5 Lessons for Diverse Leaders

By Jocelyn Hill, Partner

Having earned a top executive position can afford one a unique perspective, and this is doubly true for top executives from diverse backgrounds that aren’t always reflected in the mainstream. As a female African American Partner at Williams Adley, a prestigious CPA firm founded by two African American men, my experiences as I climbed the corporate ladder have been profoundly informative, and they have taught me 5 important lessons: know your worth, make the most of your experiences, give back whenever you can, confront racism without hesitation, and keep an open mind.

Know your worth – The first time I was invited to attend an executive meeting, I declined the invitation. This is a moment that I reflect on often, and I have asked myself why I declined to sit with the executives that day. Thankfully for me, this was not the last opportunity I received. However, not believing in myself and knowing my own value at the time left me emotionally shaken, and I had to look inward and build my confidence. I learned how essential it is to know the value of your skillset and believe in the contributions you bring to the table. There is an unfortunate and incorrect stereotype that minorities, such as Black women, are unable to perform at the leadership level, and this is a complete myth. Don’t internalize the prejudices of others or allow them to prevent you from pursuing the success you’re capable of—both you and the teams you lead will benefit immensely from your resolve. 

Make the most of your experiences – I’m very proud of my alma mater Howard University, and I’m sure you recognize the name, as it is the same university our Vice President Kamala Harris attended. Howard University is a private, historically black research institution in Washington, DC. My alma mater is certainly impressive, but it is far from everything. I have friends who attended community college first before moving on to an affordable university—these are capable people who found themselves in an educational system characterized by unequal opportunity. While they may have been initially excluded from conventional avenues for success, this is not a reflection on their worth, nor has it defined their career growth. So it is important to recognize the merit in your experiences and education regardless of where you earned your degree. Don’t hold back from pursuing opportunities you’re passionate about just because of where you went to school or what your background might be. Remember that you only get as much out of your education as you put into it, and know that your hard work and commitment to success will shine through and set you ahead of the pack. It is my promise to look beyond the university ranking and hire our future leaders based on their merits earned.

Give back whenever you can – Hard work and individual drive are vital, but they can only go so far, and ultimately, we must rely on each other to succeed. We are all interdependent, and our victories are thus not just our own, but also belong to those who have lifted us up. It is important to recognize those who support us and those that have come before us, and just as I have been supported in my path, it is a priority of mine to pay it forward and support others as much as I can. This means employing those who might have less access to opportunity and privilege, giving back to the community, supporting Black-owned businesses, and speaking up for what’s right. It is near and dear to my heart to support not-for-profit entities in Washington, DC that give back to the African American community, such as Black Lives Matter, Hyacinth’s Place, and Kaboom, and at Williams Adley we contribute to these and other not-for-profit entities annually.

Confront racism without hesitation – While there is much reason to be hopeful for a more inclusive and equitable future, it remains abundantly clear that systemic racism continues to disrupt countless lives and is a stubborn presence in many institutions and spheres of American society. It is a painful reminder of our American history that has been troubled by decades of oppression while many turned a blind eye even as others were fighting for freedom. We can never take for granted those who fought and are still fighting for equality. For this reason, it is imperative that we not become complacent nor allow ourselves to be intimidated out of doing what we know to be right. No one else can win this fight but those of us who are here today, so we owe it both to ourselves and to future generations to challenge racism, microaggressions, and all forms of exclusionary behavior, no matter when or how they manifest. By standing firm and confronting injustice with fortitude, we ensure our success today and help to build a better tomorrow.

Keep an open mind – When recruiting and structuring teams, we naturally want to make sure we have every competitive advantage. To this end, we should never allow ourselves to fall for stereotypes or mimic the closed-minded tendencies of non-inclusive organizations. In fact, diverse and inclusive organizations, regardless of their size, demonstrably outperform non-inclusive organizations in a wide range of key areas. It’s important to keep an open mind and look for merit where others might not think to see it. We always hire the best and brightest talent, and that means the individuals will come from different walks of life and bring with them a broad spectrum of skills and experiences. This allows us to not only create a more equitable environment, but also ensure that we recruit a one-of-a-kind, distinctively talented team.