Why Black women need to be in positions of leadership
We know what it is like to be on the outside looking in. When we ascend to seats of power and/or influence, we are change agents. Living on the margins for most of our lives, we can bring multiple perspectives and insight into business-related situations and challenges.
It isn’t just important for us to see ourselves represented in leadership roles. It’s important for others to expand their mental models of what a leader can look like. That’s the power of representation, to pave the way for other Black women leaders.
“Black women have the highest growth rate of college enrollment than any other group and are increasingly working in management, professional, and related jobs. While these are impressive advances, Black women still face tremendous roadblocks.
Black women fall far below parity in wealth...our findings reveal that Black women do not experience gains in wealth that typically are expected with aging or increased educational attainment.”
Systemic Barriers Need Systemic Changes - And Black Women to Lead Them
In the past, a practice called redlining limited which neighborhoods Black people could live in by removing the opportunities to access funding for housing. It separated Black people from the opportunity structures required to get ahead. Similarly, systemic barriers have redlined Black women out of leadership positions. They have been kept from the opportunity structures to get ahead professionally. While not always as formal as bank policy to deny funding, the challenges Black women have faced and continue to face to advance in leadership are insidious.
Beyond the challenges with building generational wealth, Black women face barriers to advancement in leadership roles.
Despite above average and still rising college completion rates, Black women have been unable to make a “home” in the neighborhood of the executive ranks. Amara Leaders aims to undermine the systemic barriers that keep Black women from getting ahead and staying ahead in their careers and in their lives.
Amara Leaders is about being in the driver’s seat that will bring Black women and the assets they bring to the very top rungs of the decision-making ladder. It isn’t just an issue in corporate spaces, but also in the nonprofit and governmental ranks. This is a systemic issue facing Black women who look to lead, advance and thrive in all types of organizations.
Momentous relationships that create movement.
Focused solely on the needs of Black women in leadership, Amara Leaders is a space designed for support including mentorship, sponsorship, and fostering connections between Black women leaders. We are fully invested in the leadership development of Black women.
We support and encourage Black women to not just get ahead but also to stay ahead, standing strong in their leadership.
Amara Leaders is a place of empowerment. We create and leverage opportunities. Find out how we can work together to go further.