Okay, let’s unpack this because I feel like there’s levels to it. Firstly, most of us have been told that as a person of color you’ll have to work twice as hard to get half as far in comparison to our white counterparts. So like someone else mentioned, I think that struggle specifically has more to do with racism and privilege than anything else. Corporate America systematically favors the white man regardless of ones capabilities or qualifications.
Which brings up my second point - we are women (at least in reference to the people who have commented so far). And the uncomfortable truth is that we are still not seen, represented or treated as equal in the workplace.
In regards to not being taken seriously as athletes, I think that has more to say about the individual who views us in that light. Those who aren’t able to comprehend the idea that others ARE capable of excelling in multiple roles simultaneously are only exposing/trying to deflect their own incapabilities.
When I was working in corporate America, I didn’t experience the same struggles and the fact that I was an athlete didn’t hinder my upward mobility. I think that’s simply based on the fact that the company I was working for was owned and operated by women and people of color.