Trapped in the need to prove yourself? Here’s what helped me break the cycle
21 hard-won lessons from life in Big Pharma, now helping under-represented talent grow with clarity… not just performance.
You don’t spend almost 20 years in the life sciences industry as a Black man without picking up a few scars… and some serious insights.
Yes, I left with a decent package. But more importantly, I left with a manifesto.
Not one I read in a leadership book. One I lived… in project rooms where I was the only one who looked like me, in performance reviews where I felt I had to work twice as hard for half the recognition, in meetings where silence felt safer than speaking up.
Over time, I started documenting what I saw: the patterns, the unwritten rules, the things no one tells you. I paid attention to what helped people grow. What held them back. The traps even brilliant people fall into when we’re just trying to prove we belong.
That collection of lessons became The Black Sherpa Manifesto: 21 principles for rising in your career without erasing yourself.
I built it while surviving in the system. Now I’m using it to thrive outside of it.
And I think it might help you too.
Why this might speak to you
If you're reading this, chances are you know what it feels like to be overqualified and under-seen.
Maybe you’re working in pharmaceuticals, biotech, medtech, or clinical research. Maybe you’re navigating SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and PDPs (Personal Development Plans) in an environment that wasn’t designed with your voice, your rhythm, or your perspective in mind.
You might still be climbing. You might be rethinking. You might be quietly dreaming of something bigger.
Whatever your path, one thing’s likely true:
You’re tired of performing for approval.
But letting go of that habit? That’s not easy.
This post isn’t about my story. It’s about what you can take from it… especially if you’re trying to grow in a system that often doesn’t see you clearly.
And while this was written for under-represented professionals, these lessons apply to anyone navigating leadership without a map, or trying to reconcile ambition with authenticity.
The 3 buckets that changed everything
The Black Sherpa Manifesto is grounded in three core pillars that helped me stop performing and start leading… myself and others. I share them not as rules, but as tools.
1. Self-Awareness: Know yourself so you can lead yourself
Why this matters in life sciences:
In an industry built on evidence and regulation, it’s easy to lose yourself trying to meet everyone else’s expectations. But you are the most important variable in your own success.
Try this:
Define success on your terms… not just promotions or salary bands, but impact, integrity, and balance.
Build your “Hell Yes” filter for projects, line managers, and mentors.
Rest like it’s strategy. I know not everyone has the luxury of stepping back… but even a moment of clarity can shift how you show up.
One powerful shift:
You are not your output.
You are the asset. Protect and invest in yourself accordingly.
2. System Savviness: Play the game without losing your soul
Why this matters in corporate life:
Even in a mission-driven sector, the unspoken systems are real: algorithms on LinkedIn, leadership preferences, budgeting cycles, and cultural norms. Learning how to move within those systems isn’t selling out… it’s surviving smart.
Try this:
Stop waiting to feel confident. Take action. Progress builds belief.
Focus on creating value… not just working hard.
Build authentic relationships. Not just with peers, but with decision-makers and sponsors.
One powerful shift:
Don’t just execute.
Make sure the people with influence understand how your work drives results.
3. Influence & Visibility: Be seen. Build trust. Lead change.
Why this matters to you:
You can’t create impact from the shadows. Your story, your voice, your mission… it matters.
Try this:
Share your “why,” not just your “what.”
Build connection, not just a personal brand.
Create systems that make your work visible: impact logs, success stories, and positioning statements.
One powerful shift:
Approval fades.
Purpose compounds.
The insight that changed everything
After years of trying to “get it right,” here’s what finally landed:
Approval is a currency that always runs out.
Values are your bank account… build them once, spend them forever.
When you lead with your values, everything gets clearer… decisions, boundaries, priorities. And that clarity is fuel for the long climb.
No two journeys are the same. But if you’ve ever felt the tension between thriving professionally and staying true to who you are… you’re not alone.
Your turn: Reflect. Reset. Realign.
You don’t need to write a manifesto.
But you do need to know what you stand for… before someone else defines it for you.
Ask yourself:
What 3 values matter most to me in work and life?
Where am I honouring those values today?
Where might I be compromising them… for safety, survival, or acceptance?
What’s one thing I can do this week to take a more aligned step?
You don’t have to flip your whole life.
But you can take one clear step closer to what feels more like you.
Want the full Manifesto?
The Black Sherpa Manifesto was created for high-potential, under-represented professionals navigating industries that weren’t built with them in mind.
And while it was forged in pharma, its lessons stretch far beyond the boardroom.
If it speaks to you, I’d love to share it.
Just email me at yam@theblacksherpa.com, and I’ll send it your way.
Because whether you're in a corner office, a lab, the field… or simply on the fence… you deserve to grow without compromise.
Climb steady.
I’m Yam – Founder of The Black Sherpa
Founder | Strategist | Speaker | Host of The Black Sherpa Podcast
I founded The Black Sherpa to create a world where talent rises on merit and no one’s potential is held back by bias or barriers.
Through bold strategy, storytelling, and our flagship community, The 29k Club - I help professionals grow with confidence and support leaders to build cultures that truly live their values.
Let’s connect and build a future where inclusion powers performance, and leadership reflects the world we serve.