By Anita C. Ricketts
Vice President, Consulting
When I was an undergraduate at Stanford University and decided to “go natural” with my hair, it was more of a lifestyle and financial choice. But in returning to my corporate internship the following summer, I quickly realized it was also a career issue when my (white, male) supervisor told me my hair was “too short and militant” for the company culture. He meant well, knew that I hoped to work for the company after graduation and sincerely wanted to help me succeed in my career. He really was a great guy and he did help me, in truth. I kept my hair natural and decided that maybe that company wasn’t the right place for me after all. I took a position with a competitor company after graduation.
