Part 1 of the series––The Cost of Doing Business as an African-American Woman, “THE PERCEPTION EDITION”––was designed to provide candid and applicable perspectives that working African-American women face every day in America. Panelists included Genyne Edwards, advocacy consultant for the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and consultant for the Cardinal Stritch African American Leadership Program; Dr. Debra A. Miller, president and CEO of Global Communications Strategists; and Gwen Johnson, vice president of human resources at Assurant Health.
Moderator Denise Calloway did a great job leading the situational and perspective-based discussion, kicking things off with one question: “How did you overcome perception?”
“I knew I had to be better; I knew there would be problems so I had to work harder,” said Dr. Miller. “You will always come into a company without solid internal networks and that means doing more studying, getting to know your peers and assistants, and embracing the challenge of possibly being the only African American in your department or company.” Edwards based her response on life experiences, which included her exposure to the “real-world” at the young age of 22 when she was tasked with managing a large staff of individuals who were significantly older than her.
Women, specifically African American women, can be known to intimidate, tense up or become defensive when trying to get a point across, unaware of how others may perceive them.
When working in an office or corporate setting, panelist Gwen Johnson gave some good advice on how to defer those perceptions by adjusting your execution:
• Be the first to put cards on the table. Let your peers know that you are just as smart.
• If you are making a point, relax. Keep eye contact, don’t question yourself, and be direct.
• Arrive early and remember the names of 3-4 people you don’t know.
• Sit up straight. Leaning forward can come across as intimidating.
• Reduce hand movements as too much hand gesturing can suggest uncertainty or confusion.
The discussion concluded with open comments and questions from the diverse audience. In response to the final question, “What advice can you give to the younger generation,” each panelist chimed in with answers such as: do not compete; show you are alike; being diverse is important to being successful; communicate with your allies; and work to ensure success with not only yourself, but with your peers as well.
Edwards closed the discussion, calling attention to the fact that diversity in your professional relationships is also vital to success. “White people can be your friend too and those relationships are very important to your success,” she said.
Interview with Marquette Baylor, president of NCBW Milwaukee Chapter
GlossMagazineOnline (GMO): Give GMO a little background info of NCBW.
Baylor: The NCBW Milwaukee Chapter will be celebrating its three-year anniversary this October. Twelve women came together from the city of Milwaukee and decided that this group was needed, and that there was a high demand for an organization like us. Our main goal is to advocate, collaborate with other organizations, and be in the position to help and serve our community––as well as empower African American women to do better. We are mission-based and always strive to do what’s best for the community.
GMO: Why do you feel this three-part discussion is beneficial to African American women?
Baylor: It allows interaction with other African American women who are out doing work for the community at-large, dealing with the same “perception-based” circumstances, and provides more insight directly from other powerful women who can relate on different levels of the business/corporate spectrum. There are many women in this city who feel like they are the only ones dealing with being the only black woman in the office, or [who] feel like they are being held back because they are doubted. We want to make people aware that, they aren’t the only ones and be able to provide information and advice on how to overcome that.
GMO: Why do you think it’s more challenging for African American women to be successful in corporate settings, based on the discussion? Why do think we have that problem?
Baylor: Because of the perceptions. We often have these barriers that we face and don’t realize that sometimes, yes––we can be allies. Many black women struggle in predominately white business settings because of fear. We want to advise other women that it’s OK to have a voice, sell yourselves, etc. The time is now for us to come together and to help each other because we aren’t the people who are the enemies. Sisterhood is really to help each other along the way and that’s what we emphasize. NCBW is not a social organization, we are an advocacy that affects social change, but we can only do that collectively.
GMO: What types of community outreach does NCBW participate in?
Baylor: We coordinate program activities for women and young girls, orchestrate various fund development initiatives, and we also run a polling site at Keenan Health Center here in Milwaukee, on which we’ve been partnering with the city of Milwaukee and the Alderman for the last three years. The program, which promotes outreach canvassing and voter awareness, has grown tremendously, allowing us to plan on a larger scale for the upcoming year.
GMO: What other events do you hold annually?
Baylor: We hold events annually as well as bi annually. In 2012, we will be holding our Community Legislative Day. The attendees consist of community leaders and supporters. We invite community leaders from city, county and state levels to come and speak to our community about how to advocate and better communicate with their elected officials. Due to the great success of this event, we plan to move to a larger venue and expand the Community Legislative Day experience.
For more information on NCBW Milwaukee Chapter, as well as Part 2 and 3 of the discussions, visit www.ncbwmilwaukee.com/#!.
NCBW Mission: To develop socially conscious female leaders who are committed to furthering equity and empowerment for women of color in the society-at-large, improving the environment of their neighborhoods, rebuilding their communities and enhancing the quality of public and private resources for the growth and development of disadvantaged youth. NCBW is dedicated to community service, the creation of wealth for social change, and the enhancement of career opportunities for women of color through networking and strategically designed programs and the empowerment of women of color to meet their diverse needs.
