Abstract
According to the conventional wisdom, if you want to succeed at work, you need to learn how to fit in culturally. The best strategy for success, the theory goes, is to downplay your differences—a theory that many cultural minorities have embraced. But in recent research, we’ve discovered that many professionals of color have succeeded in underrepresented fields by shining a light on their differences and mobilizing their identities. They do this in four main ways: by offering unique perspectives, providing quality control, bridging differences, and planting seeds of rapport. There are some risks associated with this approach—being pigeonholed, provoking resistance, overgeneralizing, and exhausting yourself—but on balance the potential benefits outweigh them. By thoughtfully mobilizing your identity, you can have a significant effect on how your organization capitalizes on the promised benefits of diversity in the workplace, and smart organizations will reward you for your efforts.