Navigating the Workplace: A Peek into Career Coaching for Women of Color Professionals

In today's corporate landscape, women of color face unique challenges as they navigate their careers. The forward path remains a complex labyrinth for many, making it difficult to get clear and feel confident in the road ahead. This is where tailored career and executive coaching can be a game-changer for career-minded women of color.

As a career coaching firm with nearly a decade of experience working specifically with women of color, we've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of personalized guidance and career strategy. Our approach is rooted in a deep and nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of our clients in the workplace.

But what exactly does career coaching for women of color look like in practice?

For mid-career professionals, our coaching often focuses on building clarity and confidence. Many of our clients come to us feeling stuck or unsure of their next move. Through our sessions, we help them articulate their goals, develop strategies to advocate for themselves, and improve their communication skills.

The result? Women who are empowered to take control of their career trajectories.

For senior-level executives, the challenges shift. Here, we delve into navigating complex stakeholder dynamics, honing financial management and problem-solving skills at the highest levels, and developing a strong professional brand. Our clients learn to leverage their unique perspectives as women of color to become thought leaders in their industries.

Pay and Leadership Gaps Persist

The need for this specialized coaching is clear when we look at the numbers. According to Payscale's 2024 Gender Pay Gap Report, women overall earn $0.83 for every dollar men earn when data are uncontrolled. For women of color, this gap is usually even wider. The report also highlights that while the controlled pay gap (accounting for job title and other factors) has narrowed for most women of color, the uncontrolled gap persists. This means that women of color still face significant barriers in accessing higher-paying roles and advancing their careers.

Moreover, the report shows that the gender pay gap widens as women progress up the corporate ladder. At the executive level, women make just $0.72 for every dollar a male executive makes when data are uncontrolled. This underscores the critical need for targeted support and coaching as women of color ascend to leadership positions.

Why One-Size-Fits-All Coaching Falls Short

For HR professionals and L&D leaders considering coaching programs for their diverse talent, it's crucial to understand that one-size-fits-all approaches often fall short. Coaching that acknowledges and addresses the specific challenges faced by women of color can yield powerful results. We've seen our clients not only advance in their careers but also become catalysts for change within their organizations, fostering more inclusive cultures.

To illustrate the power of career coaching, especially for women considering significant career advancements, we'd like to share a revealing excerpt from one of our founder Cynthia Pong’s podcast appearances (Harvard Business Review, Women at Work) This dialogue features host Amy Bernstein role playing her former self and reflecting on a pivotal moment in her career with Cynthia.

The exchange captures a common scenario many women face: being presented with a dream opportunity and responding with self-doubt and fear.

It highlights the internal struggles that can hold us back from seizing career-defining moments.

As you read, notice how the coach helps Amy unpack her past reaction and offers strategies for handling similar situations in the future. This conversation touches on crucial themes we often encounter in our coaching practice at Embrace Change: overcoming imposter syndrome, managing fear responses, and the importance of creating space for reflection when faced with big decisions.

While this excerpt focuses solely on one scenario, it provides valuable insights into how targeted coaching can help women navigate career crossroads and overcome self-imposed limitations. It also demonstrates the lasting impact of these pivotal moments, as Amy, now more experienced, reflects on how she would coach her younger self.

Let's dive into this illuminating exchange between Amy and Cynthia.

Inside a Coaching Session: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Fear

AMY BERNSTEIN: So, be my coach, let’s say, 20 years ago.

CYNTHIA PONG: Okay.

AMY BERNSTEIN: I got a call. In my business, I would have been a senior-ish mid-level manager at that point, and I got a call from a headhunter about an editor-in-chief job, which would have been the high-level job, the one I secretly wanted but would never have had the courage to say out loud. And I responded with fear and insecurity. My first thought was, “Why would they want me?”

CYNTHIA PONG: No.

AMY BERNSTEIN: Right?

CYNTHIA PONG: Yeah.

AMY BERNSTEIN: And I said, “No, I don’t think so.” And then I lied and said, “I’m really happy here.” And I could feel my heart racing. I could feel myself just kind of… The voices in my head were shouting. What would you have said to me then?

CYNTHIA PONG: Oh, this is a tough one. First, I would have talked about, let’s unpack what’s actually going on with the voices that are screaming in your head. Where are they coming from? Literally, what are they saying? You actually hearing it outside of your head or getting it on paper, whatever is possible, is actually going to change how you feel about it as well. That’s the first set of things. We have to unpack that, and if we don’t… I don’t even care about this one editor-in-chief position, right? There will be others. If we don’t actually unravel this, it’s going to show up again, and it’s going to stymie you again.

AMY BERNSTEIN: Yeah. So, I hear fear when I talk to younger women or other women who are being offered that great leap of a promotion in some form. I often hear what you just described, and to me, it sounds like fear. And what I find myself saying is, when you feel yourself responding with fear, that flight kind of response, what you owe yourself is a little space to think.

CYNTHIA PONG: Yes.

AMY BERNSTEIN: And what you say in the moment is, “I need a little time to think about this. Give me 24 hours,” whatever, and then go talk to people you trust.

CYNTHIA PONG: Yes. Just like you said, you can always hit pause. When we feel rushed, that’s when we make the most mistakes. So, do not be complicit in false timelines on yourself. You go right back to the person, to the headhunter, “Thank you so much for your inquiry. I will get back to you.”

AMY BERNSTEIN: That’s really, really useful. So, if you really want to move up at your company, there has to be a role for you to move into, right?

Targeted Career Coaching Results in Lasting Impact and Long-term Benefits

These kinds of coaching conversations offer just a glimpse into the transformative power of tailored career guidance for women of color and other underrepresented professionals. They highlight common challenges including imposter syndrome, fear of failure, and the struggle to recognize one's own potential. But more importantly, they demonstrate how skilled coaching can help reframe these challenges into opportunities for growth and empowerment.

As we continue to navigate a professional landscape where women of color remain underrepresented in leadership roles, the value of specialized career coaching cannot be overstated. Whether you're a professional looking to advance your career or a company that’s committed to fostering talent, investing in coaching can be a powerful catalyst for change. With the right tools, strategies, and support, we can all move onward and upward together––one coaching conversation at a time.