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Black and Asian women are severely underrepresented in senior leadership positions in the UK. The obstacles they face, for example being overlooked or underestimated, often result in a perception that career success is beyond their reach. It's no surprise then that these women can end up feeling invisible and powerless.

Unlike white women, who face "glass ceilings", research shows ethnic minority women, who have less support and even fewer opportunities to advance, encounter "concrete ceilings" or "concrete walls," which are more difficult to break.

These women often find prejudices blocking their path and impeding their progress to senior positions. Unsurprisingly, being constantly overlooked despite being competent can severely damage their leadership aspirations.

So how do these women shield themselves from the frustration and marginalization that comes with the racial and gender prejudice they face? And how do they actually achieve career success?

To understand this, in our recent research we interviewed 50 ethnic minority women in senior leadership positions. Our findings revealed persistent discrimination from early career stages right through to the upper echelons of the workplace.

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