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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.
Not my nature
- Workplace Unfairness
- Male
- African-American
- Banking - Investment
- Left & is now a Small Business Entrepreneur
- Cultural Differences
- Managing Up
- Military
- Office Politics
- Tip
I try to stay away from the office politics, but you need to promote yourself internally. Not just to your boss, but to your boss's boss. I was disadvantaged because I come from a military background, where you never really try to interact with senior personnel because you don't want to do or say anything that might cut your boss. It's just not my nature to get involved in politics.