Women of color are a force in the U.S. economy. They are projected to make up the majority of all women by 2060, which means they’ll also likely become the majority of the U.S. workforce. They also generate $1 trillion as consumers and $361 billion in revenue as entrepreneurs, launching companies at 4x the rate of all woman-owned businesses.
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Summary.
We also know that having women of color in prominent roles at companies is good for the bottom line. The problem is that, to date, companies have not been great at promoting women of color to the highest levels of their organizations. To increase diversity at senior executive levels, more must be known about one group in particular: women of color in midlevel leadership, who successfully developed and progressed beyond individual contributor and first-line management. What made their ascent possible? How did (or didn’t) managers play a role? And what factors helped or hindered advancement in their organization? Research identifies four key skills women of color can cultivate, plus ways their organizations can help them along the way.
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HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Career Management Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Career Management. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
What's your next career move? Learn how to set yourself up for success.