Breaking Barriers And Building Networks: Insights From The Black Enterprise Women Of Power Summit

In a society where Black women often find themselves as trailblazers breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings, the challenges of navigating predominantly white spaces can be daunting.

Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit showcased the stories of women who have broken through those barriers and achieved great success. Executive leaders and industry legends shared their experiences and insights to help others navigate the challenges of the corporate world.

Celebrating some of the top female business leaders and entrepreneurs, the summit offered valuable insight from key speakers like Issa Rae and Tia Mowry, as well as honored women who have defied the odds and paved a way for the next generation which included: Loretta Devine, Vera Moore, Tracy T. Travis and Lisa Wardell.

The event kicked off with Black Enterprises, senior deputy editor Selena Hill with a panel on “Tapping into Your Personal Star Power” hosted by Toyota.

The Women of Power Summit served as a beacon of support, providing a platform for Black women to come together, share experiences and learn strategies to overcome personal and professional obstacles. From facing microaggressions to finding mentors and pitching themselves effectively, it provided a platform to gain a wealth of knowledge and become inspired.

Oftentimes while success is contingent upon having advocates, the summit gave women of color the chance to network with other powerful leaders without feeling embarrassed to speak up for themselves all while learning to integrate into spaces unapologetically.

Overcoming Isolation and Obstacles

Black women in corporate America often find themselves as the first in their families to hold executive positions within their companies. Being the only Black woman in many rooms, they lack direct guidance on how to navigate the unique challenges they encounter.

Alisa Gumbs, Black Enterprise vice president and deputy chief content officer sat down at the summit to speak about empowering Black women and how the summit is helping them navigate their careers with confidence and purpose.

Gumbs stated, “Black women have very real obstacles when it comes to corporate America. Oftentimes we get less support from our managers, have less interaction with senior leadership and we are subject to more micro-aggressions.”

While there’s no single winning approach to career advancement, there are ethics, metrics and measures that can help women impact change within the workspace.

The summit provided a supportive community to discuss these nuances where Black women can find solace, celebrate each other's achievements, and learn from shared experiences.

Modupe Congleton, Head of DEI for Amazon Stores, offered advice on how Black women in business can stay true to themselves in corporate America.

“Whatever you do, don't compete with the system. Don't compete with other women or anyone for that matter. What is for you, will be. The word legacy is a topic they spoke on at the summit and it’s an important word to me. One reason is because it pushes you to be intentional about every move and every step.”

In corporate America, the majority of Black women in executive positions frequently work alone on teams where they only Black representative. Congleton continues, “The moment you see others getting ready to come in, it can become a bit territorial and that's the truth that sometimes we don't want to admit. So to alleviate that feeling we need to build community in those spaces, rather than saying there's only room for one, when there's room for all. Embrace each other and open the door and create access for everyone.”

While burnout isn't new. Asana found approximately 70% of people experienced burnout last year. The panel that Congleton spoke addressed “How to Win Without Killing Yourself,”she gave tips on what to do to alleviate exhaustion.

“Don’t let the distraction of what other people want for you, enter your mind. What creates chaos and burnout is when you're trying to be what someone else wants you to be,”explained Congleton.

Building a Support System

To empower Black women in their professional journeys, the summit emphasized the importance of building a comprehensive support system. This included cultivating relationships that provide guidance, advice and advocacy.

“I think the advice that I've heard so many people give over the years is that you need your own advisory board, which includes a mentor, sponsor, and peer mentorship. These are all different roles that need to be filled. We don't have to do things the way that we've always done. We don't have to work the way that we've always worked. The summit gives women tools, strategies and tactics, for them to unlock their potential and face their challenges,” expressed Gumbs.

Breaking away from traditional norms, Black women were encouraged to redefine the path to success and determine what truly matters to them, thereby creating a roadmap tailored to their aspirations.

Founder and CEO of the C-Suite Coach, Angelina Darrisaw and 18 Black women coaches were onsite to facilitate 25 minute one-on-one coaching sessions for attendees to help advance their professional development journey.

The Black woman-owned firm sources coaches and offers DEI programs to organizations dedicated to developing inclusive leaders and supporting historically underrepresented employees and business owners.

During the conference, over 350 women received executive coaching sessions.

A free one-on-one financial consultation was available to attendees from Adrienne Hughes, managing director, national client experience executive at Merrill Lynch, who was present at the summit alongside her team.

Unlocking Potential and Facing Challenges

The summit embraced equipping attendees with the necessary tools, strategies and tactics to unlock their full potential and navigate the obstacles they face. It provided resources and actionable insights that assisted attendees in developing skills such as self-promotion and self-advocacy.

