In Afro in the Boardroom, I speak to the strength it takes to stay in the room but also the
wisdom it takes to walk away. For many professionals, especially Black women, the message
is often: “Stick it out. Prove them wrong.” But sometimes, the most powerful act of self-
preservation is knowing when to leave.
Whether it’s a job, a team, a leadership role, or a company culture that no longer serves you
it’s important to recognize when staying is costing you more than it’s rewarding you.
The Myth of Endurance
Many of us are raised with the idea that endurance is a virtue. We are taught to be “grateful,” to “work twice as hard,” to “hold on because it will get better.” But endurance without boundaries leads to burnout. Staying in spaces that constantly challenge your identity, undermine your talent, or devalue your voice is not noble it’s damaging.
You don’t have to prove your strength by suffering in silence.
5 Signs It’s Time to Go
1. You’re Constantly Shrinking to Survive
If you have to silence your voice, downplay your identity, or conform to toxic norms just o make it through the day that’s not growth, that’s survival. Long-term suppression of your authenticity leads to emotional exhaustion and disconnection from your purpose.
2. Your Work Is Unrecognized or Appropriated
You consistently deliver results, offer ideas, and carry the weight of the team but recognition
goes elsewhere. Worse, your contributions are minimized or repackaged by others in
positions of privilege. That’s a red flag.
3. You Dread Monday Mornings and Every Day After
It’s normal to have off days, but when the dread becomes constant, when you feel physically
drained by the idea of showing up, it’s no longer “just stress.” Your body is trying to tell you
something your mind may still be denying.
4. You’re No Longer Growing
Staying in the same role with no clear path for progression, no mentorship, and no investment
in your development is a sign of stagnation. You deserve to be in spaces that pour into you as
much as you pour into them.
5. You’ve Outgrown the Culture
Sometimes you change and the company doesn’t. You evolve, but the leadership stays rigid.
Your values shift, but the workplace still runs on outdated, exclusionary norms. That
misalignment is often the quiet push you need to start writing your exit story.
Permission to Choose Yourself
Leaving doesn’t mean failure. It doesn’t mean you weren’t strong enough. It means you were
wise enough to choose peace over performance. You don’t need a scandal or a breaking point
to justify leaving. Your joy, your health, your purpose those are valid reasons enough.
In Afro in the Boardroom, I remind readers that your career is not a cage. You are allowed to
pivot, to prioritize your well-being, and to walk toward spaces that affirm your value.
Your Next Chapter Deserves You Fully
There is life beyond toxic boardrooms. There is leadership beyond gatekeepers. There is
freedom in walking away from what no longer aligns. And there is immense power in
reclaiming your path on your terms.
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