In his new book “The Black Ceiling” Woodson, a former attorney, sheds light on systemic issues within elite professional settings and the broader economic repercussions that come from underutilizing and marginalizing talented Black professionals. Woodson spoke with more than 100 Black professionals about what he calls the Black ceiling — a significant barrier that impedes career progression and creates stigma and anxiety in the workplace. Racial discomfort encapsulates the sense of unease that a lot of Black professionals experience working in elite white work settings. Selective punitiveness is the widespread perception that Black professionals get treated especially harshly when they make mistakes. Firms need to train their personnel, especially their senior white professionals so that they don’t judge junior Black professionals adversely for these challenges.

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Persons: Kevin Woodson, ” Woodson, Woodson, Bell, it’s, who’ve, Kim Schmidt, they’re, that’s, doesn’t, It’s, Eva Rothenberg, ” Grant Gustafson, Corie Barry, “, ” Barry, Nathaniel Meyersohn Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN — Corporate America, University of Richmond School of Law, Elite, Sensormatic, Black, Adobe, Retailers Locations: New York, underutilizing, DC