Dr. Trisha Bailey, a celebrated entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author, has built a legacy of excellence, but her journey has been far from easy. In a candid Q&A, Dr. Bailey opened up about the challenges she faced in the corporate world, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry and as a stockbroker, and how she rose above them with resilience and determination.
In pharmaceutical sales, Dr. Bailey encountered a stark gender disparity in senior management roles. “Mid-level and senior management are highly white, male-dominated,” she explained. Despite these barriers, she set her sights on becoming a CFO but eventually chose to pursue entrepreneurship to create her own path.
Her time as a stockbroker was equally challenging. The male-dominated field often questioned her ability to secure high-net-worth clients. “My male counterparts doubted my competence and even tried to take my top clients,” she said. But instead of engaging in negativity, Dr. Bailey adopted a mantra of excellence, stating, “My plan was for them to ‘Watch Me Win!’”
Dr. Bailey’s experience with sexism and racism was no less pronounced. In pharmaceutical sales, her exceptional performance earned her Rookie of the Year, yet she faced inequities like lower raises compared to her peers. She recalled being undermined after earning a promotion when a supervisor openly acknowledged surprise at her race. “After that lunch, everything approved for my position was rescinded or reevaluated,” she said.
Dr. Bailey’s message is clear: “Keep your blinders on and fight every fight with excellence.” Her approach of rising above adversity by working harder, hiring talented professionals, and maintaining unwavering focus serves as an inspiration for others navigating bias in the workplace. Dr. Bailey’s success is a testament to her belief that when you show up strong, no one can doubt your excellence.