WASHINGTON-For Beverly Wilborn, being female and African American has not kept her from climbing the corporate ladder in a telecommunications industry dominated in all respects by white males.
In that respect, she is the exception to the rule.
Wilborn, 49, is senior vice president of marketing and sales at AT&T Wireless Services in Kirkland, Wash. That makes her the highest ranking minority executive in AT&T Wireless. All wireless firms should be so lucky to have a Beverly Wilborn on their payroll.
Wilborn bucked the odds, not the system. She made the grade the old fashion way; she earned it. Even with hard work and ingenuity, not all women and minorities are able to achieve the heights reached by Wilborn.
Yes, there is still discrimination in America.
“I guess I learned from my mother, my role model, who always said, `If there’s something you feel you can get done, assume it can get done.”‘
Wilborn’s resume speaks volumes about her perseverance and staying power. During her 23 years with AT&T, Wilborn has held a variety of positions in sales, management, operations, human resources and marketing.
Before joining AT&T Wireless, Wilborn was global services vice president for AT&T Corp. in Denver, where she oversaw service and support of major corporate accounts. She has received numerous sales awards and last year was the recipient of Forbes magazines’ “Baume Merier Rising Start Award.”
Wilborn said she believes her background in retail and business management education prepared her well for the fast paced wireless telecom industry. She says she does her homework, comes to the table with fact-based data and tries to stay discipline and focussed.
“I think we have to look to more non-traditional industries and to nontraditional positions,” said Wilborn.
Rather than being limited to personnel, Wilborn advises African Americans to “break out of the legacy rank.” For one thing, she says traditional positions for females and minorities are overcrowded with applicants. Wilborn said it is important for African Americans to differentiate themselves in seeking employment and advancement in companies. For sure, it has worked for her.
“I kind of steam roll ahead,” said Wilborn.
Ken Woo, spokesman for AT&T Wireless, says he’s another example of the diverse workforce at the wireless giant. Woo is the highest ranking minority of Asian descent in the company’s public relations department.
“I think we have a very good record,” said Woo.
