Using Visibility to Advance Towards the C-Suite

Learn & Grow with The ELC Institute

ELC Institute Program Participant Testimonial

“I earned my place in LDW by showing up as a leader in my workplace in a specific capacity. What I’ve learned this week is that I do not and have not leveraged myself and my abilities strategically. This week has not only given me an awakening, and a guideline to follow, it has also given me a network of like-minded leaders who can provide me with feedback as I reinvent myself.”

— Leadership Development Week (LDW) 2022 Participant

The Problem

Black corporate professionals need to stay in the visibility sweet spot to climb the corporate ladder

Creating a space for yourself between being invisible and hypervisible in the workplace is essential for maximizing your career opportunities and well-being. By being visible, you can increase your chances of career growth, build relationships, and gain recognition for your contributions, while avoiding the negative impacts of hypervisibility such as being subject to stereotyping and discrimination.

LOOKS LIKE

“I’ll let my good work speak for itself”

“I can bring my highest self to the workplace and be recognized for my contributions and expertise.”

“I constantly have to prove myself”

INVISIBLE VISIBLE HYPERVISIBLE

• Being excluded from decision-making or important meetings

• Being given lower-level tasks or responsibilities

• Being ignored or overlooked during team discussions

• Being recognized for your contributions that support the business

• Receiving requests for input on business matters that involve your area of expertise

IMPACTS

• Stalled career growth

• Diminished self-worth

• Reduced engagement

BOTTOM LINE

• Reduced Performance

Addressing the Visibility Challenge

• Increased career opportunities

• Broader and deeper workbased relationships

• Improved self-worth

• Opportunity to be a role model for others

• Recognized Performance

• Being constantly watched and evaluated

• Being expected to speak for all Black people/professionals

• Being subject to microaggressions

• Being given less freedom to make mistakes

• Increased stress and anxiety

• Increased defensiveness

• Decreased expression & sharing

• Reduced Performance

There are two broad strategies for addressing the visibility challenge facing Black corporate professionals…

Creating interest and energy around your existing professional profile and work as well as creating ambassadors/acolytes who are willing to spend their reputational and relational currency on advocating for you in meetings and rooms that you are not yet a party to. Making yourself visible is ensuring that your reputational and relational currency is being spent in those places you’d most like to be a part of, so as you move up in impact you are also moving up in the awareness of your desired audience.

The Solution

To stay in the visibility sweet spot, Black corporate professionals need to employ two strategies: Self-Advocacy and Thought Leadership.

Strategy 1: Self-Advocacy

By speaking up and advocating for yourself, you can increase your visibility and highlight your value to the organization. Self-advocacy also involves taking ownership of your career development and seeking out feedback and support from mentors and colleagues to help you achieve your goals.

Share Your Accomplishments

Don’t be afraid to share your achievements and successes with your colleagues and managers. Highlight the value that you bring to the organization and the impact of your work.

Speak Up in Meetings

Don’t be afraid to speak up and share your opinions and ideas in meetings. Your insights and perspectives are valuable and can contribute to the success of the organization.

Seek Out Feedback

Proactively seek out feedback from your managers and colleagues on your performance and areas for improvement. Use this feedback to improve your skills and demonstrate your commitment to growth and development.

Build Relationships

Network with colleagues and leaders in your organization to build relationships and increase your visibility. Attend company events and participate in industry conferences and networking events to expand your network.

Take on Leadership Roles

Volunteer for leadership roles in company projects, committees, or employee resource groups to demonstrate your leadership skills and build your reputation as a valuable team member.

Negotiate for Yourself

When it comes to salary, promotions, or other career opportunities, don’t be afraid to negotiate for yourself and advocate for your worth. Do your research, prepare your case, and make your ask confidently.

Establish your Personal Brand

Build a personal brand that highlights your expertise and value to the organization. Write articles, create content, or speak at conferences to establish yourself as a thought leader in your field.

Strategy 2: Thought Leadership

By building thought leadership, Black corporate professionals can increase your visibility and credibility in your industry or field, which can help you gain recognition, attract new opportunities, and build a network of supporters and advocates.

Publishing articles, blog posts, or white papers on topics relevant to your field or industry.

Participating in webinars, podcasts, or other speaking engagements that showcase your expertise.

Engaging in social media, including LinkedIn and Twitter, to share your thoughts and insights on industry trends and developments.

