For many college graduates, college is some of the best years of their lives. However, after graduation, most are hit with the reality of becoming an adult, potentially working for a corporation and trying to climb the corporate ladder. (But, most face the reality of becoming an adult, potentially working for a corporation and trying to climb the corporate ladder after graduation.)
After spending those exciting years in college, an important question to consider is whether your alma mater can be a factor in making it into the c-suite. Many Blacks are faced with this question because of the value of their education, whether they attended an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) or a PWI (Predominantly White Institution).
Over the last few decades, there has always been the perception that Corporate America is filled with only white men wearing white button-up dress shirts. Although this is somewhat a reality depending on what corporation and industry you work for. But in the 1980s, Dr. Clifton Wharton Jr. became the first black CEO of a Fortune 500 Company and this image of Corporate America shifted slightly. This was a huge deal back then because companies began to see the importance of diversity not only within companies but also within executive level positions.
There is a saying that Blacks need to be “twice as good” and that is exemplified in Corporate America. With education being fundamental to one’s progression in their career, getting a higher education from a HBCU or a PWI has been debatable, regardless, entering into the C-Suite is not always guaranteed and it has specifically been a rarity for Blacks. There have only been 15 Black CEOs in the history of Fortune 500 companies.
There are many notable African-Americans that have made it to the C-Suite after attending an HBCU. For example, Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Sam’s Club, Denise Young Smith, Apple’s Vice President of Worldwide Human Resources, among many others that have reached a very high level within the coveted C-Suite. After developing many competitive and successful individuals, it has been proven that HBCU recruitment is one of the biggest opportunities to increase diversity within the workplace.
The main reason companies are aiming for increased diversity is that it has been proven that companies with higher diversity, have higher profits, are more marketable and have increased chances of leading in innovation.
Even though achieving an executive position as an African-American is really difficult on its own, attending an HBCU is a great avenue to take if your goal is to make it into the C-Suite. HBCU’s develop their people to be great professionals, and they foster a different kind of confidence, a different kind of work ethic than the experience of people attending PWIs. These traits are extremely valuable, especially for corporations that lack diversity. Although Blacks are still underrepresented within the C-Suite and as of today there are only 3 black CEOs in the Fortune 500, HBCU’s, mentoring programs and companies like Black Heights can have a huge impact when it comes to upward mobility and getting a seat in the Suite.
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