On Sunday, Kim Godwin, the first Black woman to run a broadcast news division, announced that she would be leaving ABC. Godwin, who served as ABC’s president, had a three-year tenure described in the media as “embattled,” “rocky” and “tumultuous.” For women, ascending the leadership ladder is rarely a smooth climb. Even so, if it seems like women face particularly challenging stents after rising into leadership roles, it may not be a coincidence.
It’s certainly difficult to fault companies promoting women into leadership roles—in fact, “promote women” is a battlecry this writer has frequently adopted. Last year saw an encouragingin Fortune 500 companies led by women, and if equity is the goal, that trend needs to continue. However, the circumstances around those promotions do matter. If women are primarily being promoted during particularly risky times, that promotion is too at risk and could mean big falls from grace for those women.