Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity

Addressing gender alone won't help women rise to the top. Although women come from widely diverse backgrounds, they share a common assumption upon entering the workforce: 'I have a chance.' Along the way, however, they discover that people question their authority, challenge their intelligence, and discount their ideas. And while gender is a common denominator among these women, race and class are often wedges between them. In Our Separate Ways, Ella Bell Smith and Stella M. Nkomo take an unflinching look at the surprising differences between Black and White women's trials and triumphs on their way to the top. Based on groundbreaking research, the book compares and contrasts the experiences of 120 Black and White female managers in America. Powerful stories bring to life the women's often difficult journeys from childhood to professional success, highlighting the roles that gender, race, and class played in their development. Now with an updated preface and epilogue, the book provides candid discussions of the continuing challenge of achieving race and gender equality in the midst of deep political and ideological divides. You'll discover how White women have - perhaps unwittingly - aligned themselves more often with White men than with Black women and how systemic racism and biases still exist in organisations. But you'll also learn what to do to leverage the talents of all women and eliminate systemic racism for good. Whether you lead an organisation or simply want to better understand the dynamics at play in business today, you'll discover provocative ideas for creating a better workplace and encouraging equality for everyone.

About the Author :
Ella Bell Smith is a professor of business administration at Tuck School of Business and works in the field of organizational behavior. She has served as a consultant to Fortune 500 companies and to many public institutions. Her scholarly works have been reported in many top publications, and her book, Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity, has been widely acclaimed. Her second book, Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape, provides career and life advice. Smith serves on the advisory board of MAKERS and is a past member of the board of directors of Coqual. Her innovative work with women leaders earned her the Scholarly Contributions for Educational Practice Advancing Women in Leadership Award from the Gender and Diversity Division of the Academy of Management. She is the founder and president of Ascent: Leading Multicultural Women to the Top. Stella M. Nkomo is a professor in the Department of Human Resource Management at the University of Pretoria. Her internationally recognized research on race, gender, diversity, and leadership in organizations has been published in numerous journals. Nkomo is the coauthor, with Ella Bell Smith, of Our Separate Ways. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant to organizations in South Africa, Europe, and the United States. She was the founding president of the Africa Academy of Management and the recipient of the 2017 International Leadership Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Review :
Shortlisted for the Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Award in the Women in Business Category Advance Praise for Our Separate Ways: "A groundbreaking account of Black and White professional women's formation of identities, relationships, and career breakthroughs. A must-read for any leader who seeks to advance true equity and inclusion in the workplace." — Laura Morgan Roberts, Professor of Practice, University of Virginia Darden School of Business; coeditor, Race, Work, and Leadership "A stark look at the corporate world through the lens of race and gender equity. This book should be on the desk of not only every CEO and HR manager but anyone wanting to build a successful workplace." — Mika Brzezinski, cohost, Morning Joe; founder, Know Your Value "Our Separate Ways reinforces what we've seen for years: that industry has been muting the voices of BIPOC women. Smith and Nkomo remind us to hold ourselves accountable in ushering in an era of radical change." — Moj Mahdara, cofounder and CEO, BeautyCon Media "An urgent read to answer the growing calls for gender equality and an end to systemic racism." — David A. Thomas, President, Morehouse College; coeditor, Race, Work, and Leadership "Our Separate Ways builds a critical framework for executing the structural and cultural shifts that will allow all women to thrive." — Gwyneth Paltrow, founder and CEO, goop "Smith and Nkomo have given us permission to build a shared vision for change. Refreshingly honest and inspiring, Our Separate Ways is the book every leader needs." — Daisy Auger-Domínguez, Chief People Officer, VICE Media Group