Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Exploring the Career Advancement Experience of Black Women on Their Journey to Executive Levels in Large American Corporations

Viscione, Pamela J.
http://orcid.org/0000-0031-4887-549
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1667241414097326

Abstract Details

2022, Ph.D., Antioch University, Leadership and Change.
Corporations began hiring Black people into management positions in the 1960s and 1970s following the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964) which made it unlawful to discriminate in hiring based on race, gender, religion, or country of origin. Black men were the first to benefit from this change in the law and Black women began to appear in entry level management roles in the 1980s. Forty years later, there have only been four Black women CEOs in the history of the Fortune 1000, the largest American companies based on reported revenues. This level of representation is closer to zero than 1 % despite over 6 % of the American population self-reporting as Black or African American women. The purpose of this study was to explore the career advancement journey of Black women who achieved the executive level in Fortune 1000 companies to identify what events were most critical in helping or hindering their career advancement. The research design was an exploratory, qualitative study using critical incident technique (Flanagan, 1954). The study consisted of 20 participants, Black women who had achieved executive level in Fortune 1000 companies with a minimum of 15 years of management experience. The analysis of the data revealed two over-arching themes across the participants: the experience of being the first and/or only woman, Black person, or Black woman and a small group of sustaining beliefs shared by the Black women. These beliefs served to sustain them over their career advancement journeys. Consistent with the critical incident methodology, the antecedents or what led to the incidents, the incidents themselves, and the outcomes of the incidents were all analyzed for themes. The study data was reviewed to identify practical implications and recommendations for Black women leaders, people who advocate for Black women in leadership, leadership in companies, and people in positions in diversity, equity, and inclusion. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center, (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).
A.E. Lize Booysen, DBL (Committee Chair)
Harriet Schwartz, PhD (Committee Member)
Kathleen Brown, PhD (Committee Member)
223 p.
African Americans; Black Studies; Ethnic Studies; Gender Studies; Management; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Womens Studies
Black women; leadership; career advancement; intersectionality; first and only; critical incident technique; CIT; Fortune 1000

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Viscione, P. J. (2022). Exploring the Career Advancement Experience of Black Women on Their Journey to Executive Levels in Large American Corporations [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1667241414097326

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Viscione, Pamela. Exploring the Career Advancement Experience of Black Women on Their Journey to Executive Levels in Large American Corporations. 2022. Antioch University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1667241414097326.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Viscione, Pamela. "Exploring the Career Advancement Experience of Black Women on Their Journey to Executive Levels in Large American Corporations." Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1667241414097326

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

antioch1667241414097326
3,803
© 2022, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Antioch University and OhioLINK.