We have another great book for you this month in our series highlighting book for women. If you’re a “woman of colour” this will be particularly of interesting to you.
The Memo by Minda Harts is this month’s recommendation.
Minda Harts’ The Memo is a powerful guide designed specifically for women of colour navigating corporate environments. The book sheds light on the unique challenges they face—such as workplace bias, microaggressions, and lack of mentorship—while providing actionable strategies for overcoming these barriers and achieving career success.
Minda Harts, a career development expert, and CEO, shares personal experiences, real-world examples, and advice tailored to women of colour who often feel excluded from traditional workplace conversations about leadership and advancement.
Minda Harts wrote The Memo as a career guide specifically for women of colour, addressing the unique challenges they face in professional environments. Unlike traditional career books, which assume that all women share the same workplace experiences, The Memo highlights systemic biases, microaggressions, and exclusionary practices that disproportionately affect women of colour.
Harts combines her personal journey, real-life workplace scenarios, and actionable career strategies to help women of colour navigate corporate spaces, secure leadership positions, and advocate for themselves effectively.
Key Themes and Insights
1. The Reality of Being a Woman of Colour in the Workplace
🔹 Harts opens the book by addressing a hard truth: the workplace was not designed with women of colour in mind. She highlights how corporate cultures often reinforce exclusion through:
- Lack of diversity in leadership (Few women of colour reach executive levels).
- Microaggressions and bias (e.g., being mistaken for administrative staff).
- Double standards in performance expectations (Women of colour often need to “prove” their worth more than white colleagues).
✅ Key Takeaway:
Women of colour must recognize these barriers, but instead of conforming, they need to find ways to break through them with intention and strategy.
2. Overcoming the Confidence Gap & Self-Doubt
🔹 Many women of colour experience imposter syndrome, feeling like they don’t belong or need to work twice as hard for half the recognition. Harts discusses:
- How society conditions women of colour to “stay in their place” rather than striving for leadership.
- How self-doubt can lead to hesitation in speaking up, asking for promotions, or negotiating salaries.
- How to replace self-doubt with self-advocacy by recognizing your worth.
✅ Key Takeaway:
To succeed, women of colour must reject the idea that they are not “good enough” and learn to assert themselves in the workplace.
3. Navigating Workplace Politics Without Losing Yourself
🔹 Many women of colour avoid workplace politics, believing that hard work alone will get them ahead. However, Harts explains that:
- Office dynamics are real, and those who understand and navigate them succeed faster.
- It’s important to build relationships with decision-makers (even if it feels uncomfortable).
- Code-switching (adapting speech and behaviour to fit into dominant culture) is a reality, but women should not have to compromise their authenticity.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Learn how to engage strategically in office politics without losing your identity or values.
4. Building a Strong Professional Network & Finding Mentors
🔹 Harts emphasizes that women of colour are often left out of traditional mentorship circles. She provides strategies to:
- Find and approach mentors who understand their struggles.
- Develop sponsors (people in leadership who advocate for their promotion).
- Create a “squad” of allies and supporters within and outside the workplace.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Women of colour must actively seek out mentors and sponsors to help them advance, rather than waiting for opportunities to appear.
5. Salary Negotiation & Financial Empowerment
🔹 Women of colour face a significant wage gap compared to white men and white women. Harts explains how to:
- Negotiate salaries with confidence, using research and data to back up requests.
- Avoid the “gratitude trap”—not settling for less just because an opportunity exists.
- Understand company pay structures to ensure equitable compensation.
✅ Key Takeaway:
You deserve to be paid what you’re worth. Learning negotiation strategies is key to securing fair compensation and promotions.
6. The Power of Personal Branding & Visibility
🔹 Women of colour are often overlooked for leadership roles, so Harts stresses the importance of creating a strong professional brand. She encourages women to:
- Speak up in meetings and contribute to conversations.
- Leverage social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) to showcase their expertise.
- Find public speaking or writing opportunities to build industry recognition.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Your personal brand matters—own your voice and make sure people know your value.
7. Dealing with Microaggressions and Racism in the Workplace
🔹 Harts shares real-life experiences of racial bias, discrimination, and microaggressions that many women of colour encounter, such as:
- Being mistaken for someone in a lower-ranking position.
- Having their ideas dismissed, then later adopted when a white colleague presents them.
- Being told they’re “too aggressive” or “not a good fit” when advocating for themselves.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Instead of absorbing these injustices silently, women should learn how to professionally call them out and find organizations that genuinely value diversity.
8. Self-Care & Prioritizing Mental Health
🔹 Workplace stress is real, especially for women who feel they have to prove themselves daily. Harts reminds women that:
- Burnout is not a badge of honour—rest and self-care are essential for long-term success.
- Toxic work environments should not be tolerated—sometimes, the best move is to leave.
- Therapy, wellness, and setting boundaries should be part of a career strategy.
✅ Key Takeaway:
Success should not come at the expense of mental and emotional well-being. Women of color must prioritize self-care and boundaries.
Why Should Women of Color Read The Memo?
- It Speaks to THEIR Experience – Unlike generic career books, The Memo acknowledges the unique struggles of women of colour.
- It Provides Actionable Strategies – Harts gives real-world advice on networking, salary negotiation, and leadership advancement.
- It Builds Confidence – Helps women recognize their worth and claim their space at the leadership table.
- It Encourages Self-Advocacy – Women learn to speak up, challenge biases, and take control of their careers.
- It Promotes Financial Empowerment – Provides tangible negotiation strategies to close the racial wage gap.
- It Focuses on Self-Care & Mental Health – Encourages women to thrive without sacrificing their well-being.
Final Thoughts
Minda Harts’ The Memo is more than a career guide—it’s a blueprint for women of colour to break barriers, secure leadership roles, and thrive in professional spaces.
It challenges traditional career advice by recognizing racial and gender inequalities while empowering women to navigate these obstacles with strategy, confidence, and resilience.
If you are a woman of colour looking for practical, no-nonsense career advice that understands your struggles, The Memo is an essential read.
Let us know what you think about this book and what the author has written.
