ing Barriers,
Person at a Time
This rarity raises questions: Is this a new trend? Are opportunities growing for female minorities? Or, is this survey
finding an anomaly?
“I don’t believe this is just an anomaly,” said Sharon
Barner, vice president and general counsel of Cummins
(148). “The candidate pool is definitely expanding at corporations. More and more women of color are interested.
Women such as myself are spreading the word, telling
them that it’s a good job. It’s like being let into a secret soci-
ety. Also, because more women are serving on corporate
boards, it has resulted in more women of color among
general counsel.”
Barner receives a call every month from an executive
recruiter or chief executive officer outside Cummins who’s
seeking GC candidates. “They are looking specifically for
women of color,” she said.
Minority men and white women also remain underrepresented in MCCA’s annual survey, but the chronic lagging
of female minorities makes it worth examining this year’s
newcomer class.
“IT’S TERRIFIC THAT HOMEGROWN talent has
emerged,” said Jean Lee, MCCA’s president and CEO. “These
GCs demonstrate that talent development and talent
management don’t have to be exclusive of each other. The
four companies didn’t have to look far for highly qualified
minority women.”
