Thasunda Brown Duckett’s Post

"You rent your title, but you own your character..#Leadership is about... #compassion, #trust, #partnership, and inclusivity...#Believe in the #power of #diversity, #equity, and #inclusion... Our efforts will open doors, elevate underrepresented voices, and improve outcomes for everyone. It is now our turn to become those shoulders for the next generation." Thasunda Brown Duckett #congratulations #InspiredByYou #OnRepeat from the below post. Trending on #Investing: "🙋♀️ 47% of angel investors are women, a 39% increase since 2021. 🙋♀️ 46% of entrepreneurs seeking angel capital are women-owned, a 62% increase since 2021. We aren't waiting around for someone else to #PutaWomanOnIt. We're doing it ourselves. We're putting our #money to work funding the #innovation.... Women angels & founders are the future limited partners." Allison Byers h/t for tagging me here https://lnkd.in/eUFKaP78 "Female-founded #startups accounted for about 10-15% of all exits, which is significantly higher than their share of #VentureCapital funding (2-3%). Conclusion: #Investing more in female-led startups." Tony E. Kula https://lnkd.in/ei4-qfwy #InfluencedByYou Melissa Katrincic h/t for tagging me on your experience #fundraising post! +See Tony's post w/ the advice of Claudia Nassif: "How to support women who are fundraising" https://lnkd.in/efjnJnFc “Investment consultants, institutional investors, and public pension funds make investment decisions on behalf of beneficiaries who are mostly women and people of color. Why do they usually give w* men investors control of the #retirement savings of women and people of color, rather than giving it to women and people of color who look like most beneficiaries." Roy Swan https://lnkd.in/eFvFBfkS "Patriarchy is like any schoolyard bully. It’ll fold quickly if we stand up to it." Sam Plant #InspiredByYou #OnRepeat https://lnkd.in/euhY-BJs #Gratitude to all the #FreedomAdvocates who #CallitOut & #CallusIn to action! #Together we must #FloodtheFeed with this #narrative. #Talent is an asset class! #CheckYourBias #ThinkDifferent #InvestDifferent #data #business #economy #policy #Laws #finance #banking #assetmanagement #wealthmanagement #markets #philanthropy #strategy #money #cultureofmoney

Marketing is more than just strategy; it's a powerful tool that can break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and pave the way for underrepresented communities. The importance of diverse perspectives in marketing cannot be overstated – it's the key to authentic storytelling, genuine connections, and a more vibrant, inclusive marketplace. Here are three organizations helping Black marketing professionals #THRIVE: ⚫️ ADCOLOR Conference and Awards - an organization advocating for diversity and inclusion in the advertising, marketing, and media industries. They offer leadership development programs, workshops, and conferences that provide valuable insights, skills, and knowledge for Black professionals looking to advance in their careers and excel in their roles. ⚫️ ColorComm, Inc. - a community-driven organization dedicated to advancing Black women professionals in communications, marketing, and media. ColorComm creates a space for Black women to share experiences, exchange ideas, and find support. ⚫️ Three's a Crowd - a non-profit organization established in 2018, is making waves by offering resources and support to Black professionals in the marketing industry. Focused on a variety of fields, such as advertising, marketing, entertainment, production, fine arts, and entrepreneurship, Three’s a Crowd provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, mentorship, and professional development. We applauded their hard work and dedication to helping break down barriers in the industry!! 💚 #BlackMarketersDay #Marketing #AtlantaAgency #SocialMedia #GrowthMindset #Entrepreneurship

Highlighting this for EVERY women. 👏 What caught me about this specific post is the focus on “we,” power. Yes, the word “we” holds all the power that is needed to break the glass wall. Ladies, you have more than enough power. Don’t let society tell you different, but you don’t have to do it alone. Making Millennium can be your “we.” This is a community by women, for women. Helping women find success and win in their careers! Make sure you check out our website- link in our bio. #womeninbusiness #womenempowerment #womenentrepreneurs #womenempoweringwomen

This sentiment, expressed by the most successful and respected figure in the entertainment industry, spotlights a widespread issue. If someone of her stature experiences such challenges in the workplace, it underscores the magnitude of the problem for other professional Black women. Simply put, even Beyoncé deals with micro aggressions. While Beyoncé is seen addressing these interactions head-on, many Black women in similar situations feel restricted. They often have to mute or temper their reactions, fearing racial stereotypes like being seen as aggressive, threatening, angry or difficult. #DEI experts agree that companies should create policies and practices that actively combat these implicit biases. This should include fair treatment in all aspects of professional life, from hiring and promotions to everyday interactions and workplace culture. By doing so, companies can create an environment that not only enables individuals to thrive 🌱 and contribute to success but also minimizes unproductive and potentially harmful distractions. Networking groups designed for Black women serve as valuable spaces for sharing experiences, offering mentorship, and pushing for needed changes in the workplace. I highly recommend following Black Women in Asset Management (BWAM), National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC) Up Fellowship, as well as #WomenofColorinInvestments for more insights and resources. I'm curious to hear from other women – do you relate to Beyoncé's experience? Share your thoughts! 💬👩🏾💼👩🏿💼

