Just finished reading Black Woman on Board by Dr. Donna J. Nicol, and I’m grateful for this powerful and deeply human account of leadership, courage, and moral clarity.
Dr. Nicol’s telling of Dr. Claudia Hampton’s story is extraordinary. What I found most profound was Dr. Hampton’s use of what Dr. Nicol calls “sly civility”—the disciplined, strategic navigation of systems that were never designed to include her.
In the midst of racism, sexism, and prejudice, she understood both the weight of her presence and the responsibility of her position. She knew that being at the table wasn’t just about personal achievement; it was about creating space for others to follow.
Thank you, Dr. Nicol, for preserving this history and for lifting up a story that every leader, especially those serving in complex, inequitable systems, needs to read.
