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.
Business Travel
During business trips my boss would always ask for the room right next to mine. He would knock on the adjoining door and slip me notes asking where I was.
For nine years, I worked at major consulting firm where I traveled all the time. I went to Israel on twelve separate occasions within an 18-month period.
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.
I was making a presentation in Northern Colorado. Driving into town they told me that they had just taken down the sign that said, "No Dogs and Blacks After Dark." This was 1995. I thought, "Wow! This is strange." Before I got there, they had faxed my bio ahead of time so they could make an introduction.
When the company was bought out, there was a culture change and there were a lot more silly rules. For example, I had people who worked for me on the road. They were elites at the time who were constantly going out to put out fires.
Every year they were having conferences and depending on the level you were, you get certain privileges when traveling to conferences. So I was a director, and being a director or above, you get a single room.
I work in an environment where on Tuesday, the manager can come in and say, "I want you in China on Wednesday." I once had to go to Manila on two days notice. I remember being there on July 4th, when everyone else had the day off and was relaxing.
I went to a meeting in Boise, Idaho. The travel department even told me that it would be wise not to go out at night. The room service at the hotel brought my food and then walked away singing "Jig-a-boo pie." At a meeting the next day, I was the only black person.
I had finished a long week finishing a photo shoot up in Seattle. It was cold, snowing. I was waiting to be picked up by a town car to take me to the airport. The limo driver walked right by me and asked the guy at the desk, "Where is Ms.
The company started recognizing that they needed to retain and attract minority women. I became part of their advisory board. I had a lot of exposure to senior level officers and I think a lot of them recognized the importance of diversity.
