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3 ways ambitious women and men of color can get ahead at big companies, according to top CEOs and executives who made it
Insider spoke with some of the most powerful women of color in corporate Europe. They told us how they made it — and how others can make it, too.
Women of color are severely underrepresented in the upper echelons of big companies. In corporate America, for example, they were 3% of C-suite executives, research suggested.
So Insider spoke with 21 female executives of color who work at the top of big companies in Europe about the challenges they faced as they climbed the ladder. These executives, from the likes of Facebook, PwC, TikTok, Unilever, and DeepMind, gave candid answers and offered heartfelt advice for those aspiring to follow in their footsteps.
A recurring theme was how they had to make space for themselves when there wasn’t an obvious seat for them at the table. Here’s what they had to say.
Own your identity
Karen Blackett, the UK CEO of Group M, said that her immigrant parents’ advice resonated with her: “Get comfortable being memorable.”
Blackett said: “If I am going to stand out, use it to make sure I am heard and not just seen. Contribute and make…
