Happy Women’s History Month!
March is dedicated to commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the contributions of women throughout history and in contemporary society.
When I reminisce about my childhood, I think about the careers I thought I’d pursue after college. At one point, I wanted to become a lawyer, practicing intellectual property law, and making stacks of cash. Even as a child, I recognized that if I were going to work for someone else, I needed to earn as much money as possible. While pursuing my nursing degree, I came across information about Rosalind (Roz) Brewer, who was an executive working at the Kimberly-Clark Corporation at the time. Brewer went on to hold c-suite positions at Walmart, Sam’s West and Starbucks. She currently serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Walgreens Boots Alliance. To say that I was enamored and inspired by Brewer’s success is an understatement. I worked several jobs in the south, where employees at the executive level were either white or “white adjacent.” Brewer rose to areas that were previously unknown to women – especially black women. From the moment I discovered the trajectory of Brewer’s career, I wanted to learn as much as possible about her.
During this Women’s History Month, I’m celebrating Rosalind Brewer. Women like Brewer provide hope and guidance from afar to women like me, who aspire to ascend to the executive level. To really make impactful change within an organization, one must move out of middle management and senior leadership and head to the coveted c-suite. This is an area that has traditionally been out of reach for most women; for black women, the likelihood of joining these exclusive ranks is equivalent to living on Mars. Brewer is just one of the two black women who’re currently working in c-suite positions at Fortune 500 companies. This is quite pitiful and disheartening since research shows that black women are among the highest educated, yet our representation is rarely reflected at the top level of corporations. When it comes to advancing black women, a common excuse that I hear from gatekeepers and decision-makers is “not having a pipeline” to choose qualified candidates from. I reject that notion and refuse to subscribe to it. There are plenty of black women who have the vision and tenacity to run powerful companies.
Despite all the roadblocks that black women face while climbing the ranks, Brewer is a CEO, which shows me that it’s possible. Easy? Hardly! Regardless of race, women working in the c–suite is still a rare find. I can only imagine the people who were likely made uncomfortable as Brewer ascended to the top spot.
To make change in a systemically racist and misogynistic world, it requires self-awareness, discipline and perseverance. Why? Every door won’t automatically open for us. When we make our presence known, we won’t always hear a resounding “YES!” Yet, the fight continues every day and, without those three key attributes, it’s easy to lose focus and give up. I know from personal experience that working toward the executive level isn’t an easy path to walk. Whatever level you’re aspiring to, I urge you to keep going!
Now, it’s your turn. Who’re the women you look up to? Comment below and let’s celebrate the amazing women we’ve come to know all month long.
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