Why Women and People of Color Still Face Invisible Barriers in Leadership

A series of personal stories and iconic images have thrown a spotlight on the barriers still faced by women and people of colour in leadership roles. From everyday workplace challenges to viral moments of representation, these accounts reveal how deeply gender and racial stereotypes persist.

Photographer Pete Souza's work, including his famous shot of President Obama letting a young boy touch his hair, has become a symbol of breaking down such barriers. Meanwhile, one woman's decade-long struggle to find female role models in her field underscores the slow pace of change.

For years, one professional woman searched for someone like her to look up to. It took nearly a decade before she met another woman in the role she aspired to. The lack of visible female leaders left her questioning her own potential.

Her early career also revealed how gender shaped opportunities. In her first restaurant job, she was limited to front-of-house roles—waitress, hostess, or cocktail server—because of her gender. Even the bar was designed for taller men, making basic tasks physically difficult.

Elsewhere, a colleague faced criticism for organising an event with an all-women board. The pushback highlighted how female-led initiatives still provoke resistance, even when qualified. Meanwhile, Souza's photograph of Obama and the young boy went viral for a simple reason: it showed a Black president connecting with a child who saw herself reflected in leadership.

The question 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' often gets different answers depending on where—or who—a child is. Discrimination, economic barriers, and lack of representation shape those dreams long before talent or ambition come into play.

These stories and images serve as reminders of how far representation still has to go. Trailblazers in politics, photography, and everyday workplaces provide proof that change is possible. But the slow progress—from restaurant bars to boardrooms—shows that visibility alone isn't enough to dismantle deep-rooted barriers.