The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table

by Minda Harts

What are the team’s strengths and challenges? Has the company changed since you’ve joined?

You might never get the opportunity to advance in your current position, and investing in yourself to get the hell out of there is your next strategic move.

Carol Moseley Braun was elected to the Senate in 1992 as the first African American woman senator. I was too young to understand the significance of this, but the challenges that face black and brown women in our government became quite clear, because we didn’t see our next black woman senator until 2016, when Kamala Harris was elected.

Never forget to thank someone who made a connection for you and also make them aware that you are going to meet or had the meeting with the person they introduced you to. This is a pro tip in relationship building. Keeping them in the loop signals that you can be trusted with their social capital. Here