4 Quick Tips for Black Women Navigating the Business World

Black women play a different game than any of our counterparts in our careers. Despite being one of the country’s most educated demographics, we often find ourselves on the bottom of the totem pole in business and corporate spaces. Though the racial wealth gap and gender pay gap statistics may look grim, we are continuously pushing the needle and rising above systemic oppression. Though I have further to go, there are some skills I’ve gained throughout my career that have made moving up easier and happen quicker. Below are four ways Black women can intentionally navigate their jobs and the business world to get ahead.

1) Intentionality and Invisible Value

Let’s talk about value and intentionality for a second. Often, we are trying so hard to pay the bills that we aren’t seeing opportunities that can get us further long-term. There’s the visible value of the salary or hourly rate we receive, but there’s something else that exists that is invisible. Invisible value can be your benefits package, the ability to work from home, who you are in proximity to network with, or the credibility added to your career by holding a position.

To see the opportunities, we have to know where we want to go. Intentionality is why new year goals and vision boards are essential. We see exactly where we are headed and then can fit everything else in. I have created a vision board for the next five years. It shows where I want to be by the time I’m in my thirties. I’ve now created a step-by-step plan for each board’s attribute from that vision board. It’s broken down into five categories:

1) Faith and Understanding the Bible

2) Career

3) Social

4) Branding

5) Personal

When I’m looking over possible job positions, opportunities within my company, outside opportunities, or things that come up; I measure them against my step by step plan. If something does not add value to my goals in these categories, it can’t take up space in my life. I’m also a girl of faith, so I pray before making any decisions and ask for God’s guidance. When we are in tune with who we are and seek values-aligned opportunities, God will put the pieces together for us. We need to be able to discern what is valuable and what is a distraction.

To beat a system stacked against us, we have to work smarter but not harder.

2) Time is More Valuable Than Money

Time is way more valuable than money. Many professionals work 50+ years to be able to retire and get their time back. When I look at positions, I don’t just look at possible opportunities but how much flexibility I’ll receive in my time and how much space the job will take up.

I am a caregiver for a parent that requires my time, I am a writer than requires my time, and I work full time. I need the flexibility to be able to be a human and healthy in my schedule as well. Another part of the odds stacked against us is that we end up working longer hours, working harder to pay bills, and leaving our bodies and minds drained at the end of the day. If there’s any possibility of building your schedule or gain time back, look into it deeper.

3) Networking and Making Friends

The phrase “your network is your net worth is true.” Where I am in my career is because of people that opened the door for me. I initially got referred to my company by a friend from college. After getting my foot in the door, I built relationships with key people that would come together later to advocate on my behalf.

Networking can be intense. Some networking tips tell us to create lists of who to talk to, practice your elevator pitch and work a room. The traditional way of networking doesn’t work for me. I’m uninterested in giving an elevator pitch or hearing them. When I network, I focus on building relationships, getting to know the human I am speaking to, and being my authentic self.

A Few Quick Networking Tips:

1) Be yourself. Being authentic is the magic that you are. Don’t dull your magic. Don’t try to be anyone else. Just show up. Aligned people will find you.

2) Talk to everybody. Don’t get caught up in the blue checks on IG or follower counts. Don’t get caught up in notoriety, fame, or clout. Every single person living on this planet is a human, just like you and me. We are all equal. No one is better or less valuable than anyone else.

3) As a follow up to number 2, be confident in yourself. You bring value to the table.

4) Network where you are. You can talk to people at the grocery store, at work, or your dental appointment. You never know who you are talking to and how you can collaborate later on down the line.

5) Be kind, respectful, and genuine always. The key to networking is care. Networking is about being yourself, kind, and genuinely caring about the other person. Networking is not about what someone can do for you or what you can do for them.

6) Remember that people can help open doors along your journey, but it’s not them who dictate your future. It’s God. When those opportunities do arise from references, it’s because He sent them to us.

4) Creating Space for Those That Come After You

We know the business world is complicated whether we are working for someone or ourselves. If there’s any knowledge you gain, share it with another Black woman. To thrive, we must continue to leave doors open after stepping through them to create space for those coming after us.

Yours Truly,

Marielle

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