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.
Communication Styles
Since my departure for that one week, I have had many positive interactions with my staff, peers and my boss, the CEO.
In my situation, the CEO is female. I can't imagine that a male would have handled this situation the same way, either on the front end and definitely not the follow-up discussion.
I would have stayed if I didn't have to report to the crazy woman who knew next-to-nothing; if the organization allowed real (not pretended) communication between staff at all levels; if people were not hired and promoted based on relationships outside of the company.
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.
Having been raised in a small blue collar town, I was the first in my family to hold a professional corporate position.
My advice to employers is to: (1) treat your employees like the valued assets they are (your company is only as good as those who serve you); (2) don't flaunt your wealth and continue to cut the benefits and wages of your employees, especially if they're not paid enough to begin with and (3) be pleasant, open, and willing to listen (employees who leave abruptly often showed warning signals months earlier if you'd paid attention).
If a white person in the corporate word uses language that you mostly associate with hip-hoppers, it's typically seen as urban and cool.
My manager once rejected an intelligent Chinese candidate because she was too respectful. The candidate didn't contradict or challenge her interviewer most likely because in Asian culture you show respect to a supervisor by not doing so.
