Madam C. J Walker

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Introduction to Documentary Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker is an emotional series that takes viewers through the life of Madam C.J. Walker. She built an everlasting empire by overcoming adversity, standing for her beliefs, and prioritizing her company. She is the first self-made female millionaire in the United States, where she tirelessly worked to sell her hair growth product. This idea came into existence after she experienced hair loss early in life. She bought a product a few days later from a colleague, and after asking if she could sell it, she received a racially cruel response. This interaction served as the driving motivation to break outside of the typical “woman” mold and create a new life for herself. Her story is filled with personal challenges in …show more content…

Madam, with a “power over” dynamic, made a deal with Saunders Drug Store that could potentially cause the saleswomen to be laid off. When her saleswomen went on strike against this deal, Madam finally took steps towards empowerment by weighing the input of her saleswomen and decided to pull away from the deal. Collaborating and listening to their concerns built more confidence and trust within her organization. She began a new pathway, providing employees with opportunities to become leaders themselves. Employees went on to open their salons, and become factory forewomen, national saleswomen, and supervisors at beauty schools. Ultimately, while Madam’s leadership style did not always encompass the viewpoint of her employees, she was able to make a shift and foster an environment of empowerment and inclusivity. Conclusion This film proved to be a great example of how promoting empowerment, and avoiding it, can affect the workplace. Madam C.J Walker’s journey began with a lack of empathy, and we saw how this affected her results and the individuals working alongside

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