Listen to this article 5 min
Editor’s note: “My Story” is where business executives share their personal and professional backgrounds and journeys that have made them who they are, in their own candid words, from the challenges of confronting stereotypes to the glory in overcoming them. Amid calls for racial justice, we can only make real change with greater awareness and understanding — and the ability to learn from each other’s experiences.
“You don’t look Black.”
“You don’t act Black.”
“You don’t talk Black.”
“You are so light-skinned.”
“Your hair is interesting. How come you don’t have a weave?”
“You did not get any of your father’s coloring.”
“I don’t think she is capable of doing good work.”
“But she is small. How much of an impact can she make?”
The above is just a small sample set of some of the things told to me throughout my corporate career. My seat at tables always came with more hoops or a longer journey. Throughout my career, I would suppress these comments and act like they didn’t bother me, trying to not “rock the boat.” However, I am at a place in my life where folks are encouraging me to share my experiences to help or empower others.
When I recently moderated a Women in Media panel at an event, Editor-in-Chief Vandana Sinha was on the panel, and I mentioned to the audience about how the “My Story” series that she created really moved me, and if anyone is not aware of this column, to put it on their must-read list. It was a safe space that was created during the pandemic for us minority business executives to share stories of dealing with challenges from discrimination to sexual harassment. It was a therapeutic feature for me to read the raw and realness of others who faced the same barriers and racism in the workplace. When Vandana reached out to me to share my story, I was both humbled and scared. Many of the collective corporate racial experiences I dealt with, I simply buried inside to not break my spirit and determination.
They say part of an underdog mentality is defined in two parts. The first part states, “When all odds, all statistics and all the mouths around say you have no chance.”
I have always grown up with an underdog mentality. A Northern Virginia native from Vienna, I was raised by a single mom who worked three or four jobs to make ends meet to provide a stable home environment. We had tremendous personal challenges growing up — it felt like we were constant underdogs with the odds stacked against us every day, fighting whatever fight needed to be fought that day.
I know a few things about being an underdog. Throughout my corporate career, I battled seemingly insurmountable racism and discriminatory actions against me. From asking if I was “really Black” time and time again, to asking what I identify as, which would ultimately determine if I would be considered for an opportunity or not. To even commenting on my 4’11” short stature, asking how much of an impact or influence do I “really” have because of my height. To comments made by individuals having challenges of working with “strong Black women,” instantly labeling women of color as difficult, simply because we speak up in a conference room on a matter. Let’s also sprinkle in inappropriate sexual racial comments, like I was “extremely pretty for my background.”
In 2008, I decided to take a leap of faith and leave corporate America and launch my own boutique marketing and public relations consultancy. I will never forget how scared I was to share that I was going out on my own, positioned again as being the underdog, wondering if I would succeed or fail in being an entrepreneur and starting my own business. I also took the jump during challenging times, when the country was in the height of the 2008 financial recession. Let’s also add that I had a 6-week-old newborn at home.
During this time, I will never forget when I nervously shared my new venture with a male colleague, feeling both nervous and excited inside to share my news. I was told that my idea was not a business, but a “hobby” — the person laughed at my “crazy idea.” The excitement I had in starting my own business, even in the middle of a rough economy, was shot down, dubbed “a big mistake.” I felt that my dreams and determination were not taken seriously, with all the odds and statistics stacked up against me again, voices saying I have no chance. I share this because many Black women are afraid to share their goals or dreams in launching a new venture because they don’t feel emotionally supported. I have had countless mentoring chats with women of color fearful in starting a new venture due to the lack of support and belief they can succeed.
The second part of the underdog mentality focuses on how you react when the odds are against you, stating, “You don’t even blink at the noise. The fire inside you burns even brighter.” With all of the discriminatory and inappropriate experiences I have faced, the fire inside me burned brighter to overcome the obstacles with grit and grace.
When I decided to announce the launch of my consultancy via a simple email, I had a former employee retain me for strategic marketing contract work as my first engagement. It was the spark I needed to not feel like my idea was a hobby. Since I went out on my own, I am proud to say I have built a successful business representing notable businesses, brands and nonprofits across the region — all clients that have selected this underdog to handle their strategic marketing and communications needs.
August marks Black Business Month, and I find it humbling my story is being published during this special month. Soon, I will begin my 15th year in business. I am in a small, yet mighty, group of Black women-owned communications agencies in the area. I hope my story helps and inspires other minority leaders to take that leap of faith and not let anyone say your idea is a hobby because you are a minority.
The sun does not ask permission to shine, and as people of color, neither should we. I hope my underdog story helps other minority business executives overcome their career barriers. Thank you, Vandana and Washington Business Journal, for creating this safe space. Here’s to rooting for, supporting and respecting more underdogs.
Maurisa Potts is founder and CEO of Spotted MP, a marketing and public relations firm.
