Throughout history, Black women have encountered immense adversity in the workplace, from racist and sexist attitudes blocking their entry into fields like business, science, and engineering, to ongoing battles for equal treatment and pay. Yet despite predominant barriers, generations of determined women of color have leaned into their talents to smash through obstacles one milestone at a time.

Take Mae Jemison, who persevered from childhood to become the first Black woman astronaut against all odds. Or Ursula Burns, who grew up poor but climbed through the executive ranks at Xerox to ultimately lead the company as its CEO. The stories of trailblazers like Jemison and Burns elucidate both the struggles and the triumphs of Black women who broke ground in their careers. Their journeys have not been easy due to the layered adversities of racism and gender discrimination. But their breakthrough accomplishments shifted perceptions of what women of color could achieve and paved the way for better representation and increased diversity to inspire those following behind them. In this article, we will highlight pioneers like Jemison and Burns who transcended countless barriers on the way to breaking new ground in science and corporate leadership.

Mary Kenner - Inventor and Entrepreneur

Mary Kenner stands out as one of the first African American women to make major strides in invention and entrepreneurship in the early 20th century. Born in 1912 in North Carolina, Kenner showed a penchant for creative design from a young age. However, as both an African American and a woman pursuing success in business, she faced steep discrimination and barriers at every turn.

In her early career, Kenner worked as a freelance seamstress while continuing to nurture her inventive talents. Her breakthrough came in 1957 when she earned a patent for the sanitary belt – a development that dramatically improved menstrual hygiene products for women. Despite the groundbreaking impact of this invention, Kenner struggled to commercialize her product as a black woman in a hostile business climate. Undeterred by constant rejection, Kenner continued inventing practical household tools like a back washer and bathroom tissue holder, earning five total patents over her lifetime. As one of the earliest successful African-American women inventors and entrepreneurs, Kenner broke formidable barriers in business and innovation. She forged her own path despite attempts to block her efforts, and her resilience opened doors for the next generation of black women inventors chasing their dreams.

Mae Jemison - First Black Female Astronaut

Mae Jemison daringly dreamed of space travel since childhood, harboring aspirations of becoming an astronaut even as racism and sexism blocked the path to astronomy for African American women. She persisted, becoming the first Black woman to travel into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992.

On her journey to NASA, Jemison earned degrees in both engineering and medicine. Though she faced doubts over her qualifications and smaller mistakes were highlighted more than her male peers, she continued proving herself through knowledge and skill. As part of the seven-astronaut crew on STS-47, Jemison conducted experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness. In doing so, she shattered limitations for women of color in science.

Jemison has since continued advocating for broader inclusion in science programs and education to empower and prepare the next generation. Her pioneering role as the first African American female astronaut helped pave the way for greater representation among Black women exploring space travel and STEM fields.

Ursula Burns - First Black Woman Fortune 500 CEO

Ursula Burns has one of the most groundbreaking success stories among Black female corporate leaders. Raised poor by a Panamanian immigrant single mother in New York City housing projects, Burns earned a mechanical engineering degree through scholarships and hard work. She then leveraged this into an entry level engineering intern role at Xerox in 1980, embarking upon an odyssey spanning nearly 40 years with the company.

Despite adversity as a Black woman in a predominantly white male industry, Burns climbed Xerox's ranks over several decades through expertise and achievement in product engineering, manufacturing, and operations. Appointed CEO in 2009, she shattered expectations and the corporate glass ceiling. Burns led Xerox as the first Black woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company until 2016.

Her barrier-breaking ascent opened doors for greater representation of African American women and other minorities serving major corporations at the highest levels of leadership. Burns overcame the odds through exceptional ability and unrelenting drive. In uplifting others behind her, the legacy of her success story continues reverberating across industries.

The stories of trailblazers like Kenner, Jemison and Burns uplift the power of perseverance despite racism, sexism and discrimination. Their breakthrough accomplishments changed perceptions of what African American women could achieve. They shaped a bold, more inclusive future with expansive opportunities for generations of women of color to come. Though systemic change remains slow, the strides made by these pioneers have fueled momentum for progress. Their journeys give hope by illuminating triumph over injustice. These women stand as resilient role models reaching to lift others still striving to rise. Their enduring legacies stir in us all the call to carry on – to push harder together until barriers blocking full equity and advancement finally fall away. What they proved is that talent, courage and will can overcome adversity. Their firsts show how very high we can soar.