Overcoming personal barriers is significant, but creating opportunities for others to do the same is transformative.
Thasunda Brown Duckett, after nearly two decades as an executive at JPMorgan Chase, has become the president and CEO of TIAA. In this role, she focuses on closing gaps in retirement and providing equitable investment opportunities.
At the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) Business Summit during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola, Duckett highlighted how her impact extends beyond TIAA and how her position as a Black woman CEO can inspire young Black women.
Addressing the common issue of imposter syndrome faced by those who look like her, Duckett shared insights with AFROTECH™ on navigating such challenges.
“When you think about imposter syndrome, which we all have at certain points in our life, I think the most important thing is as you’re going through life, especially in business, where you’re going to fumble, where you’re going to have issues, where you’re going to have challenges, if you’re operating as the imposter, the imposter is the one who’s benefiting,” Duckett told Afrotech.
She added:
“So you actually never grow. Then, as you continue to navigate your career, you’ve never harnessed those lessons to turn that into something that can be your testimony, that can be your foundation for how you tell your story to ultimately impact, to build your confidence. The most important thing for young girls to know is that when you operate as an imposter, every lesson, every acknowledgement, every win went to the imposter. And you never grow, which means you never built that confidence because your imposter has been the beneficiary.”
During her fireside chat at the GBEF Business Summit, Duckett encouraged attendees to “Be proud of the progress, but do not get tired.”
This mantra resonates deeply with Duckett, who, despite her historic career milestones and global recognition, remains committed to expanding her leadership skills to make a greater impact. She aims to leave a blueprint for future generations.
“We have to take a moment to not always feel so heavy, but to say we have a lot to celebrate, a lot to build from, but we know it’s a story that’s incomplete… There’s only two Black women running a Fortune 500 [company],” Duckett stated. “Progress should be three, four, five. Progress should be where we don’t even have to count it because it is what is. There’s only 52 women running a Fortune 500. So how do we believe that there’s meritocracy and say we’re good when there’s only 52? Yet women are graduating at a faster rate than men.”
Duckett expressed optimism for the future, inspired by the potential she sees in young people.:
“What gives me hope is that I see young people, and I see young people that will be in every aspect of corporate America. I see young people that will birth companies that we cannot imagine. I see young people that will be on all sides of the political, Democrat, Republican, Independent. I see more young people that will become the next senator, the next congressman or -woman. I see young people changing the course of the world for the better. And that is the optimism that keeps me excited and keeps me going, and say, ‘I still have work to do to make sure that I’m inspiring and connecting and holding space for this next generation to not just meet me where I am, but to exceed where I am.”
