MIAMI - ColoradoDesk -- Black professionals hold only 3.2 percent of all executive or senior leadership roles and less than one percent of all Fortune 500 CEO positions," according to the Society for Human Resources Management.  The first annual Black Professionals Month (BPM), coming this October is dedicated to improving those and other statistics by providing black professionals with leadership advancement tools and critical systems of support through virtual workshops, panels, conferences, and other programs.

More troubling numbers defining the state of black professionals:

●  "Today, Black workers are overrepresented in low-wage entry-level jobs and underrepresented in senior leader and executive roles. In the U.S. private sector, Black workers make up 12 percent of the entry-level workforce and just seven percent of the managerial workforce," according to McKinsey & Company

●  CNBC/Women at Work survey, as of 2020, "there are a record 37 women leading Fortune 500 companies.  Of these women, none are Black.  Of C-Suite leaders, 21 percent are women and just one percent are Black Women."

●   According to a McKinsey report, "Black employees are 23 percent less likely to say they receive "a lot" or "quite a bit" of support to advance at work, 41 percent less likely to view promotions in their workplace as fair, and 39 percent less likely to believe their company's diversity and inclusion efforts are effective, compared to their white counterparts working at the same company."

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"Since 2007, my companies have connected black professionals to key relationships, information, and opportunities to enhance their career success," says Jerome Hutchinson, Jr., co-founder,  Black Professionals Month and founder of ICABA World Network, the world's leading online community enhancing success for black professionals and entrepreneurs.  "By recognizing and convening black professionals annually, we hope to enhance efforts to increase leadership roles and sustained wealth-building for black professionals."

Created by and for black professionals, Black Professionals Month is framed by 31-consecutive days of signature recognitions, events, and programs, including the launch of the 12-month BPM Leadership & Coaching program for emerging black leaders.

Other highlights of the month-long series of programs include the following:

●  Hear inspirational words of wisdom from established black professionals during the in-person and live-streamed opening keynote address in Miami, Florida on October 1.

●  Participate in interactive BPM Mainstream to Top Tier career-advancement workshops focusing on personal branding, leadership development, and career pathing.

●  Learn about issues affecting black professionals in the workplace and help honor diversity leaders during the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference and Awards.

●  Network with company leaders during BPM Industry Spotlights to learn about and explore potential career opportunities across select industries highlighted during BPM.

●  Attend Subject-Matter Expert events to deepen the understanding of critical areas that can impact the growth and advancement of black professionals.

●  Nurture the soul and energize the spiritual journey while supporting and celebrating the growth of other BPM attendees during Faith Works Friday.

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●  Celebrate the BPM Global 100 Leading Black Professionals who have been nominated by their peers for their accomplishments within their respective industries.

"As a black woman and former C-suite executive, I am deeply passionate about developing programs that can help black professionals overcome challenges and reach their career goals," says Ms. Kaigler, co-founder, Black Professionals Month, and founder of MDK Brand Management, a brand management company helping individuals and companies reach their career or business goals.  "BPM will help black professionals ignite their professional journey, build their personal brand and leadership skills."

The cost of registering to attend Black Professionals Month ranges from $79 for an individual session to $399 for the entire month-long virtual program.  To learn more about BPM programs, to attend or to become a sponsor, visit Black Professionals Month.

About Black Professionals Month

Black Professionals Month celebrates and supports black professionals worldwide with an entire month of virtual professional recognitions, events, and programs designed to assist them to step up, stand out and break through into higher leadership roles and increased wealth.

About The Co-Founders

Black Professionals Month (https://blackprofessionalsmonth.com/) is co-founded by serial entrepreneur Jerome Hutchinson, Jr. and former C-suite executive Denise Kaigler, Mr. Hutchinson, the chief servant officer of ICABA World Network (https://icabaworldnetwork.com/), and Ms. Kaigler, a brand strategist, career coach, author, and principal of MDK Brand Management (https://www.mdkbrandmanagement.com/), joined forces during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to help black professionals in ways that help them step up, stand out and break through.