Tara Jaye Frank’s Post

I’ve been listening to a lot of books by well-known leaders about their business journeys… Books by Black women who were founders and/or CEOs and books by white men who were the same, and with the exception of Play Nice But Win by Michael Dell, the books by white men all have something in common: The authors always knew someone who knew someone. When they were lost or stuck, or in need of information, support, resources, or brokering, they were able to pick up the phone and call a person who had exactly what they were looking for: the answer, a connection, an opportunity, informed guidance. Every career pivot was enabled by someone who made a way for them toward the next breakthrough. This is one of the inequities we don’t talk enough about. Forget skills and knowledge and experience. When you don’t have a power network, you don’t get that big job or life-changing client. You don’t get insider information. You don’t get the benefit of the doubt. You don’t get an invitation into the room where it happens. We need more bold advocacy for those who lack the sheer connectedness that changes everything. We need more bridge-building. We need more Waymakers. #wearethewaymakers #betheway #leadership #advocacy #betheway #sponsorship The Waymakers Change Group #buildingbridges (By the way, if you consider yourself a scrappy innovator who thrives on possibilities, you’ll love Dell’s book. I sure did.)