THE MODEL BLACK
THE MODEL BLACK®
A new paradigm in black leadership
Why do many black people in the workplace have to navigate power in a way that white people don’t? What causes self-silencing? How can leaders approach conversations about race in a positive way?
Barbara Banda, in conversation with John Higgins at Duke Corporate Education, reveals the thinking that led her to write The Model Black and unveils insights from her candid research into the black British experience. She illustrates why she wants the book to be a starting point for a discussion about ways that people show up at work.
Encouraging positive conversations around race
If we want to have better, more positive conversations around race, we must first understand our differences. The Model Black provides ideas and insights to help us navigate these discussions with depth and understanding, to create work environments where black leaders can thrive.
WHY THE MODEL BLACK?
Barbara says, “As a black woman who has trained senior leaders for more than 20 years, I’ve always been struck by the lack of people who look like me. The presence of black leaders has always been disappointingly rare. I wanted to understand the stories of those who are successful.”
She was surprised to find very little research on the experience of black British leaders, so decided to conduct her own. The Model Black: How Black British Leaders Succeed in Organisations and Why It Matters draws on candid interviews with 30 accomplished black leaders, offering a fresh perspective on the black British experience.
Through deeply personal stories, the book explores the challenges, compromises, struggles, and triumphs faced by black professionals, highlighting the different approaches they use to thrive in a predominantly "white" workplace.
By unveiling the shared attributes and behaviours of successful black leaders, Barabara’s goal is to shed light on their daily experiences at work to provide a foundation for discussions on inclusion. In The Model Black, she offers practical and pragmatic steps for individuals and organisations to embrace discomfort, authentically lead change, promote belonging, and actively foster a more inclusive work environment through informed and intelligent conversation.
If you want to hear how black leaders have succeeded or are unsure where to start, what to do, or what to say when understanding and talking about race at work, this book is for you.
“This book makes great strides in helping decision-makers think again about the nuances of diversity, equity and inclusion in organisations. It contains practical ideas that provide a springboard for a better understanding of the diverse communities on which global organisations rely for their success.”
“Barbara provides the insights leaders need to have an open and honest dialogue around self-disclosure and what being black – and more importantly a black leader – in the workplace means. It is a must read for both black and white leaders responsible for managing, skilling, reskilling, and hiring talent to improve culture and create a true merit-based workplace.”
BUSINESS BOOK AWARDS 2023
“The Model Black” has been shortlisted for the Business Book Awards 2023 within the Diversity, Inclusion & Equality category.
The Business Book Awards in partnership with Pathway Group aims to celebrate the breadth, diversity, and quality of business book publishing and has campaigned for diversity and inclusion in the sector since it was founded in 2017.Winners will be announce in May 2023.
“The Model Black” Launch Event
Duke Corporate Education hosted a launch event for The Model Black, to celebrate Black History Month. At this exclusive event, Barbara shared insights from the research and the book in discussion with John Higgins, Author and Researcher. John and Barbara debated the implications of the research and how it can contribute to having more positive experiences and conversations around race.
