| Statistical data reveal that women are grossly underrepresented in top-levels of leadership in corporate America despite earning the majority of bachelor's and master's degrees, and filling the majority of management, professional, and related positions in the U.S. (Catalyst, 2017; U.S. Department of Education, 2012; U.S. Department of Labor, 2015). Women hold 51.5% of all jobs in the management, professional, and related occupations category (U.S. Department of Labor, 2015); however, in 2016, the percentage of women CEOs in Fortune 500 companies was only 4.2% (Zarya, 2016). The percentage inched to 6.4% in 2017 (Fortune, 2017); however, there are no Black women CEOs in the Fortune 500 today (Zarya, 2017).;This research focused on a segment of the management pipeline that is often overlooked: Black women executives. This qualitative, narrative research study, which utilized semi-structured, open-ended interviews enhanced with a review of documents, examined the career journeys of eight Black women executives having top management leadership experience in Fortune 500/Global 500 organizations. The study results indicated seven themes associated with the participants' experiences: (a) Acknowledging family influence; (b) Being professionally groomed: Early training/exposure; (c) Moving beyond boundaries: National and international; (d) Connecting for optimal leverage; (e) Developing a strategic niche: Doing what others have not; (f) Excelling despite antagonists; and (g) Helping others. The research also revealed four other shared aspects of the participants' narratives, and several factors that helped or hindered Black women's advancement to top-management ranks. As a result of the study findings, a new concept, the Women's Corporate Pole Vault Model, was created to illustrate Black women senior-level executives' career advancement journey in corporate America. Given the explosive growth of minority women in the U.S. population and workforce (Catalyst, 2016b), it is imperative that women's management issues be understood from diverse perspectives. This research filled a gap in the research literature by focusing on the career paths of Black women in senior-level executive positions in Fortune/Global 500 organizations, and providing valuable insights regarding women, diversity, and leadership. The research has future implications for organizational policy regarding women, diversity, human resource management, organizational behavior, leader development, and executive education. |
