Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America

In one of the first in-depth studies to focus on minorities who have made it to the top, Breaking Through examines the crucial connection between corporate culture and the advancement of people of color. American companies may tout their equal opportunity initiatives, but with 95% of all executive-level positions in the United States held by white males, most of these programs clearly fall far short of their goals when it comes to diversifying upper management. Yet, even in the face of such overwhelming odds, some minority executives do break through to the highest leadership ranks. What can we learn from these success stories? The often surprising conclusions drawn by authors Thomas and Gabarro represent important milestones both for the study of organizational practice and for minorities planning their own course of professional achievement. Here are the determining factors—both individual and organizational—that correspond to the advancement of minority executives to the highest levels.

• Good Is Not Enough: And Other Unwritten Rules for Minority Professionals
• Working While Black: The Black Person's Guide to Success in the White Workplace
• Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness
• Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People
• Leading for Equity: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Montgomery County Public Schools
• No More Invisible Man: Race and Gender in Men's Work
• Cracking the Corporate Code: The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African-American Executives (An AMA research report)
• Protected by Purpose: How the Transformation from Hopelessness and Despair Can Lead to an Extraordinary Life
• Becoming
• Minority Rules: Turn Your Ethnicity Into a Competitive Edge