Flipping the script on Black history: Transforming challenges into career superpowers

I think about our journey as Black business leaders every February. Black History Month is a time to honor and celebrate the strength we’ve summoned to overcome the obstacles in our path.

This year, my focus is on the skills and strategies Black business leaders develop in response to challenges. Adversity becomes a platform for us to enhance our capabilities and become even stronger. Our trials force us to cultivate superpowers.

I want to emphasize that I am not diminishing the impact of racism on our history. It’s been a horrible stain on our country since the first Africans arrived on this continent. We were considered property until 1865. Legal segregation continued until 1964. Today, we’re experiencing a resurgence of racial violence that’s all too familiar.

And yet Black business leaders are kicking ass. Despite injustice and discrimination, we’re making crucial contributions and defining culture.

So, let me offer a fresh lens through which to view our collective history – not as a sequence of obstacles but as a reservoir of strength that can shape our professional success.

Resilience

My single mother had the grit to navigate the corporate landscape while raising me in a society not designed for our success. Her persistence and prowess brought her success in her career and unlocked access to education and experiences that expanded my worldview.

For Black business leaders, resilience is more than merely surviving tough times. We pride ourselves on confronting obstacles enthusiastically and using resistance as fuel to keep pressing forward. We regard every challenge as a test of our resolve, whether we’re deflecting micro-aggressions, maneuvering through corporate politics, or leading projects under impossible deadlines.

Innovative Problem-Solving

Black business leaders have a knack for innovation. Our ability to produce novel solutions under pressure makes us well-suited to the tech sector’s continuously evolving landscape. For instance, Kimberly Bryant and Cristina Jones from Black Girls Code have been instrumental in empowering the next generation of Black female technologists, providing them with opportunities to excel and build careers in STEM.

Similarly, John Pasmore, with his company Latimer, is combating bias in Artificial Intelligence. Through these initiatives, Black business leaders are developing solutions prioritizing underserved communities.

Adaptability

Like the great Rakim said, “It ain’t where you’re from; it’s where you’re at.” We adapt to new situations with the fluidity that comes from navigating ambiguous and unwelcoming spaces. In the workplace, we’re quick learners, able to pivot strategies, embrace new technologies, and seamlessly integrate into various team dynamics.

Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Our journey has imbued us with profound empathy. We are capable of leading and collaborating with understanding and compassion. This emotional intelligence fosters inclusive, productive workspaces where everyone feels seen and heard.

Community Building

We believe success comes from collective action and sharing goals, a concept the Black church embraced to propel the civil rights movement. The church was a place for spiritual support and a hub for organizing, educating, and empowering African American communities. The church was where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspired people to unite in solidarity for justice and equality. Today, we follow this same approach when building networks and teams. By supporting each other, we achieve collective success.

Creative Communication

Our heritage has honed our ability to communicate with authenticity. So much of what we consider American culture was contributions of Black people; look at jazz, blues, hip hop, and Gospel music. The ability to create beauty out of nothing is in our DNA. And this genius isn’t confined to the arts; it spreads across our lives. Our unconventional communication styles translate into compelling storytelling skills—whether pitching an idea, marketing a product, or engaging our stakeholders, we make an impact.

Patience

We’re no strangers to playing the long game. Our patience comes from having to navigate systemic barriers. We’re able to focus on quick wins while strategizing for long-term success. It’s about laying the groundwork today for achievements that last well into the future.

Code-Switching

Black professionals have developed the ability to adapt our communication style to our audience. This skill allows us to integrate disparate perspectives into clear and concise messaging. Our cultural agility is an asset in global business environments, where understanding and respecting different cultural norms can make or break international partnerships.

Optimism

We’ve developed the ability to imagine and work toward a better future. Even when outcomes are uncertain, our optimism is infectious. We inspire teams and organizations to strive for higher goals.

Mastery of Non-Verbal Communication

Understanding non-verbal cues, like body language and facial expressions, is critical, particularly for Black kids. From a young age, Black boys learn to interpret non-verbal cues. “Is this situation safe? Are they looking to have a problem with me? Am I in the wrong neighborhood? Do I appear non-threatening? Can they see my hands?” These questions become second nature, like a mental checklist.

This lesson hit home for me when I was 11. One morning, my buddy and I were heading to a park in Berwyn, IL, a place with a history of racial tension. Out of nowhere, police officers stopped us, acting on a call they received. They put us in their car and took us to a house we had walked past. A big dog was barking behind a tall fence. The owner, a white guy, said his sons saw us in their yard, which made no sense because of the big dog and the fence.

We hadn’t done anything wrong, so we were calm and respectful, just like our parents had taught us. When I tried to speak, the homeowner aggressively told me to “shut up.” Even as a kid, I saw where this situation was going. The guy got so angry he turned red, and a vein popped out on his forehead. His sons looked like they wanted a show. We were Black kids in Berwyn. The cops were not on our side. My friend and I knew we couldn’t argue without risking more trouble. So, we shut up. The police took us to the station and locked us in a cell for hours.

When my friend’s dad arrived to get us out of jail, we thought we might be in trouble. Instead, he gave us a reassuring nod, put his arms around our shoulders, and walked us out of the station without saying a word. We knew we had experienced a grim rite of passage.

That day, I learned the importance of non-verbal communication in navigating the world. In my professional life, it allows me to sense when the atmosphere is off in meetings or to understand a colleague’s unspoken concerns. This ability to read silent cues has become one of my most valuable professional assets.

Integrity

Black professionals consistently demonstrate a commitment to values and ethics, even when easier paths might be available. This integrity builds trust and respect, laying a solid foundation for effective leadership.

Connecting These Strengths to Our Professional Lives

Our journey has equipped us with tools ideal for dynamic professional sectors like tech and entrepreneurship. In environments where change is the only constant, our experiences give us a distinct edge. We collaborate with empathy, communicate with authenticity, and maintain our composure. Let’s lean into these strengths and bring them to the forefront of our professional endeavors during Black History Month and all year round.