Table Of Content“ Our Separate Ways is a groundbreaking account of Black and White
professional women’s formation of identities, relationships, and career
breakthroughs. Seminal scholars and change agents, Smith and Nkomo
draw upon de cades of timeless research and compelling wisdom to illu-
minate the intersections of race, gender, and class. A must- read for any
leader who seeks to advance true equity and inclusion in the workplace.”
— L AURA MORGAN ROBERTS, Professor of Practice, University of Virginia
Darden School of Business; coeditor, Race, Work, and Leadership
“ Our Separate Ways gives readers a stark look at the corporate world, through
the lens of race and gender equity. It’s a must- read for any business leader
who cares about developing and retaining extraordinary talent. An excel-
lent how-to for creating a culture where dignity and hard work prevail, and
one and all thrive. This book should be on the desk not only of every CEO
and HR man ag er, but anyone wanting to build a successful workplace.”
—M IKA BRZEZINSKI, cohost, Morning Joe; founder, Know Your Value
“ Our Separate Ways reinforces what we’ve seen for years: that indus-
try has been historically tone- deaf, muting the voices and dollars of
BIPOC women, and that we need to commit to an agenda that supports
women— and Black women in par tic u lar. Smith and Nkomo inspire me to
continue to take a critical lens to the industries and organ izations I spon-
sor, and they remind all of us to hold ourselves accountable in ushering
in an era of radical change.”
— MOJ MAHDARA, cofounder and CEO, Beautycon Media
“ The obstacles that Black women encounter in corporate Amer i ca were
invisible until Our Separate Ways was originally published. Now, two de-
cades later, the book is an even more urgent read as we strive to answer
the growing calls for gender equality and an end to systemic racism. The
continuing significance of Smith and Nkomo’s groundbreaking research
on how race and gender shape women’s ascendancy to leadership follows
in the tradition of W. E. B. Dubois’s classic work on race.”
— DAVID A. THOMAS, President, More house College; coeditor, Race,
Work, and Leadership
“ Our Separate Ways builds a critical framework for exploring the intersec-
tion between gender and race at work, engaging in complex conversations
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across the racial divide, calling in collaborative co- conspirators, and exe-
cuting the structural and cultural shifts that will allow all women to
thrive in our workplaces and communities.”
— GWYNETH PALTROW, founder and CEO, goop
“ Our Separate Ways changed my life two de cades ago and it w ill change
yours. Ella Bell Smith and Stella M. Nkomo have long given us permis-
sion to build a shared vision for change and the real practices and pol-
icies necessary to create workplaces that are f ree of gendered systemic
racism. Refreshingly honest and inspiring, it is the book every leader
needs.”
— DAISY AUGER- DOMINGUEZ, Chief People Officer, VICE Media Group
“ I have spent the last thirty years working with women leaders, focusing
on their unique qualities, and helping them lead more powerfully. Read-
ing this book and the research at its foundation is transformational.”
— JULIE CASTRO ABRAMS, founder and CEO, How Women Lead;
General Partner, How Women Invest
“ Women of color are getting left behind in a world that’s racing ahead.
The future of work is about humanizing the workplace so that every per-
son is vis i ble and valued. Paying lip ser vice to diversity initiatives and not
solving for racial and gender bias w ill limit business potential and innova-
tion. Our Separate Ways is a call to action for business leaders to be change
agents who ignite lasting transformation.”
— NIKKI BARUA, cofounder and CEO, Beyond Barriers
“ In early 2003 I worked for a nonprofit that was hosting a book tour
for Ella Bell Smith. I had three days to prepare and read Our Separate
Ways. Little did I know that the book would change the course of my life
and career. It was b ecause of Our Separate Ways that I began my c areer in
Diversity and Inclusion.”
— LYBRA CLEMONS, Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer, Twilio
“ Twenty years a fter it was first published, Our Separate Ways is even more
crucial to leading the dialogue necessary for us all to act t oday. Brilliantly
written, with deep research and insights, this book is a must- read.”
—R OSALIND HUDNELL, retired Chair and President, Intel Foundation
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“ The barriers to leadership for women of color have existed for far too
long and persist today. Our Separate Ways is a timely call to action at a
moment when corporate Amer i ca is leaning into change. As companies
work to achieve racial and gender equity, now is the time to bridge the
divide and dismantle outmoded structures to ensure all women leaders
can advance and thrive.”
