Overcoming barriers is one thing, but creating opportunities for others to do the same is another.
After nearly two decades of working as an executive at JPMorgan Chase, Thasunda Brown Duckett became the president and CEO of TIAA, which works to close gaps in retirement and provide equitable opportunities for investment.
At the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) Business Summit during the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture presented by Coca-Cola, Duckett spoke about how the impact she’s making extends past the financial retirement services company and how her serving as a Black woman CEO can provide inspiration for young Black women.
When it comes to the imposter syndrome that those who look like her often face entering corporate spaces, Duckett shared guidance with AFROTECH™ for how future Black executives can navigate such challenges.
“When you think about imposter syndrome, which we all have at certain points in our life, I think the most important thing is as you’re going through life, especially in business, where you’re going to fumble, where you’re going to have issues, where you’re going to have challenges, if you’re operating as the imposter, the imposter is the one who’s benefiting,” Duckett told AFROTECH™. “So you actually never grow. Then, as you continue to navigate your career, you’ve never harnessed those lessons to turn that into something that can be your testimony, that can be your foundation for how you tell your story to ultimately impact, to build your confidence. The most important thing for young girls to know is that when you operate as an imposter, every lesson, every acknowledgement, every win went to the imposter. And you never grow, which means you never built that confidence because your imposter has been the beneficiary.”
During Duckett’s fireside chat at GBEF’s Business Summit, she stated “Be proud of the progress, but do not get tired.” The statement rings true for Duckett because although she has reached historic career milestones and received global praise, the TIAA president and CEO continues to be intentional in expanding her leadership skills to create even more impact in her communities and leave a blueprint for future generations. Duckett expressed to AFROTECH™ that something that drives her to keep going is the excitement that comes with progress within her industry, celebrating earned wins, and knowing that there’s still impactful work ahead to achieve.
“We have to take a moment to not always feel so heavy, but to say we have a lot to celebrate, a lot to build from, but we know it’s a story that’s incomplete… There’s only two Black women running a Fortune 500 [company],” Duckett emphasized. “Progress should be three, four, five. Progress should be where we don’t even have to count it because it is what is. There’s only 52 women running a Fortune 500. So how do we believe that there’s meritocracy and say we’re good when there’s only 52? Yet women are graduating at a faster rate than men.”
She added, “What gives me hope is that I see young people, and I see young people that will be in every aspect of corporate America. I see young people that will birth companies that we cannot imagine. I see young people that will be on all sides of the political, Democrat, Republican, Independent. I see more young people that will become the next senator, the next congressman or -woman. I see young people changing the course of the world for the better. And that is the optimism that keeps me excited and keeps me going, and say, ‘I still have work to do to make sure that I’m inspiring and connecting and holding space for this next generation to not just meet me where I am, but to exceed where I am.”
