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.
Management Consulting
I have a co-worker whose office is next to mine. We both have braids in our hair and are dark-skinned.
This experience has made me more aware of other people's differences and I make sure that I am polite to others when I respond that I am __ and not the person they thought I was.
I would prefer that I were included in various decisions that affected me and others.
My insider's guide would be that you need to understand the culture prior to determining how you can be included in the organization.
It was insufficient for me to just be excellent in the performance of my position, it was also necessary to be aligned with a rising star and to test my proposals within the context of the current political climate.
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.
I had sought out the coaching and grooming to play the corporate political game; but as a technical marketer, I underestimated the importance of corporate politics until it was too late.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills were required to make the internal sale pitch
In the field of technical marketing within my previous employer, it took strong communication and interpersonal skills, patience and the ability to build broad support before moving forward with a project.
