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.
Empowering
Life is too short for nonsense, start your own business. If you are not a risk taker, work at a company where the majority of the people are like you.
Stay your course and fight for what is right. Even though there may be people who may want to put you down, walk with your head up.
Be straight, get married, have children and kiss ass.
I still have anger about this issue plus I have a crime record which, although it happened 18 years ago, continues to make it rough for me to land a job in the United States.
I would like to tell everybody who is suffering from a life-threatening illness to live your life and be happy in your heart.
Upper management, supervisors, (men in the workplace when women got catty with me) did more to step in.
I wish when I went to college, career counselors and alumnae told me more about office politics, people getting territorial at the workplace, and how competitive people can get.
Prove yourself early on . . . do not let anyone walk on you when you first start, or they will continue to do so.
Ethnic minorities tend to manage their environments and nurture supportive relationships
Following my resignation from big corporation, I went to work with several small consulting firms which have allowed me to apply my strategic planning and business development capabilities.
Viewed as an excellent turnaround manager, leader, and developer of people by my direct reports, I was often sought out by aspiring younger managers to work in one of my departments.