In recent conversations with Black women executives, I was disheartened to learn of a troubling trend in their career journeys. Shockingly, many shared stories of receiving feedback and commentary about their appearance. Rather than having their performance, contributions, and leadership capabilities evaluated, these women found themselves walking a tightrope, pressured to align with cultural expectations and standards at their organizations in order to be deemed qualified for advancement. This goes far beyond reasonable professional appearance guidelines to address deeply rooted biases and stereotypes - obstacles that have no place in today's workplaces. It highlights the critical need for building truly inclusive environments where individuals are valued first and foremost for their skills, expertise, judgment and character rather than facing scrutiny over superficial criteria irrelevant to one's capacity. As we navigate these challenges, the availability of mindful strategies to stay centered and undistracted becomes paramount. Recognizing the need for resilience, I invite you to explore my e-workbook, "Embracing Bold Authenticity with Confidence" (click the link in the comment section). This workbook is a valuable resource to identify personal strategies that align with your journey towards authenticity while maneuvering external pressures and expectations.

In 2017, I hit a career crossroads, grappling with unmet aspirations despite my tireless efforts. I embarked on a journey to decode the success of Black women in the workplace despite systemic racism and sexism. This exploration was driven by a critical question: How were some Black women navigating, and even thriving, amidst systemic barriers? My journey to understanding and success unearthed 4 foundational pillars, insights too valuable not to share, and thus, the birth of my podcast, The Career Management Podcast For Black Women -Trill MBA Show Here's what I discovered: 1. Understanding Workplace Culture: Success begins with a deep dive into the operational dynamics of the workplace. Mastery over the intricacies of workplace dynamics is crucial. It's about knowing the players, their agendas, and how the game is played, ensuring you're not just a participant but a strategist. 2. Building Relationships Strategically: Identifying and connecting with the right people is crucial. Successful Black women cultivate relationships with advocates, sponsors, and cheerleaders who can open doors, drive their narrative, and champion their causes. 3. Driving the Perception of Confidence and Authenticity: Balancing perceived authenticity while adapting to corporate cultures is an art. It's about presenting yourself in a way that's true to who you are, yet palatable, resonant, and impactful within your professional environment. I call this "showing up as your most positive, happy self." 4. Asserting Your Value: It's not enough to be excellent; you must also ensure your contributions are recognized. Your work doesn't speak for itself! Successful Black women take ownership of their achievements and ensure their work doesn't go unnoticed. These pillars weren't handed down to me; they were hard-won lessons from a journey I had to navigate largely alone. My podcast is my love letter to Black women and my way of extending a hand back, providing guidance, inspiration, and support for Black women navigating their paths. It's more than a show; it's a movement towards empowerment and success, on our terms. #Empowerment #BlackWomenThriveInBusiness #CareerSuccess #StrategicNavigation #WomensHistoryMonth #TrillMBAShow #WeAllWeGot

Following on from my previous post about McKinsey & Company's 'The State Of Women At Work' report (find it in my feed), another thing I'm sick to death of: companies illustrating every study of this nature and every corporate report with a photo of 'Black woman in executive position' to 'look diverse', when in the US today Black women represent just 1% of named executive officers ( USA TODAY 2023), and on McKinsey's own Global Shareholders Council of Bob Sternfels + 30 senior partners elected by their peers to serve three-year terms, there is not one Black woman: https://lnkd.in/eKFKVcaG Stop putting Black women on the cover of your public relations reports, and start hiring them, promoting them, valuing them, championing them, paying them, bonusing them, giving them equity and putting them on your leadership team and on your board instead.

I can not see another stock image of a black women on recruitment marketing material......so I am removing people images from ours..... The look I got when I suggested this to someone who I trust so much in the marketing field...it was as if I was about to self sabotage.... Am I, or am I just sick of seeing the "token" black leader, someone who I never meet as there aren't any at that level within that organisation. Diversity, equity and inclusion has lost it's way but we can't. I stand by the authenticity of Scoutess: we are certified to demonstrate that we are 100% black female owned consultancy, but this isn't what it's about for me. Thinking differently is what we are about, it's why 7 years ago I took the plunge to build a business that was built on it's differences, challenging how leadership teams were shaped, with a lens on attraction, retention and development of those most underrepresented. 15 years of seeing mistrust grow, talent pools of women and those of colour getting smaller and the barriers to entry getting bigger, led me here. Let's be real about why we do what we do, clear about our purpose and no longer be allowed to hide behind the images, pledges and words. Fired up Friday 💚 #equity

The world desperately needs more Black women founders. As I processed last week from Dr. Claudine Gay’s resignation to the Black women founders I coach, I couldn't help but wonder what the world would look like with more (well-resourced) Black women founders. Not just Black women in leadership. Black women with autonomy and resources to lead their own businesses and organizations. My work and experience show me that when Black women can lead freely, we create solutions that benefit the whole. We weave equity into our business models from services to pricing to collaborations and partnerships. We work and lead in a way that elevates the collective, while supporting the most vulnerable among us. This isn’t wholly impossible to achieve in existing companies, but it’s rare and often accompanied by its own emotional, psychological, and professional wounds. Quick shoutout to all the founders, especially Black women founders, who are building equity into your business models. Here’s to doing business differently. #blackfounders #womenentrepreneurs #equityandinclusion