The Visibility Gap for Experienced Black Women Leaders
Expertise doesn’t automatically create visibility. Learn why experienced Black women leaders can remain unseen and how thought leadership can change that.
Jacqueline Kaba-Harrison Hon.Ph.D
10/29/20263 min read
Talent and Visibility Are Not the Same Thing
One of the biggest myths about professional success is that exceptional work automatically creates recognition.
It doesn’t always happen that way.
You can be highly educated.
Extremely experienced.
Respected by colleagues.
Excellent at what you do.
And still have relatively little visibility outside the organization or professional circle where people already know you.
For experienced Black women leaders, that creates an important question: If people can’t discover your expertise, how far can your influence travel?
The Visibility Gap
The visibility gap is the distance between what you know and how many people know that you know it.
A leader can spend 25 years developing extraordinary expertise while almost all of that expertise remains inside one company or industry network.
That’s not necessarily a problem if that is what she wants.
But it becomes a problem when she wants to transition into consulting, speaking, entrepreneurship, board leadership or other opportunities requiring a strong professional brand.
At that point, expertise needs discoverability.
Visibility Isn’t Vanity
Some accomplished women feel uncomfortable intentionally increasing their visibility.
Self-promotion can feel unnatural.
But professional visibility doesn’t have to mean constantly talking about yourself.
One of the best ways to build visibility is to teach.
Share ideas.
Ask better questions.
Host conversations.
Interview other experts.
Discuss industry challenges.
Explain what experience has taught you.
Visibility becomes a byproduct of providing value.
The Visibility Gap for Experienced Black Women Leaders
Personal Branding After 20+ Years
Personal branding for Black women leaders doesn’t require manufacturing a new identity.
Quite the opposite.
After decades of experience, the strongest brand is usually built around what is already true.
What do you know?
What do you believe?
What issues matter to you?
What conversations do you want to lead?
Who do you want to help?
Your answers create the foundation of your thought leadership brand.
Stop Renting All of Your Visibility
Social media is valuable.
Use it.
But don’t allow your entire professional visibility strategy to depend on one social platform.
Algorithms change.
Platforms change.
Audience behavior changes.
Your larger strategy should include assets and content that help establish your authority across multiple channels.
That might include your website, email list, television show, podcast, articles, speaking appearances and strategic partnerships.
Each channel strengthens the others.
An article can introduce someone to your show.
A television episode can become a social media clip.
A social post can lead someone to your website.
Your website can convert that visitor into a subscriber or prospective client.
That’s an ecosystem.
Visibility Creates Opportunity
Greater visibility doesn’t guarantee opportunity.
But invisibility can make opportunities harder to access.
Someone can’t invite you to speak if they’ve never encountered your ideas.
A potential client can’t consider you if they don’t know you exist.
A journalist can’t easily discover your perspective if there’s little content associated with your expertise.
Visibility puts your ideas in motion.
Your Expertise Deserves a Larger Room
RYP TV is particularly interested in helping experienced Black women leaders recognize the value of their voices.
You have spent decades accumulating knowledge.
Now consider expanding the room where that knowledge is shared.
Not for attention.
For impact.
Not because your title isn’t enough.
Because your experience can serve people who will never work inside your organization.
The visibility gap closes when expertise stops remaining hidden.
You don’t need permission to become more visible.
You need a platform and something worth saying.
After 20+ years of leadership, you already have the second.
RYP TV can help you explore the first.
Ready to host your own TV show? Let’s talk.
Schedule a time to chat:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13965297&appointmentType=23781887
Book a call today.
