The Black Girl’s Guide to Corporate South Africa

by Lindelwa Skenjana

In this timely memoir-cum-guide, young corporate professional Lindelwa Skenjana shares insights from her own experience and those of other black women at various stages of their careers. Her performance review of the corporate world lays bare many pitfalls - from racism, sexism, ethnic chauvinism and ageism to sexual-harassment - that require savvy navigation.

This book is for a generation of women ready to pick up the mantel and shift the conversation forward. “You do not always have to stay strong. just always stay true.”

168 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way of work has changed thanks to the pandemic, but the systematic oppressive structures in the corporate world are still thriving.

26 years later into democratic South Africa the struggles are still the same for a young black woman, social exclusion. It's not only a racial discrimination, it's also gendered. The black woman is ALWAYS at the bottom.of the corporate ladder amidst policies and practices designed to correct the structural imbalances.

Lindelwa Skenjana not only gives a BIG voice to the daily oppressions and micro aggressions, she aims to equip the forever endangered young black woman by providing a guide, from her real-life experiences, and giving nuggets of wisdom on how to overcome, surmount and breakthrough most of these challenges because they ARE man-made.

Read this alongside, "Intelligence Is Not Enough: A Black Professional's Guide To Thriving In The Workplace", https://www.amazon.com/Intelligence-I....

Master the difference between working IN and ON your career. Deliver value to yourself and you can do this by recognising the system and working to dismantle the myths and the stereotypes. Find yourself a mentor and emulate their journey. Keep a sponsor because what is said ABOUT and FOR you in those boardrooms, is VERY important

You owe yourself a FANTASTIC career and it CAN be achieved.

The teachings from this book apply across all industries in all manner of employment. Whether you are a part of someone's production process or your own, the principles are the same. We are all looking to create succesful working lives because success at work has a ripple effect.
Happier and content workers result in happier and more fulfilled individuals, partners, families, communities, societies.

I am long for a time where our gender equality and parity levels are as high as Sweden's. All it takes is a political will to create economic freedoms, in my opinion.

[Mbali (flowahh_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this I’m now 99.99% sure that I never went to work in corporate 😂 no ways burn that place down.

The Black Girl’s Guide to Corporate South Africa is described as a memoir-cum-guide that offers insight on how it is to be a black woman in corporate South Africa. Lindelwa Skenjana looks at both sexism and racism in the corporate space, how it affects black women and their likelihood to grow in corporate. In short - it’s hell 💀 it’s literally a case of adults bullying adults and I’d often scream “could never be me!”. Guys me and adversity? I’d crumble 🥴. She also includes the insights of other women, which is something I appreciated.

And while I can’t necessarily critique Lindelwa’s experience, I do wish she had explored capitalism in her book - I think it would have offered some answers with regards to the level of competition and lack of humanity in the space.

Do I recommend this book? Yes - especially if you have aspirations of working in corporate but also if you want to know how sharks operate 👀

[Ancillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend this gem! You will totally relate to something in this book

[Booksoverbreakfast · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed guide on a topic not covered neither far nor wide enough!

[Blessing · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not everyday that you pick up a book by an emerging writer and are unable to put it down. Such has been the experience with this little gem of non-fiction work! Lindelwa's message is personal, relatable, thoroughly researched and well established in simple but powerfully engaging language.

And we have to talk about excellent work by a BLACK WOMAN for BLACK WOMEN. Such calls for celebration every time!

[SammiKoalaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of The Black Girl's Guide to Corporate South Africa by Lindelwa Skenjana

Rating: 4 out of 5 🐨

#QOTD: When you are going for an interview what do you do to hype yourself up?

I listen to upbeat music, wear my favorite formal outfit and get there early.

I really enjoyed this book. It's short, punchy and gets to the point quickly. When I first entered the workplace I was pretty naive about how everything was going to work. I really thought everyone would be my friend and that we would all work well and have fun after work too. Nope nope nope. Very quickly I realised I should have identified a mentor like Lindelwa suggests in her book and I should have made more connections and been a bit more guarded and professional.

In the rat race it's so easy to end up putting your mental, physical and spiritual health on the backburner. Essentially, "putting plasters on their wounds, when they need surgery".

