Dr. Twanna Carter shares powerful insights on how Black women executives can overcome burnout and thrive by redefining leadership on their own terms.
A Hidden Struggle: The Burden of Excellence
Behind the polished boardroom presentations and the accolades of high-performing Black women executives lies a hidden struggle: the emotional and mental toll of navigating a world that wasn’t built for them. Dr. Twanna Carter, a seasoned executive coach and former U.S. Army officer, understands this burden all too well. With over two decades of experience advising senior leaders, she has witnessed firsthand the quiet exhaustion that many Black women at the top experience.
“They’re often told that excellence alone is enough,” Dr. Carter says. “But the truth is, performance doesn’t guarantee recognition, compensation, or influence, especially in spaces where you’re often the only one who looks like you.”
This insight has shaped Dr. Carter’s transformative coaching methodology. Her goal is clear: help Black women executives reclaim their power and thrive in their leadership roles, not by simply working harder, but by working smarter and positioning themselves for the success they truly deserve.
Rewriting the Rules: The Leadership Transformation
Dr. Carter’s approach focuses on reshaping the leadership journey for Black women. Instead of succumbing to the pressure to constantly prove their worth, she helps her clients transition to positions of strategic leverage, where they can amplify their influence without sacrificing their well-being.
This transformation requires more than just improving performance; it demands that Black women executives reframe how they approach power, visibility, and access within their organizations. Through her coaching, Dr. Carter guides clients to navigate these shifting dynamics with intention and precision.
The Three Shifts to Empowerment: Moving from Strain to Strength
After extensive consultations with executives from various industries, Dr. Carter has identified three key shifts that can change the game for Black women leaders. These shifts not only help them perform better but also position them as formidable forces of power within their organizations. Here’s how:
Shift 1: From Perfection to Purposeful Visibility
Black women executives often feel the weight of perfectionism, constantly proving themselves and overdelivering to avoid scrutiny. While performance is important, it’s not the only key to success. Dr. Carter emphasizes the importance of purposeful visibility.
Rather than merely focusing on outperforming colleagues, Black women executives must position themselves in ways that highlight their unique contributions, talents, and potential for future leadership roles.
“This is about strategically aligning your visibility with the value you bring,” Dr. Carter explains. “You’re not just working for recognition, but ensuring your contributions are seen and appreciated at every level.”
In her coaching, Dr. Carter helps clients identify their value beyond their immediate work and teaches them how to align their visibility with the next step in their career trajectory, ensuring that their leadership journey is not only about surviving, but about thriving.
Shift 2: From Unlimited Availability to Intentional Boundaries
Many Black women executives feel the pressure to be always available, answering emails at all hours, taking calls on weekends, and being the go-to problem-solver at any moment. While dedication to one’s work is admirable, this constant availability can lead to burnout and resentment.
Dr. Carter helps her clients shift from being constantly accessible to maintaining intentional boundaries that allow for greater control over their time and energy.
“You have to protect your time to protect your power,” she says. “Being available to everyone doesn’t make you a better leader, it makes you exhausted. Effective leaders create boundaries that protect their time and focus on what truly matters.”
This shift involves saying no when necessary and ensuring that the work-life balance is respected, so leaders can continue to operate at their highest potential without feeling drained by the demands of others.
Shift 3: From Solo Resilience to Strategic Leverage
Black women executives are often lauded for their resilience. But relying on personal resilience alone can be draining, especially when facing institutional barriers. Dr. Carter guides her clients to shift from solo resilience to strategic leverage, using their position to negotiate executive sponsorship, secure better compensation, and expand their influence within their organizations.
“True leadership doesn’t come from personal strength alone,” Dr. Carter notes. “It comes from the ability to leverage relationships, influence, and resources in a way that advances your career while protecting your well-being.”
By helping her clients strategically position themselves for sponsorship and recognition, Dr. Carter ensures they can navigate the political and power dynamics of senior leadership with greater ease and confidence.
A New Vision for Leadership: Empowering Black Women to Lead on Their Terms
Dr. Carter’s work goes beyond the typical coaching models, it’s about creating sustainable power structures that allow Black women executives to thrive. By focusing on strategic visibility, intentional boundaries, and structural leverage, Dr. Carter empowers her clients to create leadership roles that work for them, not against them.
“Rising to the top should not require sacrificing your mental health or happiness,” Dr. Carter asserts. “My goal is to help women create careers that allow them to thrive without shrinking themselves.”
Her approach blends both strategic thinking and emotional intelligence, helping Black women executives reframe the way they approach their careers. Rather than working harder, they work smarter, leveraging their unique strengths to build sustainable careers that protect their well-being and amplify their impact.
Take Charge of Your Leadership Journey: The Time for Change Is Now
If you’re a Black woman executive ready to make a lasting impact, it’s time to stop following outdated leadership models. Dr. Twanna Carter offers coaching that’s as strategic as it is transformative, helping you rise to new heights in your career without compromising your health, happiness, or sense of self.
Ready to lead on your own terms? Visit Dr. Twanna Carter’s website to learn more about her coaching services and take the first step towards building the leadership career you deserve.
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By empowering Black women executives to shift from proving to positioning, Dr. Twanna Carter is helping her clients break through the barriers that hold them back and build careers that are truly sustainable and fulfilling.
