Sunday, November 05, 2006

Essay 1288


“Minority Rules: Turn Your Ethnicity Into A Competitive Edge” by Kenneth Arroyo Roldan with Gary M. Stern offers smart advice to survive and thrive in the corporate world.

Roldan brings fresh perspectives to the issues. At the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, he provided the Latino community with educational opportunities. As an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the New York State Attorney General, Roldan gained expertise in employment discrimination cases. And he’s currently the CEO of Wesley, Brown & Bartle, a top minority recruiting firm. The man has played the game from a variety of positions, making him uniquely qualified to dictate new rules.

Roldan believes most minorities aren’t psychologically or culturally prepared for business careers. The book presents a six-step plan that shows folks how to recognize, respond to and overcome the professional hurdles. There’s a conservative slant to Roldan’s strategies, but it’s hard to deny the insights and instructions can lead to success.

“Minority Rules” includes case studies and interviews to add real-life texture — although the interviewees seem a tad polite and tame. Then again, it’s pretty rare for minorities to openly air the dirty laundry hanging around in America’s Ivory Towers. Adpeople can catch stories from executives at the UniWorld Group and Kang & Lee Advertising.

Roldan is straightforward and honest about the role of ethnicity in the workplace. He encourages folks to use culture to professional advantages, but warns readers to avoid relying on it. In fact, Roldan repeatedly cautions against completely specializing in ethnic marketing, as such a course creates pigeonholes that are difficult to escape.

“Minority Rules” ultimately teaches minorities to excel by executing within competitive environments without abandoning their true identities. It’s sort of a KICK-ASSimilation viewpoint.

Click on the essay title above to learn more about the book.

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