For 30 years, Parker has provided role models

Since 1977, Linda Bates Parker has been providing professional support and networking opportunities through her organization Black Career Women.

Faced with a lack of support and mentorship when beginning her career in market research, Parker took the initiative of creating a network herself.

"I felt isolated," she tells Working Mother.  "There were no available role models or mentors who looked like us and could talk to us about issues of race and gender."

Today, Black Career Women has 300 members throughout the United States and provides professional development training on topics such as self-esteem, work/life balance, and health and well-being.

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