Lindelwa gave several knowledge nuggets that I love:

1. Find a mentor ASAP
2. Be respectful of your mentor's time
3. Be clear what you want to achieve with your mentor's time
4. Surround yourself with driven people
5. Keep an email trail, always! So that you can't be thrown under the bus or used as a scapegoat
6. Take your personal career trajectory seriously
7. Be clear about your goals and never lose sight of your dream
8. Stop trying to find a parent or sibling in your leader and workmates
9. Stay out of the toxic work drama

I think it's a book that should be in every graduate trainee pack or graduation pack because real live in the working world is no joke.

The last line in the book is "You do not always have to stay strong. Just always stay true." This resonates with me deeply. Give it a read!

Publisher: Tafelberg, imprint of NB Publishers
Pages: 168

#AfrocentricAprilBookstaTour #ReadAfrica #AfricanAuthorsMatter #Africa #work #women #bipoc #professional #levelup #leadership #SAauthor #2021 #newrelease

[Mengeti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, I’m grateful to my friends for getting me this book 🤭. They knew I’d need the message it carries for this next step in my life. Though I might not be going into corporate South Africa, I think most of the lessons it teaches will still apply wherever I find myself- sadly 😅. The corporate world is a cutthroat world! A true game of survival of the fittest. I only had to experience it for a short while through an internship to know that it needs thick skin. Lindelwa delved into so many other issues I wasn’t privy to. She doesn’t try to sugarcoat her words or glamorise the corporate world but rather calls it what it is. I’m actually a little shaken 🤣- I don’t know how I can continue to aspire to be a ‘corporate baddie’ after reading this 😭. It’s a scary environment from what I gathered, but also worthwhile for ones’ personal growth and skills development, if you play your cards right. And that’s just the thing- everything needs to be curated, and I don’t know if I have it in me to be that calculating 😩. I also gathered that it’s not all doom and gloom. Sometimes you’re lucky and hit the jackpot when it comes to your work environment and more especially your management. We need to pray for such things 😅🤞🏽.

Anyways, I don’t think Lindelwa’s intention was to scare anyone, but rather to teach us how to navigate a system that is, at is core, ‘against’ us. She doesn’t necessarily bring solutions to effect change, but she does equip you with the technical know how on to survive and thrive in corporate without losing your mind or your sense of self.

Though I enjoyed this book, I do wish Lindelwa had touched more on capitalism and the role it plays in creating such a toxic work culture. I think a lot of these systems would not exist if it wasn’t for the capitalist agenda, and maybe we should be asking ourselves not just how to make the best of a flawed system, but how the system in its entirety can be changed. I do appreciate the fact that Lindelwa does not claim to have the answers and is open and honest in sharing about the areas she still has more to learn about and grow in ❤️. God knows I haven’t the slightest clue where to begin myself 😅.

I appreciate Lindela for writing this book. It takes courage to put one’s thoughts on paper and share with the world. My 3/5 rating is purely a matter of preference and not any fault of the author ✨.

[Refilwe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable, and an eye opener to what I sometimes thought "I was the problem" in corporate, but it's the system and odds against a black female in corporate (we should reach out KPIs no doubt, it goes without saying). My takeaway: the politics, backstabbing and man made obstacles along the journey seem to be unavoidable but we need to be resilient and intentional with our actions and decisions. Lookout for yourself and be kind.

[Mogau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great read and a necessary tool for young black women in or wanting to enter the working space . I am not in corporate SA but I took valuable nuggets which I can apply to my working environment.

I wish the author expounded more on behavioural theories and explained different leadership styles, to help the reader navigate them from an informed perspective, and to understand that things aren’t always personal.

[Nompumelelo Ngcobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a good book , the book really does tell you about the lay of the land that way that it currently is and how you can navigate it without demeaning who you are if you are not already the type of personality that can navigate these spaces well . The stories in Chapter 3 was shocking and talks to why things need to change. I loved this reading this book and I will be implementing the gems I took out from this book in my current job.

[Yolie Mdiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend the book for those starting their careers; those who are progressing into management; and those who think there is something wrong with them in the workplace. I hope this book inspires you.

[Kananelo Sebati · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great guide to navigating corporate SA a black woman. The honest reflection from other women at different points in their career are also valuable.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book offers insight on corporate South Africa. A memoir, a reflection of the author's journey. Simple text and engaging

[Zintle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can relate to this book, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone in corporate. Reality is we still have a long way to go.