Participating in industry associations, committees, or other organizations that provide opportunities to network and share your expertise.

Writing a book or contributing to an anthology on a topic related to your field or industry.

Hosting or participating in events, such as panels or workshops, that showcase your expertise and provide opportunities to connect with others in your field.

Seeking out media opportunities, such as interviews or quotes, to share your perspective on industry-related news or events.

+ helping other co-workers (e.g., peers, direct reports, boss, boss’s boss) successful meet their goals or complete their projects

Presenters

Sherhara Downing Chief Visionary Officer & Co-Founder, Speakhaus Coaching

If you’ve ever heard Sherhara speak, you’ve likely been captivated by her exquisite ability to connect and entertain. She loves exploring concepts of authenticity, identity, culture and how they intersect with communication and business.

Sherhara Downing is the CoFounder and Chief Visionary Officer of SpeakHaus, which offers on-demand leadership communication coaching and training for your entire workforce. On a mission to make it easier for people in business to confidently share their voices with the world, she and her team are making communication coaching accessible, scalable and practical.

With over 16 years of coaching and corporate training experience, Sherhara has elevated the communication skills of leaders from companies like Under Armour, Capital One, Toyota, AT&T and more.

Celebrated for her hosting and moderating savvy, Sherhara is beautifully skillful at simultaneously engaging audiences, edifying speakers and extracting value for all to benefit.

Her personal mission is to make human interaction and connection effortless. She loves tacos, throws amazing parties and remains the world-leading subject matter expert of the cult classic, Coming to America!

Olu Burrell, MSOD, PCC President & CEO, Olu Burrell Consulting

Olu Burrell is a polymath who works at the intersection of Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Organization Development, ABIDE (Access, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity), and Knowledge Philanthropy (Keynote Speaking). He is the President and CEO of Spoken IV Solutions LLC dba Olu Burrell Consulting and has over 20 years of experience working with individuals, teams, and organizations across the sectors of government, not-for-profit, secondary and higher education, start-up organizations and the private sector.

He has a B.A. in English from Howard University, a M.S. in Organization Development from American University, and is certified by the International Coach Federation as well as the European Mentoring and Coaching Council as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a Senior Coaching Practitioner, respectively. He is certified as a practitioner of MBTI, LCP 360, CLA, ESCI 360, EQi 2.0 and EQ 360, and IDI. As a world-wide expert in the classic movie “The Five Heartbeats,” Olu enthusiastically would like to “hang with ol’ Eddie King (Jr.).” A fifth generation Washingtonian, Olu makes his home in the nation’s capital with his wife Farran and their two children Samara and Solomon.

About The Executive Leadership Council (ELC)

The ELC is a national 501(c)(3) organization of more than 800 members who are current and former Black CEOs; senior executives at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies; as well as entrepreneurs at top-tier firms and global thought leaders. Established in 1986, The ELC has worked to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline. We empower Black corporate leaders to make significant and impactful contributions in the global marketplace and their communities.

The ELC Supports: Individuals

• Seeking professional development opportunities where they can bring their full selves; where the Black corporate experience is central and essential to the curriculum

• Looking to expand their network of of like-minded Black corporate professionals

Companies

• Seeking a strategic partner to help them recruit, develop, promote, or retain their Black talent

• Looking for engaging and impactful leadership development programs (virtual, in-person, off-the-shelf or bespoke) for their Black talent

ELC Department Highlights

The ELC’s Philanthropy Department provides multi-year scholarships and professional development to Black undergraduate and graduate students

The ELC’s Institute for Leadership Development and Research provides virtual, in-person, off-the-self and bespoke professional development for Black corporate professionals from early career to senior executives.

Learn more about The Executive Leadership Council at elcinfo.com

“ELC Institute Program Participant Testimonial

“I appreciate the upfront work and passion for everyone involved to make us better leaders and to show us what is possible if applied. The CEO fireside chats were very valuable. The networking experience was very valuable. The environment to allow us to be authentic was valuable. Overall, I am better as a result of this experience.”

