By Kendra Bryant
Special to the AFRO
Associated Black Charities (ABC) hosted its annual “Women on the Move” event on Dec. 5 at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. The evening included a theme of “Women at the Top of Their Game, Redefining Their Power, Purpose and Presence.”
Women entrepreneurs and business-minded ladies of all backgrounds came together for networking sessions, panel discussion and vendors. The conversation was moderated by Crystal Berger, founder of EBO Media Group and award-winning journalist. Panelists included founder and president of Prescott HR, Kimberly Prescott, president and CEO of Baltimore Gas and Electric, Tamla Olivier and CEO of Create Baltimore, Robyn Murphy.
“As a Black woman in leadership, it’s so important to me that we continue to convene this room, give people an opportunity to connect, to learn from one another and to grow,” said Chrissy Thornton, president and CEO of ABC. “This room is meant to be a safe space for us to connect with one another in unprecedented ways so that we can navigate the spaces that have not been built for us.”
The panelist spoke on how to “master your game plan” as a woman in leadership, salary negotiations, in the workspace and remaining authentic in corporate spaces.
Olivier addressed the importance of understanding the wage gap crisis in America and how to avoid settling in pay.
“Men are always going to ask for what they want, whether they deserve it or not,” said Olivier. “But, women feel they should just be grateful and just accept what we receive.”
“You have to fight for what you want to get and remember that you deserve to be in every room and every table you sit at,” she said.
According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, women face a substantial wage gap. In 2023, the weekly earnings of women full-time workers were just 83.6 cents on the dollar paid to full-time working men.
Authenticity in the workplace is still an ongoing conversation for Black women. The “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” (The Official CROWN Act) works to combat racial hair discrimination in school and workplaces. Though more than 20 states have passed some type of legislation to protect against hair discrimination, the CROWN Act still has not been passed as a federal law.
Still, Black women say they will not be intimidated.
“I show up everywhere true to myself. You will always see me with my colorful nails and my sneakers,” said Prescott. “Leadership is in everything that you do. I encourage everyone to lead authentically and not from the place that other people want for it to come from.”
Murphy said it was her daughter who pointed out that she was spending too much time and energy trying to whitewash her personality for the workplace.
“I let go of code switching,” she said. “It’s a lot of work trying to be someone different in different places,” said Murphy. “I want to be sure that no matter where I am, I show up as authentically Robyn–the Robyn from Edmondson Village.”
As a creative, Murphy found ways to balance her passion for art and turn it into a business.
“Lots of people have natural gifts, but not a lot of tools. It takes just as much work to know to channel giftedness into power,” said Murphy.
After the panel session, attendees were able to network and enjoy the sounds of DJ Crimson Cookie.
Local sponsors of the event included M&T Bank, SECU, AFRO News and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NCBW) Baltimore Chapter.