From Proving to Positioning: The 3 Shifts Black Women Executives Must Make to Build Sustainable Power
Dr. Twanna Carter explains the three shifts Black women executives must make to secure long-term success and avoid burnout.
By
Feb 24, 2026
A Breaking Point: The Silent Strain of Success
As Dr. Twanna Carter sat across from yet another accomplished Black woman executive, she noticed a painful, yet all-too-familiar pattern. The successful leader, with years of proven results, spoke of burnout, not from workload alone, but from a misalignment of expectations, responsibilities, and recognition. This was not an isolated incident. In the past six months, 100% of her incoming clients described similar emotional exhaustion, an overwhelming burden many high-achieving Black women silently carry.
For Dr. Carter, this conversation was not just another coaching session. It was a stark reminder of a deeper issue faced by Black women at the highest levels of leadership: burnout is not merely about performance, it’s about the systemic disconnect between their responsibilities and the power structures in place.
With over 20 years of experience advising Black women executives, Dr. Carter is keenly aware of the challenges these leaders face. A former U.S. Army officer and corporate professional, she has spent years navigating spaces where she was often the only one in the room. Her lived experience, combined with her expertise in executive coaching, uniquely positions her to help Black women leaders rise without self-erasure. But how?
In her transformative work, Dr. Carter has identified three key shifts Black women executives must make to transition from surviving to thriving in leadership roles. These shifts are not just theoretical; they are strategic, grounded in both psychological understanding and hard-earned experience.
Shift 1: From Overperformance to Strategic Visibility
Black women leaders are often celebrated for their resilience and their ability to outperform expectations. Yet, Dr. Carter’s extensive experience reveals a critical truth: excellence alone is not enough. Overperformance is often a form of self-protection, a way to avoid scrutiny in spaces that are not designed for them.
To thrive, Black women executives must shift from overperforming to ensuring they are strategically visible. This shift involves understanding that performance is not the only measure of success. Strategic visibility means positioning oneself in a way that aligns performance with influence, securing the sponsorship, recognition, and reward that truly matter at the highest levels of leadership.
“I help my clients stop hiding behind their results,” says Dr. Carter. “They need to be visible not just for the work they’ve done, but for the work they are positioned to lead in the future.”
Shift 2: From Constant Availability to Controlled Access
Many Black women executives find themselves constantly available, whether it’s for their team, their organization, or their community. The pressure to be "always on" can be overwhelming. This constant availability is not only exhausting, but it also diminishes their value as strategic leaders.
Dr. Carter advises her clients to shift from being constantly available to having controlled access. Controlled access isn’t about being less present, it’s about being intentional with time and energy, creating boundaries that protect both well-being and leadership capacity.
This shift is particularly crucial for senior leaders who want to preserve their energy for high-impact decisions and initiatives, rather than getting caught in the trap of reactive leadership. As Dr. Carter explains, “Leadership isn’t about doing everything, it’s about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people.”
Shift 3: From Personal Resilience to Structural Leverage
Perhaps the most profound shift is the move from personal resilience to structural leverage. For too long, Black women leaders have been lauded for their ability to thrive despite systemic barriers. While resilience is a strength, relying on it alone can be unsustainable and emotionally draining.
Dr. Carter emphasizes that sustainable leadership is not about sheer personal grit; it’s about leveraging power within organizational structures. This means strategically using executive sponsorship, aligning compensation with leadership value, and designing roles that allow for long-term success without sacrificing personal well-being.
“The work I do is not just about surviving,” says Dr. Carter. “It’s about building systems that allow Black women to thrive without the strain of constant self-sacrifice.”
The Path to Sustainable Leadership: A New Model for Success
These three shifts, strategic visibility, controlled access, and structural leverage, are not just about performance improvement; they are about shifting the very foundation of leadership. By embracing these strategies, Black women executives can rise in ways that are sustainable, fulfilling, and empowering.
Dr. Carter’s work is a unique blend of strategic leadership coaching and deep understanding of the psychological challenges faced by Black women in senior roles. As an International Coaching Federation Certified Professional Coach (PCC), Certified Resilience Coach, and Certified Anger Management Specialist II, she combines technical expertise with a human touch.
Her approach is not one-size-fits-all; it is personalized, tailored to each client’s unique challenges and goals. Whether it’s helping a client secure executive sponsorship or aligning their compensation with their value, Dr. Carter’s work is grounded in real-world solutions, not theory.
Building Sustainable Power
The time for change is now. For Black women executives who are ready to rise without sacrificing their well-being, Dr. Twanna Carter offers more than just coaching. She provides a strategic partnership, a pathway to not just surviving, but thriving at the highest levels of leadership.
Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? To convert your high performance into sustainable power? Visit Dr. Twanna Carter’s website to learn more about how her tailored coaching can help you create a leadership model that works for you, not against you.
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By focusing on these core shifts, Dr. Twanna Carter’s coaching provides Black women executives with the strategies they need to thrive in leadership while safeguarding their well-being.
