How Identity Has Influenced A Director Of Stakeholder Engagement's Career At Texas Education Agency
King, a Black male Director of Stakeholder Engagement, describes navigating a career where they are often "one of if not, the only black person...in most spaces," highlighting the invaluable support derived from building relationships with other Black professionals to share stories and resources. This kinship, they explain, has been essential to their career journey.
Networking, Leadership, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
King Adjei-Frimpong
Director of Stakeholder Engagement
Texas Education Agency
UCLA, 2010
University of Virginia - Darden School of Business (MBA)
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Communication and Marketing
Disabled, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. King's experience as one of the few, if only, Black male in many professional spaces highlights the importance of building a supportive network of other people of color.
2. He emphasizes the value of kinship and shared resources among people of color in navigating careers.
3. King's advice implicitly encourages students to actively seek out and build relationships with those who share similar backgrounds and experiences for support and mentorship.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a Black male, how has that impacted how you navigate your career?
I've learned to be, if not the only, one of the few Black people, people of color, Black males, fill in the blank, in most spaces. I've become comfortable with that.
Simultaneously, I've also maintained or created relationships with other people of color, Black folks, who are in similar positions. Being able to have that kinship, share stories, and share resources has been invaluable to me.