The idea for an alliance that elevates women of color in the retail space first came to Kimberly Minor when she was working at Ann Taylor around 2007-2008. “I was the first and the only and it was very lonely,” she said during an exclusive interview with Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) at Shoptalk, alluding to the fact that she is a Black woman.

Fast forward to 2018 — Minor was working for a large company and realized not much had changed, and she was ready for a movement. She reached out to her peers, posted on social media and hosted a virtual gathering of women of color who worked in retail in 2020. That momentum led Minor to start the Women of Color Retail Alliance, whose board includes powerhouse women like PATTERN Beauty Co-CEO Christiane Pendarvis and Designer Brands Chief HR Officer Karen Cho.

The alliance’s mission is to make sure women of color succeed and thrive in the retail industry, and its vision is to elevate women of color to diversify the C-suite and transform the industry.

The stats continue to be staggering — while women make up more than 60 percent of the retail workforce, they hold only 37 percent of the leadership positions.

“That makes no sense,” Minor said after rattling off that statistic and adding another: women of color make up only six percent of retail leadership. “And that’s what drives us, for our mission and our vision,” she said.

Minor talked about the “emotional tax” and the microaggressions that come with being a woman of color in retail. “Sixty percent of women of color report feeling emotionally taxed in the way they come in and have to defend — they could’ve had an incredible win the day before and they have to defend themselves the next day, and they have to prove that they really are as good as they are yesterday, and it’s a constant thing, being questioned,” she said.

Today, the Women of Color Retail Alliance hosts trainings, workshops, events, and more. The alliance has helped countless women achieve promotions, get on boards, and be recognized for their hard work. Learn more about the alliance here.

Women in Retail members can watch the full interview with Minor and WIR Co-Founder Jennifer DiPasquale here. Not a member? Apply today!