Hello Reader!

So picture this:

You're in a professional development webinar, furiously scribbling notes as the speaker extols the virtues of finding a mentor. "It's the key to success!" they proclaim. "Just find someone who's where you want to be and they'll teach you!"

Makes sense, right?

But as you look around your office, you realize something: there's no one who looks like you in those top positions. And the advice you've been getting? It feels... off. Like it's missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

Welcome to the Mentorship Mirage.

Today, we're diving into why traditional career advice often falls short for WOC like us. And you know, this is me, so buckle up. We're about to get real.

The Traditional Mentorship Myth

We've all heard it:

• Find a seasoned pro in your field 🤩
• Meet regularly for coffee and wisdom-sharing ✨
• Follow their path to success 📍

But here's the catch: This basic advice doesn't work for us.

Why Traditional Advice Fails Us

1. The Representation Gap. Did you know? Only 4% of C-suite positions are held by WOC. Finding a mentor who "looks like you" isn't just hard—it's damn near impossible.
2. The Intersectionality Challenge. We're not just navigating gender bias OR racial bias. We're tackling both, simultaneously (and often more intersections on top of that). It's like playing career chess in 4-D.
3. The Experience Mismatch. Well-meaning mentors might not understand the systemic barriers we face. Their "just work harder" advice? That's bringing a knife to a gunfight.

The Hidden Costs

When we do find mentors, we often face:

• Exhausting code-switching
• Pressure to represent ALL women of color
• The emotional labor of educating mentors about racial and/or issues

Sound familiar? You're not alone.

Coming Up in Part 2...

Next week, we'll explore:

• How to rethink, reshape, and reframe mentorship for WOC
• Practical strategies for finding guidance and solutions that actually work
• How organizations can step up their game

Your Turn:

I want to hear from you! What's been your experience with mentorship? Hit reply and let me know:

1. Have you had a mentor? How did you find them?
2. What's the best (or worst) career advice you've received?

Your insights could shape a future workshop on "Mentorship That Actually Works for WOC." 👀

Before I go––Remember: your experiences are valid, your challenges are real, and your success is possible—even if the traditional playbook doesn't show you how (that's what I'm here for 🤪).

Stay fierce,
Cynthia

Join us for our upcoming fall events 🍁

• ​Job Search Workshop for WOC: Sept 24, 6:00 PM EDT. First 5 registrants get tailored job search coaching<--the early bird bonus SOLD OUT, but you can still grab your ticket here to join in on the learning!
• ​Structured Networking for WOC: Sept 25, 5:30 PM EDT. Tickets going fast.
• *Last Chance to Join* Women of Color Writing Accountability Group: Every Saturday from Oct 5 through Nov 9 at 3pm ET.

PS – Breaking News: Guess Who's Now a Forbes Contributor! ⚡️✍️💁🏻‍♀️

Grab your coffee (or tea, or kombucha, or whatever gets you hyped) because I've got some BIG news to share:

I just became a Forbes Contributor! 🤯

I know, right? It's like that moment when you nail a presentation you've been stressing over for weeks, multiplied by a thousand. Except you also weren't expecting it at all 😆

So...What's the Big Deal?

If you're one of the OGs on The Trajectory, you know we've been on this journey for a while now. We've talked about breaking barriers, owning our worth, and changing the game for WOC in the workplace.

Well, this? This is us turning up the volume on that conversation to 11 🎚

As a Forbes Contributor, I'm bringing our stories, our struggles, and our triumphs to one of the biggest stages in the business world. We're not just talking about change anymore. We are making it happen––as Makini Chisolm-Straker, MD, MPH, one of the rockstars in our Leadership Network said––through the front door 🚪

AND my debut article is already LIVE! 🥹

How Leaders Can Effectively Communicate In Today's Workplace

Please show it some love and drop a comment!

I’ll be publishing twice a month, so click that Follow button by my byline and stay tuned for more!🎉

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