Not ‘Hard to Read,’ Just Three Steps Ahead: Black Introverted Leaders Share Their Truth

By Jacqueline Shaulis, Chief Investigative Journalist, Nefertiti Network

(WASHINGTON, DC – February 10, 2025) “When I walk into a new place of employment, you see my brown face first. When we aren’t saying much, when we have a low-key calm demeanor, we are immediately misunderstood,” reflects Dr. Jeri Bingham, host of the HushLoudly podcast and creator of Black Introvert Week. “They can’t figure us out.”

But what others mistake for being “hard to read” is actually calculated observation in action. As Black Introvert Week (February 8-15) kicks off, research is revealing what successful Black introverts have always known: that the ability to observe deeply before speaking isn’t just a personality trait – it’s a leadership superpower.

As discussed in my forthcoming book From Imposter to Empress, when introverts direct their inward-facing energy outward with laser focus, they create immeasurable impact. Our research at the National Center for Intersectional Studies shows that introverted Black women often face a “triple jeopardy” where their thoughtful demeanor is misinterpreted through lenses of race, gender, and the intersection of these identities, particularly in the workplace. Yet it’s precisely this intersection that invokes extraordinary leadership capability.