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Vote on Desiree Davidson's Story
Were they afraid we were planning a coup d'etat?
I spent my first summer during Columbia Law School at a firm in Philadelphia described as one of the best places in the city for black lawyers. I believed that if there was any place where I would have an equal chance at opportunities, be treated fairly and succeed, this would be it. There were three black female summer associates out of sixty that year but any time all three of us were in an office talking, one of the partners would knock on the door to see how we were doing. It happened too often to be a coincidence that sometimes we would purposely agree to meet in so-and-so's office to test our theory that we were being monitored. Like clock work, ten minutes after we would get together a partner would stop by.
Beatrice Montgomery's Experiences
In 2000, I was the Vice-President of Finance for an entrepreunerial internet incubator. Within six months of joining, the internet bubble burst and all our funding was lost.
As a financial officer, I fully recognize and appreciate that businesses have difficulties and that lay-offs may become necessary.
I was given a lot of deference as the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of a huge electronics and media company.
From 1994 until 2000, I was working 70 hours and it was insane. I was responsible for opening an office in New York, two in Los Angeles, and one in San Francisco.
In my current position at a nonprofit, I asked my boss, "How important is it for us to meet the bottom line if we are going to be financially stable on the cash side?" My boss replied, "We're really about the mission.