This week, Kamala Harris will take the oath of vice president and step into one of the most powerful jobs in the world, marking a historic moment in our nation’s conception of leadership. As the face and style of leadership changes on the national stage, the pressure for corporate leadership to follow suit will only continue to mount. Although organizations have promised to “do better,” many have also struggled to identify where to begin. It’s an understandable problem. Dismantling systemic racism and sexism can feel like a daunting, overwhelming endeavor — these issues are deep and pervasive, and they’re much bigger than any one organization.
Does Your Definition of Leadership Exclude Women of Color?
Traditional criteria leave too many qualified leaders behind.
January 20, 2021
Summary.
Many organizations have committed to diversifying their leadership and promoting more women of color to senior positions. But, to do that, they may find that their leadership criteria need an update. As practitioners and consultants of diversity and inclusion, the authors argue that narrow perceptions of leadership and “fit” can reinforce the status quo — and keep the top of the org chart white and male. To address this, they suggest (1) considering how our current ideas of leadership often ignore the value underrepresented groups bring to business, (2) how to adjust our systems to recognize those contributions, and (3) tactical steps to make progress towards systemic change.
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Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.
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New!
HBR Learning
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.