Wikipedia

Minda Harts

Minda Harts is an American author, public speaker, and workplace consultant.[1] She is recognized for her work addressing inequity and lack of inclusion in the workplace, particularly focusing on the experiences of women of color.[2][3][4] Harts has been described as an "ally" and is known for her career consulting boot camps, which are designed to support women of color in areas such as networking, salary negotiation, and career transitioning.[5][6][7] She has also spoken extensively on the impact of the motherhood penalty on women of color.[8]

Minda Harts
Born1983
Occupation Author • Podcaster
Website
mindaharts.com

Early life and education

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Harts, at the age of 11, moved from California to Illinois.[9][10] She grew up in a predominantly white suburb of Chicago.[11] At one point, her family's annual income was less than $25,000, and Harts worked at a local Dairy Queen to contribute to the household.[6]

Inspired by Black professionals she saw on television, Harts became the first person in her family to attend and graduate college.[6] She earned a degree in Communication from Western Illinois University and was also the first in her family to work in corporate America.[3][12] Harts credits WIU professor Pete Jorgensen and her time working for the campus radio station for preparing her to be a public speaker and advocate.[1]

Career

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After graduating from college, Harts faced significant challenges in the workforce, often finding herself as "the only" person of color in professional settings.[6] She encountered microaggressions, was subjected to comments about her appearance, and faced obstacles in her career advancement.[13][14][15] These experiences motivated her to adopt a proactive approach to addressing the difficulties she encountered in her career.[6]

In 2015, Harts co-founded The Memo, an organization focused on career development for women of color, alongside Lauren Broussard.[16][17][18] The name of the organization was inspired by a verse in the song "Trophies" by Young Money featuring Drake.[6] The same year, Harts released her first book, The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table, which was published on August 20, 2019.[19] The book became a number one bestseller in the business and mentoring category.[16] It provides an in-depth look at the racism and sexism women of color face in the workplace and offers strategies to help them achieve their career goals.[20][21] The book has been compared to 2013's Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, but tailored to the specific needs and experiences of women of color.[22][23][24][3]

Harts is an advocate for human resources departments taking discrimination claims seriously, and she emphasizes the importance of effective management in creating a psychologically safe workplace where everyone can be their authentic selves.[19][25] She has stated, "Two things can be true at the same time. Someone may not intend harm, not intend racism — but they may nevertheless cause harm, and cause it through racism."[17][26]

Harts also became an adjunct assistant professor at NYU's Wagner School of Public Service.[27][28][29]

Following the police killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020, Harts highlighted the issue of how Black women are often more celebrated after tragedy than during their lives.[30] That same year, LinkedIn named her the Top Voice for Equity in the Workplace.[31] Harts also launched her weekly career podcast for women of color, Secure the Seat.[31][32]

In 2021, Harts expanded her consulting efforts, working with over 100 companies, including several Fortune 500 firms, to conduct diversity and inclusion training, solicit employee feedback on company culture, and conduct pay equity reports.[33] She also published her second book, Right Within: How We Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace, inspired by a verse in the song "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill.[34] The book discusses the systemic challenges in workplace cultures and their impact on Black women, emphasizing the importance of self-preservation and mental health.[35] Time magazine named it one of the "8 New Books You Should Read" in October 2021.[36]

In 2022, Harts was named by Business Insider as one of the 100 People Transforming Business.[37] She also founded Queen of Harts Productions, a company that brought The Memo Monologues to Twitter Spaces during Women's History Month and Black Women's Equal Pay Day 2022.[31]

In 2024, The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table was adapted into a psychological thriller film.[38] The film, which starred Kyla Pratt and featured a score by rapper MC Lyte, was produced by Valeisha Butterfield’s Seed Media, marking Harts' first film project.[39] Harts is working on her fourth book, Talk To Me Nice, about restoring trust in the workplace (2025). United Talent Agency represents her.

Awards and Honors

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In 2016, Harts was recognized as a Change Maker at the State of Women's Summit in Washington, D.C. hosted by Oprah Winfrey and former First Lady Michelle Obama.[40] Six years later, she received a Trailblazer Award from the Bowman Foundation and was named one of Business Insider's 100 People Transforming Business.[1]

Legacy

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In honor of her mother, Harts established the Marchet Harts Communication Scholarship Award for Women of Color at Western Illinois University, who graduated from the university in 2004.[12] According to Minda, "It was important to put this scholarship in my mother’s name as a way to show gratitude for her rooting me on at each stage of my career."[12]

Bibliography

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  • The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table (2019)[2]
  • Right Within: How We Heal From Racial Trauma in the Workplace (2021)[31]
  • You Are More Than Magic: The Black and Brown Girls' Guide to Finding Your Voice (2021)[31]

Personal life

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Minda felt the need to shorten her first name – Yasminda – in order "to make people feel comfortable with how I show up at work."[41][42]

