Corporate America Can Be Toxic For Black Women — Here's How to Leave

A question for all the people somehow thriving in corporate environments: exactly how did you manage that? I'm asking for myself and the Black women of corporate America.

I'm always fascinated by people who seem to succeed in these spaces, because that has never been my experience. Being Black in the workplace, I've always felt there was a large part of me I had to alter, or stifle, in order to move without issue. I can share expert opinions, but I must do so gently and accept that they may not be trusted (despite my proven track record). I can be straightforward, but I have to do it with a smile so it isn't interpreted as attitude. I need to work "twice as hard" and be "twice as good," yet I'll likely still be told to do better.

These impossible standards are universal for Black women. As Ericka Moten, an executive director at the US Department of State and a leadership coach, explains, being a Black woman in corporate America is "difficult. It is frustrating. It is lonely." She's heard that from clients and friends, and a lot of it comes down to the fact that we are "often worried about perception." For Black women like us, climbing the corporate ladder often requires us to bend and perform. That can be exhausting and still leave us feeling disregarded, underrated, and underpaid.

So, after years of playing a character, I chose a different path — a trend among many Black women. In January, I separated from my full-time job to become a travel influencer and independent social media strategist. (Yes, in this economy.)

And 100,000 followers, three new cities, one new country, quite a few brand collaborations, and several new social media clients later, I'd say that I've succeeded so far. I no longer have to worry about the way I'm perceived because I have the freedom to decide who my clients are and how long I stay on a contract. I have more control over the people I work with, so I can avoid microaggressions or outright discrimination. But taking this leap didn't come without risk, so I talked to career coaches for their tips on how you can move away from corporate America, too.

Knowing your values and what they represent will help you decide if you'd fare better outside of a corporate setting. Moten believes you can never really "change people's values," so if yours are inherently tied to making your way in corporate America, leaving may not be a good idea.

I thought I was tied to a corporate identity because I valued job titles and the prestige of finding success at well-known companies. But I've since realized that this value can exist outside of a corporate setting. I can earn that same prestige with the titles I've given myself, like independent social media strategist and travel influencer, with the clientele and credentials to back them up.

Natanya Bravo, a career coach who left corporate America six years ago to move to Paris, now works with nearly 2,000 entrepreneur clients who've mostly pivoted from traditional jobs to independent gigs like consulting, content creation, and coaching. When deciding what exactly you'd like to do after leaving your corporate job, she suggests taking stock of your expertise and your core skills and viewing your potential client as someone who is "two steps below" that, so you can figure out what help you can provide. "We tend to underestimate things that come natural and easy to us," but there are opportunities to teach others and monetize that, she says. For example, one of Bravo's clients is now a gardening consultant who works with "individuals and small businesses to create, maintain, and grow beautiful gardens."

Before diving in, conducting market research is important to help set your prices and see what is needed or popular in the space you're entering. For example, Bravo says, "If I am looking to become a copywriter, I am going to research other copywriters to see what already exists in terms of packaging, pricing, and positioning." Even though it may be hard to be original in today's oversaturated market, "you can still create things in a way that is unique to you," Bravo explains.

To market your unique talents, she says messaging is key. First, you need to figure out "who, what, and how you help," and then make sure you're using language that resembles how your ideal client speaks "to describe their problem" in a way that relates to them. Once you've nailed messaging, she suggests doing a SWOT analysis of your business, which outlines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to help outline a strategic marketing plan.

Choosing to make a big life change like this shouldn't be a last-minute decision. According to Moten, you should ask yourself: if you leave your corporate job, then what? Though she acknowledges everyone's situation is different, she says it's important to assess your finances and your network, and flesh out what a strategic plan to leave might look like. Have a clear idea of how you'd be able to respond to life's surprises without the stability of full-time employment.

While planning is important, Bravo doesn't believe in waiting for the perfect time. Though she was financially prepared to take the risk when she launched her own business, The Bravo Life, she was both excited and fearful. At first, the fear made her apprehensive, but looking back, she sees the excitement "as her green light" to move forward with leaving her corporate job.

When Bravo decided to move to Paris, she focused on the potential positive effects, rather than on "what could go wrong." "I was absolutely terrified, but I closed my eyes and imagined thousands of people following that [Instagram] page in the years to come," she says.

Moten suggests getting a financial adviser before making a move. Quitting your job is a big change that can require a major shift in how we spend and live.

Bravo encourages future business owners to remember "a six-figure business doesn't mean you make six figures." You need to leave the employee mindset of "what I make is just mine," because when you are the employer and the employee, there are more expenses.

After coaching nearly 2,000 people, Bravo asked herself, "What's the difference between someone who reaches or exceeds their goals and who doesn't?" What she learned was that "it's not that one is better or smarter. It's the willingness to get out of your way every single day." In entrepreneurship there's no one telling you what you have to do or to try again when you fail. Being your own leader "is not a skill we learn in corporate, and so you're building a new muscle," Bravo says.

It's also important to remember that we don't have to live in a world of absolutes. The choice doesn't have to be "leave your job or stay," Moten says. It's possible to work part-time with a side hustle, and sometimes, the latter can grow into a full-time business.

If you're ready to turn a consistent side hustle into a full-time job, Bravo suggests focusing on your offerings that have driven the most sales, bookings, and conversions, and scaling them up. Then, collect and share customer testimonials and reviews to help potential clients see the benefits from actual customers.

But while you figure out whether to take the leap, instead of living in a world of "this or that," you can shift your focus to "this and that," Moten says.

As Black women, we can get so caught up in the pressure to succeed that we might feel the need to wait for the "right time" to make the switch. Before I made this decision, I had dreams of becoming an entrepreneur and a multi-platform influencer, but I never put those thoughts into action.

So when the opportunity to part ways with my previous employer arose, I wasn't "ready" by definition, but I felt compelled to jump. I trusted that I could find some semblance of "ready" on the way. And with a strong network, established skills, and a whole lot of faith, I did it. You can, too.

The opinions expressed by Ericka Moten in this interview are solely hers and do not express the views or opinions of the US Department of State.

Nicole Phillip is a Florida-based travel influencer, multimedia journalist, and independent social media strategist. Her stories usually focus on matters of culture, race, and intersectional feminism. In addition to PS, she has bylines in publications like The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Week, and NBCUniversal Local.