In honor of National Career Development Month, let's discuss the concept of audacity—not the aggressive or demanding kind, but the courageous act of claiming your space in a world that often encourages women of color to minimize themselves. At AllProfit HR, our mission to create a sustainable and stellar culture of belonging for all starts with this essential truth: true belonging requires the courage to show up as your authentic self.
"We women are in jail. Our thoughts and beliefs about what our work, time, and energy are worth keep our bank accounts small and our imposter syndrome large." - Rachel Rodgers
The Weight of Career Stress
When we consider audacity versus demureness in the workplace, many women of color default to demureness. This leads to the normalization of exhaustion, burnout, exacerbated mental and physical health issues, and a diminished sense of self. The ramifications are serious: GirlTrek shared that women of color today have a life expectancy that's 10 years lower than in previous generations. This isn’t just a statistic; it's a wake-up call.
Here are some additional critical realities:
Women of color comprise one in five Americans, but only 4% hold C-suite positions.
81% experience racism at work, and 90% face sexism.
Women of color often have to prove themselves repeatedly to gain recognition that others receive automatically.
Despite higher labor force participation rates, particularly for Black women, the systemic inequities persist. In her book We Should All Be Millionaires, author Rachel Rodgers aptly describes the situation by stating that women often feel trapped by limiting beliefs about their worth.
The specific challenges noted by the 2024 Women In The Workplace Report include:
Women of color must continually prove themselves for the same recognition given to others.
Constant experiences of racism and sexism.
We are altering our appearance or demeanor to fit in.
We are mistaken for administrative or custodial staff.
The pressure to self-monitor tone and expressions.
We have increased stress and burnout from navigating bias.
Limited access to leadership and mentorship opportunities.
Often being overlooked for promotions despite high performance.
Women of color carry the burdens of:
Code-switching in professional settings.
Being "the first" or "the only" in spaces not meant for us.
Suppressing our true selves to maintain "professional" appearances.
There is ongoing pressure to prove our worth repeatedly.
Recognizing these challenges is crucial to addressing the systemic issues impacting the well-being and career development of women of color.
"A lot of us are scared of how mighty we might grow if we were no longer draining our energy on managing all of the self-inflicted pain of self-criticism. With greater personal power comes greater personal responsibility, and we are afraid that when we have greater power, we won't be able to deal with the greater responsibilities." - Emily and Amelia Nagoski
The Hidden Cost of Persistence
The weight of these challenges takes its toll. As Emily and Amelia Nagoski powerfully remind us in their book Burnout: "Diligent practice of self-compassion works. It lowers stress hormones and improves mood... Self-kindness helps us grow mightier." Yet, too often, we mistake self-criticism for motivation and perfectionism for excellence. As women, we neglect to address the warning signs of our modified eating habits, sleep patterns, and heightened sensitivity, which exacerbates feelings of overwhelm, isolation, and lack of concentration, to name just a few. The changing seasons, with less sunlight, transitional temperate, and the back-to-back holidays, are routine opportunities for us to mask the critical self-check engine lights of our well-being needs. We will start over next year, right?
Let's be honest: Sometimes, our own strength is scary. The Nagoski sisters point out that "a lot of us are scared of how mighty we might grow if we were no longer draining our energy on managing all of the self-inflicted pain of self-criticism. With greater personal power comes greater personal responsibility, and we are afraid that when we have greater power, we won't be able to deal with the greater responsibilities."
But here's the truth: We're already handling immense responsibilities. We're already mighty. We're just doing it while carrying the extra burden of self-doubt and societal expectations.
"Believe thoroughly in your greater interior self. Know that you have something in you that is greater than any obstacle." - Christian D. Larsen
The Power of Hope-Action in Career Development
This is precisely why I'm not waiting until January to launch the Butterfly Conservatory Collective and our first virtual series – The Audacity of Her, which applies the Hope-Action Theory to career development. We cannot afford to put ourselves aside until some perfect moment arrives.
Rooted in the work of Dr. Norman Amundson and Dr. Spencer Niles, this theory illustrates that career development is a dynamic cycle where hope inspires action, and action generates more hope. It emphasizes that actual growth requires the courage to dream and the tools to act.
We cultivate hope by taking intentional actions toward our goals, which fuels even greater actions. This cycle empowers women of color, breaking the tendency to dim our light and fostering confidence and achievement regardless of external validation.
For women of color, I have adapted this into the Audacity-Action cycle: intentional actions generate audacity, leading to even bolder steps toward our life goals because our career development as women is woven into the fabric of our lives. This approach transforms traditional career development into a journey of authentic empowerment, guided by the six competencies of the Hope-Action Theory: envisioning beyond limitations, clarifying our worth, setting boundaries, intentional implementation, adapting while staying true to ourselves, and reflecting without judgment.
The Butterfly Conservatory Collective: Revolutionary Rest in a Virtual Cacoon
There's profound wisdom in the observation that black women have a long tradition of creating their own spaces where they can show up as a whole person, and not just as a woman, or just as a Black person. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith reminds us, "Rest isn't always about stopping; it's about doing activities that fill you up." This wisdom perfectly aligns with our vision at AllProfit HR and the Audacity-Action approach—creating spaces where everyone can thrive without compromising their well-being or identity.
Like the butterflies we emulate, we need a safe space to undergo our transformation. As a certified Co-Active Integrated Life Coach, I've designed these sessions with a deep understanding that actual professional growth cannot be separated from personal wellness. The path to sustainable success requires ambition, self-compassion, drive, and rest.
Starting November through January, we'll create that space together through 90-minute monthly sessions designed to nurture, support, and empower. This isn't just another professional development series – it's a chrysalis of metamorphosis where you can:
Define and challenge limiting beliefs
Evolve your mindset and embrace growth
Inspire and act on your most audacious goals
In each session, we'll practice the delicate balance of pushing boundaries while honoring our needs, dreaming bigger while being gentle with ourselves, and reaching higher while remaining grounded in self-compassion.
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi
The Butterfly Conservatory Collective continues this powerful tradition, offering a sacred cocoon where we can rest and thrive, not merely survive. This space is for professional women of color who are ready to:
Transform career development into a collective, celebratory, and courageous journey
Join a community where rest is as valued as productivity
Replace competition with community
Prioritize authenticity over appearance
Integrate growth with healing
Your Invitation to Audaciously Morph
As we honor National Career Development Month and look toward 2025, remember what Christian D. Larsen said: "Believe thoroughly in your greater interior self. Know that you have something in you that is greater than any obstacle."
Don't wait for the perfect moment to embrace your power. Join a community of women who understand your journey and are ready to evolve their career paths while honoring their whole selves.
Are you tired of being exhausted? Register today for The Audacity of Her virtual series and take a new step toward a collective environment that roots you in belonging.
Share Your Thoughts
Join the conversation on the transformative power of audacity. Let's reimagine people-centered workplaces where everyone profits—personally and professionally.
When was the last time you let yourself be truly audacious? Not the carefully curated, professionally palatable version of yourself – but the raw, powerful, audacious you?
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