“[O]ne of my most heartbreaking things in my CEO role is just the real acknowledgment and like the disappointments … my arrival, as the CEO does not signal an organization that's all of a sudden, perfectly inclusive,” said Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, CEO of Mercy Corps.
McKenna and other Black leaders in global development spoke to Devex Executive Vice President and Executive Editor Kate Warren and Senior Reporter Stephanie Beasley about the challenges they have faced in climbing to the top of organizations that have historically had white leadership.
Internal support from board members and colleagues is critical for Black leaders who often are dealing with unique pressures and stress, especially when they are the first Black person to hold that position, they said during this month’s Leader Roundtable event, which took place as part of Black History Month.