7 minute read
Women's Biz Magazine Sept 2022
B E T H E C H A N G E
CHANGE STARTS NOW EMPOWERING WAYS TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING AS A WOMAN OF COLOUR
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Dr Talat Uppal
PHRASE "GLASS CEILING" WHEN SPEAKING AS A PANELLIST AT A 1978 WOMEN 'SEX POSITION IN NEWYORK.
It is a term that refers to a metaphorical invisible barrier that prevents women and minorities from being promoted to senior positions within an organisation or industry.
This concept was later discussed in a 1986 Wall Street Journal article, outlining the corporate hierarchy that prevents women from advancing their careers to higher roles
When it comes to women of colour representation, the statistics are frankly dismal. Thankfully this is a changing space, albeit slowly I have spent most of my professional life participating in forums and spaces where hardly anyone looks like me This has only worsened the more senior I became. Countless times, I have been in meetings where I have been mostly surrounded by a clone of older white men.
Women of colour continue to be underrepresented in top executive positions According to a recent report by LeanIn and McKinsey, only 6% of senior executives at the top 100 companies are women of colour. Women of colour face additional challenges when it comes to climbing the ranks because their representation is so low The glass ceiling for women of colour is more challenging to break than for white women, and there’s no one way to do it. But with strategic preparation, you can improve your prospects as a woman of colour looking for leadership opportunities
Here are 6 ways to break the glass ceiling as a woman of colour:
Network with people in power
This may seem obvious, but it’s important and often overlooked by women of colour If you want to be in an executive role one day, you need to build relationships with people in power If you’re not networking with the right people now, you probably won’t be in the running when an executive position becomes available Part of networking is being strategic and intentional
Dr Talat Uppal
This can mean joining organisations or attending events where you’ll build relationships with people in power. If you don’t have easy access to these kinds of opportunities, create them Reach out to people in your network who have been successful in your industry or a related field and ask them if they have time to meet for coffee or lunch.
If you aspire to be in a top role one day, the sooner you start taking on leadership roles, the better Even if you’re not in a position to lead in your organisation, you can take initiative outside of work to lead and build your skillset
You can start your own business, or volunteer in your community anything that will give you experience in a leadership role. When you’re part of a team, you have a chance to lead and to coach others on ways to improve their skillset This can be especially helpful for women of colour who feel they have less room to lead in the workplace. By taking on a leadership role in your personal life, you can build your leadership skills and experience and put yourself in a better position to receive promotion at work
Develop a mentorship strategy
Having a mentor is one of the most important tools you have as a woman of colour looking to advance your career in a whitedominated industry Without a mentor, you can feel isolated, less likely to receive opportunities for promotion, and less likely to be perceived as a leader.
If you’re in a position to give back to your community, mentoring an aspiring woman leader can help you put your experience to good use and make a difference in your industry.
Be continuously learning and developing your skill set
Part of breaking the glass ceiling is having the skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed in an executive role
This doesn’t mean that you need to know every industry trend or be an expert in every field it’s impossible to know everything But you need to be continuously learning and developing your skill set so that you have the knowledge you need to make strategic decisions that will benefit your organisation.
If you’re currently in a role that doesn’t require you to have a wide skill set, you can still build your skills and knowledge outside of work to have what you need when promotion opportunities come your way.
Consider taking an online course, reading industry publications, or joining a community where you can actively engage with others to build your skills You might even consider volunteering in an area of your industry that allows you to use your skills this can be a great way to get real-life experience that will help you develop your skills and build your resume
Don’t let bias hold you back
Every woman in every industry has to deal with bias In fact, bias has been proven to keep women from progressing in their careers, especially women of colour.
This can be a huge challenge for women who want to be in a top executive role and may feel as though they are hitting a glass ceiling This is a hard one to overcome, but you can do it with selfawareness and strategic preparation. Pay attention to how others perceive you in your organisation, and attempt to understand how bias may be holding you back
You can also try to understand the bias that may be operating against you by studying it in other industries. If you have the opportunity to share your ideas and perspectives with your colleagues, do it This can help break down bias by giving your colleagues a chance to see you as a leader
Use your network to find role models and mentors
If you can’t find a mentor at work or in your network, you can turn to your social network to find role models and mentors Social media platforms like LinkedIn have built-in functionality to find people in your industry who have skills and experience you want to learn from.
With the help of your social network, you can find people who have been in your shoes and can offer you advice and mentorship
You can also tap into your network to find role models and mentors who are outside your industry.
If you’re looking for a woman leader in another industry, ask your network if they know someone who can help you
is more challenging to break than for white.
Your network may be able to introduce you to a woman leader who can help you learn more about her industry, as well as offer you advice for breaking the glass ceiling in your own industry
Take opportunities to lead
Leadership opportunities are one of the biggest indicators of future success for those climbing the ranks If you aspire to be in a top role one day, the sooner you start taking on leadership roles, the better
Even if you’re not in a position to lead in your organisation, you can take initiative outside of work to lead and build your skill set
You can start your own business, or volunteer in your community anything that will give you experience in a leadership role. When you’re part of a team, you have a chance to lead and to coach others on ways to improve their skillset
By taking on a leadership role in your personal life, you can build your leadership skills and experience and put yourself in a better position to receive promotion at work
The wrap-up!
The glass ceiling for women of colour is harder to break than the glass ceiling for white women Breaking it requires strategic preparation and a willingness to acknowledge and address bias.
Network with people in power, take opportunities to lead, develop a mentorship strategy, and be continuously, you
