Can you navigate power and politics?

I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to women of color at the University of Pennsylvania about navigating power and politics in academe. Understanding how to navigate power and politics is a critical skill for women working in any organization. I learned from my research study of 9 women of color presidents and provosts that power is influence and understanding institutional politics helped them advance and attain senior leadership positions. When you find yourself trying to maneuver through organizational politics it is helpful to have someone that has influence and an understanding of how things get done in the organization to act as your "guide." I learned from these women leaders that their mentors taught them how to avoid pitfalls and maneuver in directions that they were unaware of.

In this workshop, women spoke of supervisors who used their power over them, used their identity against them, or limited their promotions. However, many women had deans and directors that provided professional development opportunities, created jobs, and promoted them. A particular theme was how to find a mentor or keep in touch with people in your network.