So, what's it like to be a Minority Boss? This is a question I've asked myself in an attempt to help my majority coworkers (in the US, those who are perceived as White) understand what it's like to lead a team of people who are not from their majority background. I know I'll never be asked this question at a job unless I was in an Employee Resource Group with people who look like me. So, I'll save us the awkwardness of asking and dive into my experience of being a Minority Boss.

A Minority Boss faces the same issues a minority worker faces in any company: limited access to opportunities, a limited network, overcoming stereotypes, and more scrutiny than her white coworkers would ever receive. However, here are some caveats I’ve experienced as a minority in a leadership role:

1. Perfectionism still haunts me. I'm afraid of any misstep or mistake and always know that one visible issue can lead to my dismissal.
2. My opportunities for growth are scarce. Whenever I have asked for a promotion, raise, or more challenging work, I'm often told I'm not ready. But, I often see white coworkers "fail up" and given the benefit of the doubt when projects don't work. They can use their current title to get promoted anywhere, whereas I often have to start over if I leave a company or boss.
3. I don't have many examples or resources I can connect to. My parents didn't go to university, so when I was choosing colleges, I had to make my own decisions, research, and of course, had to take on all the cost myself. As a boss, I often don't see minorities lead. I don't have friends or family at that level either. So I am just like a student, being told to figure it all out on my own, or else, I would be left behind (more on that in the Minority Student section of this article).
4. My authority is always challenged. When I walk into a room, I have to look like a boss, which often means I can't dress as casually as my white colleagues. I don't think I would get as far as I have with visible tattoos or other creative wardrobe choices like wearing a cowboy hat. This is why I'm more comfortable wearing a suit than I am in jeans and a hoodie - at least if I'm dressed well people don't assume I'm up to no good. I also have to go out of my way to ensure my orders are followed. Usually, at least some of my white co-workers don't want to comply with my best practices or even bother to treat me with respect. I've been openly belittled, chided, and given nicknames like "boy scout" for wanting to follow the rules by the book. The thing is, I have to follow the rules! Any transgressions I commit will not be forgiven nor will I get the benefit of the doubt. But I regularly see white coworkers skirt authority and do things "their way" and challenge their company (and their very bosses) to stop them.

How Do I Overcome the Issues Listed Above?

In order to protect myself and my job, I make daily work summaries and send them to my direct reports and bosses so they can see what I am doing at all times. I often keep many of my events visible so no one thinks I am not working during my "work from home" time. If I get sick, I don't complain about it. If I take time off, I usually work during that time to show how dedicated I am to my job. I can't "check out" at all. If there is a failure on a project, it's still my fault. I'm used to getting ALL CAPS EMAILS at any hour of the day from a higher-up...and I better be prepared for that bus I may find myself under.

Despite all this, I still challenge myself to be a great boss by offering mentoring and educational opportunities to my reports. The higher I rise in the ranks of corporate America, I know other minorities will see it and know it’s possible they can rise, too. It doesn't make being a Minority Boss easier, but I am proud of the work I've been allowed to accomplish.

Before Being a Minority Boss, I Was a Minority Worker

When I moved to Los Angeles, as a minority worker, I knew I wasn't going to get a job unless I showed that I am very talented and hard-working. True of most people but even truer as a minority, I believe.

I arrived with a Master's in Film Production, viral videos with millions of views, film festival awards, and the skills to edit, produce, shoot, and write...I would do whatever it took to get a foothold in the entertainment industry! I left Chicago specifically because I was only getting production assistant work despite everything I was able to accomplish. I hoped that L.A. would be more welcoming to someone like me...or at least have more opportunities to prove myself.

I got my first break as an assistant editor from a professor's recommendation. I don't know if I would have survived financially in Los Angeles without this endorsement since I had no other network to rely on.

I was trained by my predecessor and then left to my own devices...I wanted to learn to be an editor but this was a closed job system like in many studios - people had their jobs, protected them, and didn't want to give their secrets away, lest they be replaced.

Much of my management philosophy has come from this first job experience in L.A. I remember feeling scrutinized when I let coworkers know that I only have about 4 hours of work a day - and I wanted to do more. Instead of being met with more work, I was looked at as unnecessary - I was laid off, asked to train my replacements, and promised that I would be given a job if anything opened up (it didn't).

From there, I took freelance work, making sure I was as perfect, busy, and as professional as possible at every job I took. I knew full well that any perceived slight (whether it be being late to a meeting or making a misspelling in an email) could mean my dismissal from the job...or that I would simply not be asked back.

I got another lucky break when a friend recommended me for a job I never thought of doing professionally, post supervisor. Well, that's not entirely true. I knew I could lead a team. The only leadership roles I ever had were for shows I pitched my sold myself. To this day, my own Executive Producer credits are from my years-long efforts to prove I can handle that responsibility: from concept to script, to sizzle/presentation, and then pilot. I knew I didn't have the traditional credits to be made a supervisor, so when I was asked to apply for the role of Post Production Supervisor, I was in shock since I applied for the Assistant Editor (the same job level I had for over 6 years, my own shows excluded).

I had no idea how to be a boss within another organization, so I read up on some books like Radical Candor and reread my lessons as a teacher...then it was sink or swim time! Luckily for me, I have been swimming for a long time!

Before being a Minority Worker, I Was a Minority Student

Before I was a Minority Worker, I had to endure the experience of being a minority student. In school, I was often the only non-white person in my honors classes and didn't have many Latinos (or any minorities for that matter) that I could turn to for guidance or companionship. If I were to succeed in academics and socially, I would be asked to assimilate and figure things out on my own.

My parents wanted me to fit into the school culture, of course, and were warned by the school's language therapist that speaking Spanish at home would, "Confuse me." This isn't true. But this warning began the harsh reality that my culture, my language, and my history...basically anything that didn't fit into the white culture...was just for my family and me to have at home... and even then...to be limited as much as possible.

As a minority student, I focused on my studies because I found that my white teachers treated me far better than the white students would. So, I worked hard to be one of the best - the more I achieved, the more praise and belonging I would get from my white teachers!

Conversely, though, I would get more and more rejection from the white students. I was officially a Mexican Nerd. My efforts to blend in would never be enough for my peers, I learned. So, I hoped that I would get the support I needed from my teachers alone. However, I learned that my teachers too, would not support me often if I showed any amount of struggle.

To be specific, I remember struggling as a 5th-grade honors math student. We were learning how to divide fractions and I was getting frustrated. Instead of my teacher helping me, she assigned a fellow student to help - who quickly got frustrated and gave up on me.

Later that month, I was dropped down to "regular" math since I wasn't "getting" the concept. Every day, I would peek into my old honors math class, seeing them doing activities and lessons I wanted to do. However, I was blocked, simply because I needed help with one part of one lesson. I found the "regular" math level to be too easy and boring and promised myself I would get back on the honors math track. I desperately needed to prove that teacher wrong. (I did that in Junior High and in high school by taking honors and AP Calculus courses. I even took optional math courses in college because of how long this inadequacy stuck with me).

If you're reading this as a minority, please reach out. I would be more than happy to talk more about this topic and any guidance you may need. I would love to hear your stories about being a boss, a worker, or a student!

If you are part of the majority, THANK YOU for reading all the way until the end. I and other minorities cannot be successful without our White Allies. As much as I try to be the change, it is up to the corporate elite to look inside their organizations and realize that an unconscious bias has been weighing on their minority workers their entire life. It's made us stronger in a lot of ways, but also tired. Please also invite us out, have a beer or coffee with us, and we can all talk about how much we loved watching Succession. And maybe there's a recommendation or job you can send our way, too.

-Ramiro

The Round Boss