Training
Mental, Physical, and Emotional Preparedness
What I learned as a Black Woman in Corporate America
THE HARD TRUTH: My academic record, military service, and experience was never enough. Emily and Alexis, two former white female colleagues, would receive increasingly more prestigious positions and job titles (I presume with more compensation) while both had less experience and education. An Indian man would constructively fire me after I reported to HR and his C Suite office that Emily was violating company policies which brought harm to the company. This was typical of my experience as a Black woman working in America. All of my adult professional life, I have worked and trained harder for longer hours, with more ethics, skill, grit, professionalism, and experience, and with less compensation than white and non-Black male and female counterparts alike.
I learned to survive and to not give up. I learned to run marathons (to disprove lies meant to ensure I would not get promoted). I learned to walk away from unfair contracts (finance companies with billions would offer temporary contracts while offering white females a permanent position and place on staff).
I learned to be an entrepreneur.
My academics, military service, character, and additional training now holds significant weight.
Who Protects Your Business?
Global Ambassor
INDEPENDENT STUDY: I submitted and won my first ever legal challenge studying law in libraries and online
LANGUAGES: I study Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish. I study online and via an exchange with friends
ASSOCIATIONS: I connect with professional associations and clubs supportive of Black women
LEARNING CURVE: Hardship will either build character, strength, and fortitude or a failure and a complainer
PERSONALLY
I choose candidates that are battle-tested, combat-ready, and who persevere with a smile.
I choose candidates who are mentally, physically, emotionally, and professionally prepared for the American business climate which remains hostile to Black female business owners. Then, I move heaven and earth to provide a working environment that all workers can feel good about.
Black women are deserving.
TAKE Control
APPLY YOURSELF: 2020 I applied for (and won!) a free data science course (happy me!)
SOCIAL NETWORK: Although, I graduated law school, I only found a supportive network of U.S. lawyers online
BE FRUGAL (Not cheap): Most professionals offer free training, classes, blogs, or white pages (use them)
BLOGS: Professionals often offer free blogs with professional knowledge, citations, and opinions which are useful