The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America

Being the first woman of color with a particular title marks a milestone for organizations, but it can be lonely and dispiriting on a personal level according to this empowering debut. Purushothaman, who researches structural racism at Harvard, outlines her experience as one of few women of color in “white places and spaces” and explains how climbing the corporate ladder left her with “scars” to the point that she quit her job at consulting firm Deloitte to focus on researching racism. Here, she delivers a program for “reimagining workspaces to have greater access and parity” that guides women of color (and “co-conspirators”) through understanding corporate culture—notably the dubious notion that just “being yourself” can solve structural issues—and questioning the indoctrination that makes them believe such ideas. She offers reflection questions (“What does it mean for WOC to have power?”) and lays out tips and tools for seeking happiness, managing stress, and coping with trauma (such as listening to one’s body and finding community). It’s a fresh, worthy addition to the growing body of work on diversity in the workplace. (Mar.)