—L ANAYA IRVIN, CEO, Coqual
“ As a leader in the HR and DEI space, my challenge has always been in con-
verting the ‘nod of the head’ into meaningful investments and impact-
ful actions to advance Black and Brown w omen in leadership. Smith
and Nkomo provide thought- provoking insights and forthright advice for
leaders to address systemic racism in the workplace. Our Separate Ways is a
must- read for every leader. Radical change is necessary, and the time is now.”
—M ONICA MARQUEZ, cofounder and Chief Innovation Officer,
Beyond Barriers
“ Our Separate Ways should be required reading for anyone working in
corporate Amer i ca today. Its relevance lays bare the painful real ity that
pro gress for w omen, particularly women of color, has barely shifted in
the past twenty years. It’s an urgent wake-up call that if we don’t radi-
cally shift our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, w e’re at risk
of another two de cades passing without any significant change.”
— DYLLAN MCGEE, founder, McGee Media and (AOL) MAKERS
“ Given the reckoning in Amer i ca and the urgency to increase diversity
in leadership, this new edition of Our Separate Ways lays out the impera-
tive for women to build greater empathy and support for women of color
by courageously addressing the critical role intersectionality— gender,
ethnicity, and race— plays, including disparities in their advancement.
It’s a call to action for organ izations to break down systemic barriers by
relentlessly cultivating more equitable and inclusive workplaces where
every woman can succeed no matter their identity.”
— CINDY R. PACE, Vice President, Global Chief Diversity
and Inclusion Officer, MetLife
“ This conversation has never been more critical. Despite the success of
women of all colors, what has been required of them to reach their success
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is often overlooked. The tools we must develop in order to thrive are
often overlooked and almost never talked about. Smith and Nkomo
bring forth these impor tant realizations in Our Separate Ways, rec-
ognizing that we don’t yet understand how to support each other and
thrive in the workplace.”
— ALICIN REIDY WILLIAMSON, Se nior Vice President,
Chief Inclusion Officer, Endeavor
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Our
Separate
Ways
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Our
Separate
Ways
Black and White Women
and the Struggle for
Professional Identity
ELLA BELL SMITH
STELLA M. NKOMO
Harvard Business Review Press
Boston, Massachusetts
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Cherríe Moraga’s “The Welder,” from This Bridge Called Me Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color,
3d ed., edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa (Berkeley, CA: Third Woman Press, 2001),
is reprinted by the kind permission of Cherríe Moraga and Third Woman Press. The excerpt from
Kate Rushin’s “Word Prob lems” is reprinted by the kind permission of Kate Rushin.
Copyright 2021 Ella L. J. Edmondson Bell and Stella M. Nkomo
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
other wise), without the prior permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be directed
to permissions@harvardbusiness . org, or mailed to Permissions, Harvard Business School Publishing,
60 Harvard Way, Boston, Mas sa chu setts 02163.
The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the book’s publication
but may be subject to change.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Smith, Ella Bell, 1949– author. | Nkomo, Stella M., 1947– author.
Title: Our separate ways, : black and white women and the struggle for professional identity /
Ella Bell Smith, Stella M. Nkomo.
Description: [New edition] | Boston, Massachusetts : Harvard Business Review Press,
[2021] | “With a new preface and epilogue.”
Identifiers: LCCN 2021006370 (print) | LCCN 2021006371 (ebook) | ISBN 9781647821371
(hardcover) | ISBN 9781647821388 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: African American women executives. | African American women
in the professions.
Classification: LCC HD6054.4.U6 S655 2021 (print) | LCC HD6054.4.U6 (ebook) |
DDC 331.4/8658008996073—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021006370
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021006371
ISBN: 978-1-64782-137-1
eISBN: 978-1-64782-138-8
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From Ella:
I dedicate this book to my beloved husband,
Clarence A. Smith, known as
Clay to our family and friends. Thank you, Babe,
for making me a better w oman.
With you I became more loving, more caring,
more tender and kinder. I will forever love you madly.
From Stella:
I dedicate this book to my wonderful granddaughter,
Nia Siphiwe Nkomo. You are the light of my life and already
a beacon of hope for compassionate and caring leadership
that will make the world a better place for all.
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