Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America

American companies may tout their equal opportunity initiatives, but with 95% of all executive-level positions in the US held by white males, most of these programs clearly fall far short of their goals when it comes to diversifying upper management. Yet, even in the face of such overwhelming odds, some minority executives do break through to the highest leadership ranks. What can we learn from these success stories? In one of the first in-depth studies to focus on minorities who have made it to the top, Breaking Through examines the crucial connection between corporate culture and the advancement of people of color. The often surprising conclusions drawn by authors Thomas and Gabarro represent important milestones both for the study of organizational practice and for minorities planning their own course of professional achievement.

Breaking Through profiles minority executives at three different firms who encountered-and conquered-barriers throughout their careers. It then contrasts their successes with the experiences of white executives who’ve reached upper management, and with white and minority middle managers coming to grips with stalled careers at the same companies. From the compelling stories a distinct pattern emerges in the way minorities advance. The message is clear and startling: the path that leads minorities to the top is fundamentally different than the route followed by their white peers. Here are the determining factors–both individual and organizational–that correspond to the advancement of minority executives to the highest levels.

Breaking Through is an unflinching look at the very real obstacles that await minorities in a workforce whose leadership is still predominantly white. Pathways to success do exist for minorities, say Thomas and Gabarro, and breakthroughs can happen-if individuals and organizations understand the roles they play in creating the opportunities that enable minority executives to reach the top.