— C-Suite Academy 2022 Participant

SAVE THE DATE

2023 ELC Programming

Mark your calendars for these ELC events & programs in 2023

DECODED 2.0 Powered by Google

VIRTUAL | March 7-9

Winter Member Meeting

Manalapan, FL | March 8-10

Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa 100 S Ocean Blvd | Manalapan, FL 33462

Power of Women at Work

VIRTUAL | APRIL 4

Black Men in Leadership

VIRTUAL | MAY 16

DECODED 2.0 Powered by Google

VIRTUAL | June 6–8

Summer Member Meeting Minneapolis, MN | June 7-9

Board Readiness Program (at Summer Member Meeting) Minneapolis, MN | June 6-7

Leadership Development Week New Orleans, LA | June 26-29

ELC Women's Gathering at Essence

New Orleans, LA | DATE: TBD - prior to Essence Festival

C-Suite Academy

Atlanta, GA | July 24-26

Leadership Development Week

VIRTUAL | August 1-3 (Bright Futures, Strategic Pathways for Women and Leading Innovation)

VIRTUAL | August 8-10 (Navigating the Corporate Landscape, Strengthening the Pipeline 1 and Strengthening the Pipeline 2)

DECODED 2.0 Powered by Google

VIRTUAL | August 8-10

Navigating Racism as Leaders

VIRTUAL | August 8-10

Crucial Conversations

VIRTUAL | August 8-10

ELC Member Brunch at The Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard, MA | August 22 | 12-2 p.m.

Summer Executive Workshop: Black Economic Forum Welcome Reception

Martha's Vineyard, MA | August 22 | 6-9 p.m.

Summer Executive Workshop: Black Economic Forum

Martha's Vineyard, MA | August 23-24 | 6-9 p.m.

Boule ELC Links CBCF Networking Reception Washington, DC | Week of September 18 | 6-9 p.m.

Honors

Mid-Level

CEO GameChanger Conference®

Annual Recognition Gala

ELC Member Closing Brunch National

The Powerlist Black Excellence Awards London, UK | October 27

Black Directors' Summit Location: TBD | December 7

2022 ELC Institute Corporate Partners and Sponsors

3M

AARP

Accenture

Advance Auto

Alix Partners

Altria

Amazon

American Express

Assurant

AT&T

Apple

Avanade Inc

BP

Bank of America

Baring

BASF

Beam Suntory

BNY Mellon

Boeing

Bristol Myers Squibb

Capital One

Catalent

Chevron

Choice Hotels

Cisco

Citi

Coca Cola

Con Edison

Comcast

Cowen & Company

Cox/NBCUniversal

CVS Health/Aetna

Cystic Fibrosis

Cushman Wakefield

Darden

Delek Logistics

Ecolab

Estee Lauder Companies

Exxon Mobile

Facebook/Meta

Federal Express

Fidelity

GDIT

General Mills

General Motors

Genpact

Google

Grainger

Hershey

Hewlett Packard

Hilton

Home Depot

Honeywell

HSBC

Hyatt Hotels

IBM

IBX

Independence Blue

Cross

Ingevity

JLL

Johnson & Johnson

JP Morgan Chase

Kyndryl

Liberty Mutual

Linde

Lockheed Martin

Lowes

McDonald’s

McKesson

Medtronic

Metadata Solutions

Merck

Microsoft

Moody’s

NASDAQ

Nationwide

NBA

Nike

Novartis

Northwestern Mutual

Oracle

Otis

Otsuka

Owens & Minor

Pearson

PepsiCo Foundation

Pfizer

PineBridge Investments

PwC

Qurate Retail Group

Raytheon

Salesforce

Schwab

Service Now

Shell

Sodexo

Starbucks

Stanley Black & Decker

Synchrony

Sysco

Target

Trane Technology

UBS

Under Armour

UPS

USAA

US Foods

VM Ware

Walmart

WestRock

Whirlpool

Zendesk

Connect with The ELC

The Executive Leadership Council is an independent non-profit founded in 1986 that opens channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities.

If you are interested in…

…then contact Leadership Development Programs

Supporting scholarships for undergraduate or graduate students

Having your company develop a strategic partnership with The ELC

Having your company become a sponsor for an ELC program/initiative

Highlighting a successful DEI initiative at your company

Purchasing tables at The ELC Annual Recognition

Gala

ELC Institute at Institute@elcinfo.com

ELC Philanthropy at Philanthropy@elcinfo.com

Lori Walker at lwalker@elcinfo.com

Ebony Harris at eharris@elcinfo.com

ELC Research at Institute@elcinfo.com

Ebony Harris at eharris@elcinfo.com

ELC Institute Program Participant Testimonial

“This is my first ELC event and I am just BLOWN away by all the knowledge and relatability!”

— Power of Women at Work 2022 Participant