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Why Black Women Build Ladders When Traditional Pathways Won’t
Episode Title:
Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/why-black-women-build-ladders-when-traditional-pathways-wont-
Episode Video Link:
In this powerful audio episode of A Black Executive Perspective Podcast, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed sit down with Felicia Smith, Founder and Chair of The Climb, to unpack what it really means to navigate corporate systems that were never designed for you.
From being overlooked for promotion to discovering the political and strategic realities of executive leadership, Felicia breaks down the invisible tax Black women carry in corporate America and why working hard is not enough.
This is a direct conversation about power, influence, emotional intelligence, sponsorship, and collective advancement.
If you are climbing the corporate ladder, mentoring others, or trying to understand leadership at a deeper level, this episode delivers clarity and strategy.
What You Will Learn
• Why performance alone does not guarantee executive promotion
• How political navigation and sponsorship shape leadership pipelines
• The hidden emotional and professional tax Black women face
• Why collective advancement, not individual success, changes systems
▶︎ In This Episode
00:00 – The System Was Never Built for You
02:01 – Meet Felicia Smith
07:12 – When the Promotion Didn’t Come
10:32 – The Emotional Fallout
15:14 – The “Indispensable” Trap
18:05 – Learning the Political Game
24:18 – The Invisible Tax
28:42 – Selling Out or Buying In
34:22 – Why The Climb Was Created
42:07 – Is There Only One Seat
52:41 – Inside The Climb Leadership Program
58:23 – It’s Not Your Fault
1:04:40 – Build the Ladder and Reach Back
If this episode resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating leadership right now.
Because real executive leadership is not about rising alone.
It is about changing the system so others can rise with you.
🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:
🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates
subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast on- YouTube Podcasts
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify Podcasts
- Amazon Music
- Other platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit"
if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change
- subscribe to our newsletter
- give us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
- share an episode with a friend, family member or colleague
🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExec
- YouTube
- TikTok
⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbit
This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email [email protected] .
View all episodes
By TonyTidbit ™Episode Title:
Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/why-black-women-build-ladders-when-traditional-pathways-wont-
Episode Video Link:
In this powerful audio episode of A Black Executive Perspective Podcast, Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed sit down with Felicia Smith, Founder and Chair of The Climb, to unpack what it really means to navigate corporate systems that were never designed for you.
From being overlooked for promotion to discovering the political and strategic realities of executive leadership, Felicia breaks down the invisible tax Black women carry in corporate America and why working hard is not enough.
This is a direct conversation about power, influence, emotional intelligence, sponsorship, and collective advancement.
If you are climbing the corporate ladder, mentoring others, or trying to understand leadership at a deeper level, this episode delivers clarity and strategy.
What You Will Learn
• Why performance alone does not guarantee executive promotion
• How political navigation and sponsorship shape leadership pipelines
• The hidden emotional and professional tax Black women face
• Why collective advancement, not individual success, changes systems
▶︎ In This Episode
00:00 – The System Was Never Built for You
02:01 – Meet Felicia Smith
07:12 – When the Promotion Didn’t Come
10:32 – The Emotional Fallout
15:14 – The “Indispensable” Trap
18:05 – Learning the Political Game
24:18 – The Invisible Tax
28:42 – Selling Out or Buying In
34:22 – Why The Climb Was Created
42:07 – Is There Only One Seat
52:41 – Inside The Climb Leadership Program
58:23 – It’s Not Your Fault
1:04:40 – Build the Ladder and Reach Back
If this episode resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating leadership right now.
Because real executive leadership is not about rising alone.
It is about changing the system so others can rise with you.
🔗 ResourcesLinks and resources mentioned in this episode:
🔔 Listen and SubscribeListen to this episode and subscribe for future updates
subscribe to A Black Executive Perspective podcast on- YouTube Podcasts
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify Podcasts
- Amazon Music
- Other platforms or by searching "TonyTidbit"
if you like what we're doing and would like to support us, here's some ways you can help us continue the uncomfortable conversations that drive change
- subscribe to our newsletter
- give us up to a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts
- share an episode with a friend, family member or colleague
🗣️ Follow @ablackexecfollow us across social media @aBlackExec
- YouTube
- TikTok
⭐️ Follow @TonyTidbitfollow Tony across social media @TonyTidbit
This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email [email protected] .