Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Exploring Resources Needed for Black Women to Ascend to C-suite Level Positions in The Workplace

The percentage of African American women in the workplace who hold senior executive-level positions is low. African American women who are educated, experienced, and diligent workers have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the workplace as senior executives but need the opportunities and allies to do so.

This capstone project seeks to highlight systemic obstacles that Black women encounter while trying to advance to senior leadership positions in professional spaces. The insight gained from this study could be utilized to assist Black women who aspire to become senior leaders. Furthermore, organizations may utilize the study’s findings to better understand how to attract and retain top talent from Black women and how to create fair practices for Black women to prosper.

The findings of this study concur with previous studies that indicate that Black women face distinct challenges due to the intersection of gender and race. However, the literature reviewed suggests the importance and need for workplace mentors, more over allies in order to navigate microaggressions and discrimination for Black women who desire career advancement to top leadership positions. Allyships are a strategic tactic used by established leaders to become collaborators, accomplices, and coconspirators who fight injustice and promote equity in the workplace through supportive professional relationships and public acts of advocacy.