpled up in front of her, she realized how deeply embedded these limitations were in her professional landscape. But rather than allowing that moment to deter her, she used it as fuel to envision her long-term impact within the organization. She accepted the role offered, not out of defeat, but because she saw beyond the immediate rejection and focused on the value she could bring to the company over time.
Tip: Regularly reflect on your ‘why.’ Write it down and revisit it when you face challenges to remind yourself why your efforts matter.
Breaking Through Limitations
One of the most prominent themes that emerged from this study was how participants faced limitations and overcame them. Each woman had her own set of challenges, but what was consistent across their stories was their refusal to let these obstacles define their leadership journeys. Whether they faced racial biases or gender discrimination, they remained steadfast in their pursuit of success.
This speaks to the importance of maintaining focus and perseverance. The key to breaking through limitations lies in seeing beyond the barriers and holding fast to your vision, even when the road is tough.
Build a Support Network
One of the recurring themes from the study was the importance of garnering support. Mentorship, sponsorship, and family or peer support can make a world of difference. A strong support network can help you stay accountable, provide advice during tough times, and cheer you on when you need encouragement. The participants in the study shared how these relationships were not only crucial for their career advancements but also helped them stay motivated.
For one executive, this meant intentionally establishing relationships with her company’s leadership team. By attending small group sessions with company executives and meeting privately with her supervisor for career planning, she positioned herself as a future leader. When the opportunity for her current position arose, she had already garnered enough support from key decision-makers to make her promotion a reality.
Tip: Seek out mentors and sponsors who have navigated similar career paths. Don’t hesitate to lean on your community when needed, whether they are colleagues, friends, or family.
Overcome the Isolation of Leadership
While support may be abundant during the ascent to leadership, maintaining those leadership positions often comes with a new set of challenges. Leadership can feel lonely, especially for African American/Black women who may find themselves as the only Black woman in the room. The study revealed that some women in leadership roles felt isolated, abandoned by colleagues or misunderstood by their peers. Overcoming these feelings of isolation required resilience and finding ways to connect with like-minded individuals who share your vision.
The participants expressed a sense of abandonment once they reached the executive level. Overcoming this isolation required a deep sense of inner strength, resilience, and confidence in their abilities.
Tip: Join communities (in person or online) where you can connect with other women leaders. This sense of belonging can reduce the emotional weight of isolation and keep you energized.
Focus on Small Wins
It’s easy to get discouraged when progress seems slow. However, the dissertation research highlighted how breaking through barriers was not an immediate process for any of the women involved—it required persistence and celebrating small victories along the way. Staying focused on each step forward, rather than solely on the end goal, can help you maintain motivation.
Tip: Set smaller milestones along your journey and celebrate each one as you achieve it. These wins build momentum and keep you moving forward.
Develop Resilience and Hope
Resilience was a consistent trait among the women who participated in the study. Even when faced with racial and gender barriers, they maintained hope for their future. Having a long-term perspective allowed them to push through setbacks and focus on the potential impact of their careers.
Tip: When faced with challenges, don’t be afraid to step back and recharge. Reassess your goals and remind yourself of the greater picture. Visualizing your success can help you keep hope alive.
Break Through Limiting Beliefs
The participants in this study often faced racial or gender barriers, but they chose not to be confined by societal expectations. They broke through these limitations by believing in their ability to lead and embracing their unique strengths. For many women of color, dismantling limiting beliefs is key to thriving in leadership.
Tip: Challenge any internal doubts or imposter syndrome that tells you that you’re not good enough. Affirm your capabilities and focus on what you bring to the table.
Manage Distractions and Prioritize Self-Care
External distractions can derail your focus, but burnout is another real threat to your motivation. The participants in the study had to remain disciplined in managing their workload and self-care to avoid burnout. Prioritizing both focus and self-care is essential for sustained energy.
Tip: Create a structured daily routine that includes time for self-care, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies, along with your professional responsibilities. This balance keeps your energy high and your focus sharp.
Stay Accountable to Your Goals
Accountability was crucial for the women in this study, both to themselves and to the support systems they built around them. Sharing your goals with others helps keep you accountable, and having others check in on your progress can push you to stay focused.
Tip: Share your goals with a mentor or trusted colleague and schedule regular check-ins to discuss your progress.
By breaking through limitations, leveraging support networks, managing isolation, and staying focused on your ‘why,’ women of color in leadership can not only achieve their career goals but also make a lasting impact. Staying motivated requires resilience, discipline, and intentional self-care, but the journey to leadership is not one that needs to be traveled alone.
Join The Leading Lady Collective
For more inspiration and community support, join our Facebook group—The Leading Lady Collective. It’s a place where like-minded women come together to share experiences, offer advice, and uplift one another. Whether you’re facing challenges or celebrating victories, we’re here to help you thrive in your leadership journey. Let’s grow together—join us today!
Sneak Peek: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities
Stay tuned for our upcoming series on Transforming Limitations into Opportunities. In this thought-provoking 2-part series, we dive deep into the leadership journeys of five African American/Black women who have risen to executive roles in their respective industries. We’ll dive deep into inspiring stories of how they overcame seemingly impossible barriers and turned them into opportunities for growth. Join us as we explore how these women navigated the intersections of race, gender, and leadership to leave lasting impacts on their teams and organizations. Through their eyes, discover how success is less about titles and more about connection, growth, and the power of community. Let their experiences inspire you to face your own challenges head-on and emerge victorious through meaningful relationships and impactful service to others!