Damola Adamolekun
Courtesy of Damola Adamolekun
Though Nigerian Americans are highly educated and entrepreneurial, they may never attain C-suite executive leadership roles. Black Americans—Nigerian Americans, other Sub-Saharan Africans, Caribbean migrants, and African Americans must balance expertise, authenticity, and conformity to ascend to levels like Damola Adamolekun, Nigerian-American CEO of Red Lobster, and Bozoma Saint John, Ghanaian-American and former Chief Marketing Officer at Netflix.
Shedding Identities
“Black Americans often face the burden of having to ‘re-audition’ for their roles, constantly proving their competence beyond assumptions of affirmative action,” said Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Welsh-born founder of the Center for Work-Life Policy, in her “Talks at Google” series on executive presence. “I passed a lot of exams and ended up at Cambridge University at 18 years old, but I spoke English with a thick working-class Welsh accent, which was the kiss of death in polite English society,” she said. The struggle for British-born Hewlett is also real for Sub-Saharan Africans and Caribbean migrants in the United States. Migrants must sail the ever-shifting tides and balance authenticity and conformity—to fit into America’s mold of leadership. They may even shed parts of their identity, at times softening their accents, adjusting physical expressions, or modifying their names to sound more Americanized.
“I had to ‘fix’ the way I talked if I was going to get anywhere,” Hewlett said. “So, I spent two years listening to the BBC World Service, practicing those modulated tones, and also fixing my grammar.” But what is inherently wrong with African, Caribbean, or urban accents? Nothing. Yet, there are archetype personas that conform to acceptable leadership profiles in corporate America—an African or Caribbean-sounding accent and demeanor, which should not define proficiency, may become an invisible but daunting obstacle. Code-switching becomes a necessity.
The Tension Between Authenticity and Conformity
Bozoma Saint John
Courtesy of Bozoma Saint John
There is a tension between authenticity and conformity, and corporate cultures present unique challenges to first adapt, survive, and then thrive. To thrive and ascend the corporate ladder, Black migrants must master executive presence. “Executive presence is really not about performance,” said Hewlett. “It’s not about knowing your craft. It is about what you signal.” For Africans, Caribbeans, and African Americans, there is the perception of affirmative action, as though they are not deserving or being seen as a “diversity hire.”
Across all races and ethnicities in the United States, gravitas is the common denominator for emerging C-suite executives, followed by effective communication, and then appearance. According to Hewlett’s research at the Center for Work-Life Policy, Black Americans often struggle with gravitas. Having “gravitas,” signals a sense of expertise and confidence in one’s field or area of knowledge with a sober and thoughtful demeanor, self-awareness, and significance in action, often reflected in behavior and body language.
Nelson Mandela embodied gravitas and was a force; when he spoke, the world listened. With his measured pitch, powerful pauses, and a vibrating aura of authority, Mandela charmed audiences. When Mandela spoke at his inaugural speech on May 10, 1994, he enunciated his words with a trailing baritone that mesmerized the 150,000 attendees. He healed South Africa with his compelling gravitas. Mandela’s inauguration address and several other speeches offer valuable lessons for Black American men seeking leadership roles in corporate America. Here are some key takeaways from Mandela:
1. Authenticity—genuine, heartfelt, and reflective of his personal experiences.
2. Clear structure—had a clear beginning, middle, and end, making them easy to follow.
3. Powerful storytelling—used stories to convey his message, making his speeches more relatable and memorable.
4. Emotional connection—appealed to his audience’s emotions, creating a sense of empathy and shared understanding.
5. Inspiring messages—filled with inspirational quotes, metaphors, and imagery, motivating his audience to action.
6. Repetition and rhythm—used repetition and rhythm to emphasize key points and create a sense of musicality.
7. Call to action—always included a clear call to action, encouraging his audience to work together towards a common goal.
8. Humility and gratitude—his speeches were characterized by humility and gratitude, demonstrating his appreciation for the support and sacrifices of others.
For Black women, the challenge is compounded; signaling force and authority may not be effective, as they may be seen as “tough” and earn the undesired title of “angry Black woman.” When Black women signal the same force as their male counterparts, they may be perceived as pushy and abrasive. For Black women seeking executive leadership roles, intelligence, and charm are effective traits to gain influence and ascend the ladder. Bozoma Saint John, who held several executive roles at Netflix and Apple, is a renowned speaker and advocate. Her speeches have been highly effective in inspiring and motivating audiences. Here are some key takeaways from Bozoma Saint John:
1. Authenticity—shares personal anecdotes and experiences, creating a genuine connection with her audience.
2. Vulnerability — openly discusses her struggle making her message more relatable.
3. Passion—infused with energy, enthusiasm, and passion, inspiring her audience to action
4. Storytelling—uses vivid narratives to convey her message, making it more memorable and engaging.
5. Call to action—often includes a clear call to action
6. Intersectionality—highlights the importance of intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality
7. Empowerment—
focus on empowering communities
Some notable speeches by Bozoma Saint John include the 2016 TED Talk, “How to raise resilient kids,” the 2017 MAKERS Conference keynote, “The Power of Resilience”, and the 2018 Cannes Lions Festival speech, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Marketing.”
Surfing the Tides
Despite barriers Black migrants face when striving to attain C-suite executive leadership roles, executive presence can be cultivated. Mandela’s quiet resolve, and Bozoma Saint John’s charm, passion, and authenticity are proven examples. Black migrants can transform perceptions, evoke gravitas, and turn them into compelling influences, even when they do not resemble the archetype personas that conform to the leadership profiles in corporate America. In a world where leadership is often dictated by the dominant group, they can surf the raging tides of authenticity and conformity and can also attain the highest levels of leadership.