I had a conversation with Vera Moore, the founder and CEO of Vera Moore Cosmetics, about how to support women who want to leave a lasting impression in the world of business.

“You have to lead by example. Show people that you can achieve anything. Don’t be afraid. Be fearless, be unstoppable. This is why It's so important that people see representation in an audience or a classroom and see people that look like them. I was taught you would have many tests in life and you can't be afraid of failure. Do your due diligence, If you fail, go after that dream again. It's just like a driver's test. People fail at it multiple times but eventually they get the hang of it and become a successful driver,” shared Moore.

Overcoming societal conditioning, which often taught Black women to be reserved and deferential, was a hot topic during the summit. The panels and workshops encouraged individuals to be unapologetic about their accomplishments, toot their own horns and confidently communicate their worth to organizations.

“I think success starts with yourself. If you can have peace in the middle of a storm, you're successful. If you can balance your family, your husband and your children and be happy you're successful. If you make the salary that you want and you still can share, you're successful,” added Moore.

It's critical for women of color to overcome institutional programming which often teaches them to be conservative and modest when it comes to their growth. The summit exhorts participants to brag about their accomplishments, exalt themselves, and proudly convey their value to employers.

Embracing Individuality and Reflecting on Goals

Black women, like everyone else, have unique career aspirations and desires. The various workshops and panels encouraged attendees to take a moment to reflect on their own ambitions and detach from external pressures and comparisons.

“Sometimes we feel like we're in a race with other people, especially coming out of the pandemic. I hope that women start to get comfortable taking a beat, taking a moment for themselves and really looking inward to figure out what it is that they want for themselves,” encouraged Gumbs.

By focusing on personal growth rather than adhering to someone else's report card, Black women can define success on their terms. Advocating for oneself does not need to be perceived as boastful; it is an essential element of professional progress and recognition.

I had an open conversation with Michelle Marshall, the director of DEI at Puma, on how women could be braver and spark change in the workplace.

Marshall voiced, “Oftentimes, we worry too much as women and especially when it comes to the space of business, we're trying to compete with our counterparts that do not look like us.”

“One thing that's important from a collective standpoint is to make sure we're supporting each other, especially when it comes to Black women. That's not always the case. When we get to the top, we sometimes think it's only room for one of us, not realizing that there's power in numbers. It's our duty to send the elevator back down and make sure that we're supporting and investing in the next generation and making sure they have what they need to move up as well,” Marshall concluded.

Tracey T. Travis, executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Estée Lauder Companies, discussed how Black women may advance to the boardroom.

"Boards typically seek out specific skill sets. Boards used to be on the lookout for past CEOs. It was a little difficult since not many women are color are current or former CEOs, although the number has certainly increased. They are searching for broader skill sets, digital abilities and ESG competencies. Making sure you have the experiences and can establish yourself as an authority in that field to contribute to the board requires understanding some of the areas from a skill set aspect that boards are looking for,” declared Travis.

Embracing Generational Differences

The summit acknowledged the generational differences among Black women and their upbringing. Traditional teachings of modesty and humility may conflict with the demands of a competitive corporate environment.

Encouraging a shift in perspective, attendees were urged to recognize the value and significance of their contributions. Repositioning self-promotion as a means of demonstrating the value they bring to their organizations empowered the women to communicate their achievements effectively and authentically.

“So many times, Black people and Black women specifically have been raised and taught to wait for our turn, to keep our heads down, to work hard, to not talk back, to not be too loud, too aggressive, too bossy, all of these things. Then you get into the workplace and can't find your voice and wonder why it's a challenge to know how to advocate for yourself, and the question becomes why are you being passed up for things. It's because we were all raised to be this particular way and it doesn't always work for us,” told Gumbs.

Actress, singer and voice actress, Loretta Devine spoke about some of the initiatives she has in place that are assisting in moving the next generation forward when discussing how to change the world for future generations.

“I try to be an example for people. I think longevity is very important. Usually the question is, how do you stay relevant for a length of time. I think that that's one of the things that's very hard. In my industry, there are a lot of people that have big breaks, and then they vanish or things happen and everything goes away. Which is very hard. No matter what ratio and when one job is over most of the time you have no idea where the next job will come from. So I just think you have to believe that you were meant to be doing what you're doing and focus on that,” stated Devine.

In all the summit equipped women with the tools to thrive in their careers. Through empowerment and celebration of individuality, attendees left the summit with renewed clarity, determination and a roadmap to success in corporate America.

“The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.”