Secrets of their success.

Corporate America is quickly becoming corporate Earth, as more and more businesses strive to establish themselves in the ultracompetitive global marketplace. With the rise of the multinationals comes additional pressure for the managers and executives looking to take the helm of these border-spanning companies. For black women, who continue to chip away at the cement ceiling erected by the old guard of American business, that pressure increases manyfold.

The few that doubt the ceiling is still firmly intact should take note of a study conducted by the research firm Catalyst. It concluded that women of color are severely underrepresented at the highest levels of corporate America, comprising just 2.1% of senior leadership positions in U.S. businesses. The study also found the lack of progress alarming, with the representation of these women increasing only 0.3 percentage points between 2002 and 2005.

Given the bleak outlook, it's essential that diverse women have all available tools at their disposal to remove any possible excuse the corporate establishment may have for not offering significant opportunities for advancement. This means the proper education, obviously. But beyond that there's finding a mentor, learning to juggle one's personal and professional lives, and identifying and acquiring the skills needed to succeed.

In this issue, Careers Editor Sonia Alleyne unveils a three-part Women of Power series that will address these and other concerns. Each installment offers advice from executives ranked among BLACK ENTERPRISE's 50 Most Powerful Black Women in Business (February 2006). We'll also highlight the issues that professional women face daily, offer self-assessment tests, and bring you expert-driven guides. "Women in business face more challenges today than ever before," says Alleyne. "Not only competitive pressure in the workplace and a male-dominated corporate leadership model but also the struggle to be the caregivers at home."

The series will culminate with a blow-by-blow recount of the 2007 Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm. Held Feb. 7-10 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, the four-day executive leadership conference will once again give professionals in the top tier of their industries a place to strategize, network, and even unwind.

With more than 70% of women with children working outside the home, it's important that they manage their work-life balance. The inaugural installment of the series features "The Balancing Act," which depicts three executives and details the strategies they use to avoid becoming overwhelmed by it all. We also profile Joi Gordon, CEO of Dress for Success Worldwide, the nonprofit that provides disadvantaged women with career-finding resources such as suits, resume writing workshops, and skills training. Dress for Success promotes the idea that regardless of a woman's circumstances, opportunities can be seized, goals can be shared, and confidence can be gained as long as someone takes the time to nurture her. In "Making the Connection," we build on that idea by showing how mentoring can help one's career and how to attract an effective mentor.

Since education is the foundation for success, we also look at some of the most effective business school programs in America. Not only do these programs hone marketing, executive leadership, and finance skills but they go beyond the basics to offer e-business training, entrepreneurship development, and international exposure. In the ever-changing business world, one thing has remained constant: those who can meet the demands of the corporate marketplace are more likely to scale new heights to the pinnacle of success. The trick is knowing the lay of the land.

--The Editors