This Former Instagram Exec’s Collective Is Uplifting Black Women In The C-Suite
Regina Lawless is a former Instagram executive and the founder of Bossy and Blissful, a collective for Black female executives.
Meet Regina Lawless
Her journey to becoming the first director of diversity and inclusion at Instagram was marked by personal loss and professional insights.
According to The Grio, after her husband’s sudden passing in 2021, Lawless found herself reflecting on the complexities of Black women’s success in corporate America.
While she felt her role was supported, there needed to be a more comprehensive commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion.
Bossy And Blissful
Lawless’ experience led to the creation of Bossy and Blissful, a collective aimed at supporting Black female executives.
The current socio-political climate, with its attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, makes the landscape even more challenging for Black women in the corporate world.
This group addresses the unique challenges these women face, such as misogynoir – a form of misogyny that explicitly targets Black women – and the isolation of being the only person of color in a C-suite role.
“I’m now determined to help other women, particularly women of color and Black women, to see that we don’t have to sacrifice ourselves for success,” Lawless told The Grio.
The sense of being an ‘Only’ – the sole Black person or woman of color in a workspace – can be isolating and daunting.
“Getting together helps us when we go back, and we’re the “only-lonelies” in a lot of our organizations,” Lawless said.
This is where the collective’s significance shines, providing a support system for these women, often called the ‘only-lonelies’ in their respective organizations.
“I complain every day about something that’s going on at work,” said Charity Wallace, a biotech professional.
“So having that circle of Black women that you can really vent to is important because, again you cannot let the things like this sit. We’ve been silenced for too long.”
Bossy and Blissful, and similar initiatives, are not just support groups – they are beacons of hope and resilience in the face of systemic challenges.
