4 Women On Breaking Into High-Paying, High-Barrier Industries

Everyday women are redefining what traditional exclusive, and predominantly white and male dominated fields look like. There are no restrictions on how far a woman can go as it pertains to a career or profession and these four women will impart their journeys below.
Lawyer Plus Author Equals A Creative Mark
Ope Adebanjo, Nigerian-American lawyer and author began her journey in law 15 years ago when she decided to study it at university.

“I broke into the industry when I secured a role at a legal tech start up that specialised in AI,” Ope said. “It was fast paced and gave me the space to build my skills in both law and technology, which I think are essential now as AI becomes part of everyday life.”
Ope said writing a book taught her that it’s not just about transferring information, it’s about connection.
“When I was working on The Food Lover’s Guide to Law, I brought in personal stories and learning strategies from my own time as a student,” she said. “It turned into more than a guide, it became a conversation between me and the reader.”
Ope believes Black millennial women should be confident and own what you bring to the table. Prepare well, but also speak up with solutions and ideas. Don’t be afraid to ask questions that show how you think and where you’re going. That kind of curiosity and self awareness will set you apart.
Management Consulting Without The Man
Patrice Williams-Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad, teaches others how to build a power grid, make their achievements visible, and price themselves according to the discomfort they create in spaces not designed for their success.
“Breaking into management consulting — one of the most elite, white-male-dominated industries — wasn’t about ‘leaning in’,” Patrice said. “It was about positioning myself as indispensable in a room that wasn’t built for me. I used my RNA Method™ (Rebrand, Network, Achieve Recognition) to move from underestimated outsider to trusted partner to Fortune 500 CEOs.”
Management consulting isn’t built for Black women to glide through — but it can be navigated with the right positioning, visibility, and network. The field isn’t level, but the game is absolutely learnable.
LSATs, Legal Arguments, & LLPs
Lavinia Latham, partner and senior counsel at Alphonse Latham LLP spent nearly a decade from start to finish becoming a lawyer.
“I broke into law through the traditional academic route: earning an undergraduate degree, attending law school, completing articling, and passing the bar in Ontario, Canada,” she said. “I had to research everything on my own, and that self-direction became foundational to my success.”
She was called to the Ontario bar 10 years ago, and every step since has taught her resilience and grit, particularly as a Black woman navigating a predominantly white and male professional environment.
“The pressure to outperform and constantly prove your worth is very real,” she said. “But that pressure also sharpened my skills and built undeniable credibility. My legal arguments have set national precedent in 4 separate matters before the Supreme Court of Canada.”
Lavinia wants Black millennial women to “just do it.” Don’t let fear, doubt, or gatekeeping convince you that you’re not ready or worthy. She said Eurocentric systems weren’t built for us, but that’s all the more reason to occupy the space and change the narrative.

Connections, Cybersecurity, And Commitment
Candice Scarborough, cybersecurity and software engineering CEO at CNSible Solutions, said some of the biggest challenges came disguised as politeness. The assumptions. The subtle exclusions. The way people would speak around her in meetings, instead of to her. Also when her work needed triple validation to be taken seriously.
“I broke into tech and cybersecurity not through golden connections or inherited access, but through relentless curiosity and an unwillingness to let gatekeeping define my path,” Candice said. “I earned my degree in computer science and later a master’s in systems engineering—degrees that, on paper, opened doors. But in reality, it was my commitment to solving complex problems and leading with both strategy and empathy that helped me rise.”
Her message to Black millennial women is that you are not an imposter — you are a disruptor. And that’s powerful. Your perspective is your advantage. You don’t need to shrink to fit the mold. You were made to break it. Build your tribe — mentors, sponsors, truth-tellers — and take up space with both grace and fire. Learn the rules, then master the art of bending them.