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.
Disillusionment
I just wasn't happy and it reflected on my attitude in the workplace.
The situation I was in was very discouraging. I have worked for the company for over 7 years and now I hate going to work.
The experience drove home the reality that regardless of how committed one is to the job or company in Corporate America, there are no safeguards or assurances that the company will be committed to the individual.
I left a corporate job to take a part-time job that's only guaranteed for 2 years. I've been downsized 3 times and this time I was fed up by being reorganized to a dead end, totally unsatisfactory position - and got tired of hearing "but in a year it could change.
I continued to remain professional. However, feeling that I had been marked, my confidence significantly decreased.
The change in work assignments made me feel marginalized, demoralized, under-utilized and I felt that I had been put into a dead-end job that more than doubled my daily commute.
I was overlooked for a VP position despite an excellent track record and better qualifications than the new male hire
As PR director for Schlumberger's $2 billion IT services division, I consistently collected substantial bonuses, and was given stock options, which the company only gives to top 5% achievers.
These experiences definitely caused me to lose respect for the management team, and as a result I was less willing to work hard and go out of my way to assist clients.
Irrespective of my opinion of how the firm was run, I never let my true feelings show in public (i.e.
Although I had good intentions of joining the company and representing them, my experience caused me considerable bitterness and I found myself wishing prospective clients would do business elsewhere.
