When Leadership Matters Vol 2 2025 New - Flipbook - Page 27
When Leadership Matters
has a tattoo on some visible part of their body, doesn’t feel
comfortable wearing dresses, etc. People of color have to
navigate a world where they are encouraged and often
forced to leave the best and most important parts of their
identity at home or out in the parking lot because their
white colleagues think they are unprofessional, and it
makes them uncomfortable.
I recently had a conversation with a colleague who I
believe to be one of the most brilliant humans on the
planet, and he was recounting his experiences during a
hiring process. He went through several interviews and
made it to the final two candidates for this role. He didn’t
get it. When he asked for feedback on what he could have
done differently to better prepare the next time, the person
told him, “You were the best candidate, but you make
“white” people uncomfortable with your responses.” He
left that organization and was unwilling to change his
identity to fit a dominant culture definition of
professionalism. He was not willing to give up his
dreadlocks, his casual attire or cultural identity. He “stood
on business”.
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