Harts has openly discussed her challenges with fibroids, a condition that has affected her weight and her ability to have children naturally.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Sterling Schools Foundation (January 25, 2023). "Class Notes".
  2. ^ a b "Can Having Tattoos, Piercings Hurt Your Chances at Securing a Job? An Expert Answers". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  3. ^ a b c Furlan, Julia (2022-08-11). "How to define success on your own terms". Vox. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  4. ^ "Workplace racism often derails careers of black women". Yahoo News. 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  5. ^ Ward, Marguerite. "Career breakthroughs can't happen without sponsorship. Here's what it's all about". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Progress Personified: Minda Harts' journey from homeless teen to career coach". the Guardian. 2016-11-02. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  7. ^ "Inclusion in the Workplace". The Atlantic. 2017-12-12. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  8. ^ Grose, Jessica (2019-04-23). "How to Win at Taking Your Child to Work". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  9. ^ a b Asare, Janice Gassam. "Exploring The Impact Of Uterine Fibroids On Black Women". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  10. ^ "I'm often the only Black woman in the room. Why it's OK to take up space". MSNBC.com. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  11. ^ Suh, Sue (2019-12-10). "'Success Is Not a Solo Sport.' How Workplaces Can Better Support Women of Color". Time. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  12. ^ a b c "Marchet Harts Communication Scholarship Award for Women of Color - Western Illinois University Scholarship Portal". wiu.academicworks.com. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  13. ^ Goldfarb, Anna (2019-11-27). "How to Gracefully Leverage an Outside Job Offer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  14. ^ Suh, Sue (2019-12-10). "'Success Is Not a Solo Sport.' How Workplaces Can Better Support Women of Color". Time. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  15. ^ Alderson, Kaia (2021-11-11). "Why Four Black Women Stood Up to the U.S. Army During World War II". Time. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  16. ^ a b Tarr, Tanya. "How Minda Harts Is Helping Black Women Close The Pay Gap For Good". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  17. ^ a b Tips on How to Fight Racism in the Workplace, 2021-03-16, retrieved 2024-08-13
  18. ^ "Why the pay gap is growing for Black women: 'We are in a state of emergency'". Yahoo Life. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  19. ^ a b Aladesuyi, Oluwakemi (2021-06-28). "Action trumps pledges in fight against workplace inequality". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  20. ^ Ward, Marguerite. "20 books on how to build high-performing, inclusive cultures that every business leader should read". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  21. ^ Ward, Marguerite. "Meet the 10 leaders transforming diversity and inclusion in corporate America". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  22. ^ "Sheryl Sandberg's complicated legacy holds key lessons for leaders on what they can do to boost diversity at the top". Yahoo News. 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  23. ^ Flake, Marguerite Ward,Ebony (2022-06-12). "Sheryl Sandberg's complicated legacy holds key lessons for leaders on what they can do to boost diversity at the top". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2024-08-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Goldberg, Emma (2022-06-02). "What Sheryl Sandberg's 'Lean In' Has Meant to Women". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  25. ^ Edwards, Jonathan (2022-11-17). "Michelle Obama says Americans weren't ready for her natural Black hair". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  26. ^ Baker-White, Emily (2021-12-01). ""This Is Blackface": Inside The Virtual Reality Company Trying To Scale Diversity Training". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  27. ^ "Minda Harts". WSJ Women In. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  28. ^ Asare, Janice Gassam. "Why Leaning In Doesn't Apply To Women Of Color". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  29. ^ "#EqualPayDay: How to break bread evenly as a Black woman". NBC News. 2017-04-04. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  30. ^ Puente, Maria. "Twitter praises, questions Vanity Fair September cover featuring Breonna Taylor portrait". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  31. ^ a b c d e Chan, Goldie. "Right Within: Growing A Healthy Personal Brand With Equity And Workplace Consultant Minda Harts". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  32. ^ Gaudiano, Paolo. "More Awesome Black Women Everyone Should Know". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  33. ^ "The 10 people transforming DEI - from the founder of Stop AAPI Hate, to the CEO of Eaton". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  34. ^ Summary of Minda Harts's Right Within. 2021-07-12. ISBN 978-1-6693-4195-6.
  35. ^ psychologist, Summer Rose licensed (2022-05-20). "Improve the Health of Black Women. Make Racial Trauma at Work Extinct". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  36. ^ Gutterman, Annabel (2021-10-01). "Here Are the 8 New Books You Should Read in October". Time. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  37. ^ "Insider Presents: The list of 100 people Transforming Business in 2022". businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  38. ^ "Kyla Pratt Stars in 'The Memo,' Film Adaptation of Minda Harts' Thriller, With Music by MC Lyte (EXCLUSIVE)". Yahoo News. 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  39. ^ Aswad, Jem (2024-07-25). "Kyla Pratt Stars in 'The Memo,' Film Adaptation of Minda Harts' Thriller, With Music by MC Lyte (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  40. ^ Mettler, Katie (2021-10-25). "First lady Michelle Obama teams up with Oprah to host 'United State of Women' summit at White House". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  41. ^ Georgina (October 25, 2018). "Minda Harts on Leaning In and the Challenge on Women Of Color. - Global Connections for Women". Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  42. ^ Brown, Jennifer (December 17, 2019). "Minda Harts' "The Memo": A Critical Alternative to Leaning In for Women of Color". Medium. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
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