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.
Long-term Employee
Cynthia Lukas
Cynthia Lukas
Bio:
Cynthia is a rarity in today's short-attention-span world: she stayed at her company for 31 years. Today, she is self-employed as a career coach.
Salona Martinez
Salona Martinez
Bio:
Salona, who has a doctorate in Psychology, worked for 28 years for a telecommunications company before working for a prestigious hospital for 14 years. Five years ago, she left the hospital to start her own consulting firm.
Susan Roberts
Susan Roberts
Bio:
Susan left a telecom company after 15 years.
Tarin Addington
Tarin Addington
Bio:
Tarin worked for the same Fortune 500 technology company for more than 15 years before leaving to work at a community college.
Mindy Kipple
Mindy Kipple
Bio:
Mindy fought for, and finally won, benefits for domestic partners at her company.
