Feb 1, 2021
The sales industry has space for more women of color, so we discuss what women of color need to know to gain a seat at the table. In this episode, Minda Harts talks about how women can make it into the sales world.
Minda Harts has been living in New York for the last eight years. She’s originally from South Carolina and the first person in her family to enter the world of corporate America. Most of Minda’s career was as a fundraising consultant for university and college. She started her company called Memo LLC in 2015 where she looks at equity in relation to women of color and she wanted to be a part of that change.
Biggest challenges in getting a seat at the table
- Building a network is a challenge. Sometimes, even when you’re working really hard, nothing much is going to happen.
- Minda is an introvert and she needed to make an effort in getting out there, building networks and connections.
- Minda was also the only black woman in the space she was in. It felt like she was walking on eggshells.
- Despite the challenges, Minda knew that she owed it to herself to see what’s on the other side. She knew that if she wanted something different, she needed to activate something inside of her.
- Minda initially believed that she didn’t have a voice and she couldn’t talk about some things in the workplace.
Championing oneself
- Anybody can serve as a mentor for you.
- Minda tried to get the attention of a senior executive in their company. She did it little by little and eventually, he became her mentor.
- It’s important to find your voice and decide how to use it. You need to learn to articulate your needs in the workplace to the people who can help you.
- Aside from taking your seat, you also need to add value.
- Another tool in advancing your career is by building relationships because success is not a solo sport.
- You also need to have the courage to get the things you want. You need to understand your why. Always remember why you’re doing what you’re doing.
- Don’t be distracted or discouraged when you meet people who will not help your cause. Continue looking out for sponsors and mentors. Keep putting yourself out there bit by bit.
- We all have a sphere of leadership and influence. We all can be helpful in one way or another.
- If you know somebody who can do the job perfectly well, try to toss their name forward.
“What Women of Color Need to Know to Gain a Seat at the Table” episode resources
Follow Minda Harts on LinkedIn. You can also check out her website. You can get her book, The Memo on Amazon.
Do you have more stories to tell? Talk to Linda Yates here. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by the TSE Studios including The Sales Evangelist and more.
This episode is sponsored by The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and smash their quotas. Int-HER-rupt Podcast is produced by the team at TSE Studios,
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Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.