Power Couple’s Advice for Black Professionals on How to Succeed at Work

Entrepreneurs Raphael and Opeyemi Sofoluke want to help black people professionals reach the workplace and have written a book that offers advice and suggestions on how to stand out.

Raphael is the founding father of networking events including the UK Black Business Show and UK Black Business Week, while Opeyemi is the range and inclusion lead at Facebook. The British couple’s recent book, , is meant to be a handbook for black professionals. The book features advice and insights from 40 successful black men and girls, including Matthew Knowles, Beyoncé’s father.

“There was never a guide for Black entrepreneurs and professionals that we as young adults could turn to for advice on how to navigate white spaces,” said Raphael Business information.

Here are five key takeaways to help Black professionals succeed:

Build your personal brand within the workplace early in your profession

Raphael writes that it is necessary for black professionals to work on designing their very own image. There is a big evidence suggesting that managers and employees who aren’t black hold racial stereotypes about their black colleagues co-workersintentionally or unintentionally.

“A big part of the problem is that as black professionals, the brand is already created for us in the workplace,” Raphael said. “So if you don’t create your own brand, it’s given to you.”

Bianca Miller-Cole, entrepreneur and founding father of a private branding consultancy Be a Groupthe book states that a black person in a brand new position must prove that she or he is qualified to do the job and break down any stereotypes.friends you may learn about yourself.

Support Yourself

Because of the stereotypes about black people who can perpetuate within the workplace, the Sofolukes consider it is necessary for black professionals to believe.

One of the best lessons isn’t only working hard, but in addition expressing the worth of your work internally. An worker may feel uncomfortable when defending themselves, especially in an environment where they’re a minority, but bragging is mandatory to achieve success.

Kenneth Gibbs, chief marketing officer at Amazon, advises in his book to “never assume that your work will speak for itself, especially in an environment where there is a risk of being overlooked.”

Come to work fully yourself

Opeyemi encourages black professionals to be their best and most authentic selves at work.

“We all have multiple social identities, and how we use them depends on our environment and situation,” she writes, adding that black people entering corporate life may feel uncertain about how their colleagues perceive them and whether or not they fit.

According to the book, this is particularly true for Black women who may feel pressured to change their hairstyle in a company setting. Influencer Trina Charles writes that “the company world for essentially the most part doesn’t allow for plenty of self-expression for Black women or men and that’s just the fact of it, so that you either show up otherwise you don’t. My advice is to show up, just take that step, take that leap to be yourself.

“So if that means coming out with your natural hair, do that — address the questions, nip them in the bud and set a precedent, because if you don’t, you’re going to have to assimilate for the rest of your time there. If you don’t set a precedent, it will be set for you.”

Combine a powerful work ethic with social capital

According to Sofolukes, being hardworking isn’t enough for black professionals. It should be combined with networking and constructing real relationships.

“A person can work hard and build a reputation as the go-to person or problem solver in their department, but if they’re not seen as a thought leader or someone who can drive the strategy of the organization, then they can easily squander opportunities to advance,” Opeyemi writes.

Find a sponsor and mentor

Having a sponsor is an underrated a part of your work environment that may do wonders for your profession. Allyson Zimmermann, Director at CatalystWe read within the book: “While mentors can be viewed as career developpers, sponsors are considered career accelerators.”

The Sofolukes write that having a sponsor is more essential for success than a mentor because for black professionals, “it’s invaluable to have a sponsor or senior leader by your side who is willing to remove systematic obstacles to propel your career forward.”

To attract a sponsor, the pair suggests achievement, potential, and fervour.

“When a sponsor decides to invest in you, they do so because of what they believe in, not necessarily because of who you are today—they see greatness in you and want to nurture it,” Opeyemi writes