Leadership can be defined in many ways, but what about when it comes to women of color? How do we define leadership when it excludes us?
There is no one answer to this question, as no one definition of leadership universally applies to all women. However, some common elements often need to be included or undefined regarding women of color. These elements include our experience as women of color in a white-dominated world, our unique perspective on the world, and how our backgrounds and experiences shape who we are as leaders.
When women of color are left out of the leadership conversation, we often feel disenfranchised. We are left out of the decision-making process and feeling like our unique perspectives and experiences are not valued. This can be a challenge when it comes to leading our organizations, as our unique perspective is often needed to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
There is a lot of work that needs to be done to create a more inclusive environment for women of color but it is essential that we start with defining what leadership actually is. If we don’t have a clear definition of what leadership means, then it is difficult to find ways to include women of color in it. By doing so, we can create a leadership culture that is inclusive and reflective of the diverse communities that make up our country.
