The review planner
CAREER RESOURCES FOR AMBITIOUS BLACK WOMEN ON THE CORPORATE CLIMB + THE CORPORATION THAT VALUE THEM
MISSION
I Choose the Ladder is a career development company that aims to bridge the gap between ambitious black women who want to climb the corporate ladder, and the corporations that understand how important it is for their culture and bottom line to attract and retain this group.
We focus on supporting the immediate career development needs of Black women in the current corporate climate, while corporations work through their long term diversity and inclusion strategies.
MEET THE FOUNDER
Watchen Nyanue is a strategic marketing and business development executive from Liberia who resides in Chicago, Illinois. She is the Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder, a career development agency that provides professional development resources for ambitious Black women on the corporate climb and the corporations that understand how important it is for their culture and bottom line to attract and retain that group. She has had the honor of working with clients such as Nike, Wunderman Thompson, Best Buy, Weber Shandwick, Walgreens, and McDonald's. Before founding I Choose the Ladder, Watchen was the Senior Vice President of Marketing Partnerships for the WNBA, Chicago Sky. During the past 15 years of working in Corporate America, Watchen has had the privilege to work for many renowned companies, including Comedy Central, Hearst Digital, Yahoo!, Johnson Publishing Company, and the WNBA, Chicago Sky. Watchen has been recognized as a Chicago Scholars 35 Under 35 Honoree, a 2018 Chicago Business Journal Woman of Influence Honoree, a Biz Women 2018 Headliner, and a 2019 Black Women's Expo, Presented by BET Her, Phenomenal Woman Honoree, 2020 WVON presented by Ariel Investments 40 Gamechangers Under 40 Award. Watchen has been featured on Forbes.com, XONecole, Madame Noire, WVON, Amsterdam News. Watchen holds a bachelor's in communication from DePauw University. She is currently pursuing her MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
I CHOOSE THE LADDER
The CLIMB
A one day immersive career summit designed with Black Millennial, Xennial, and Gen X professional women in mind. This intimate, full-day, deep-dive career summit, allows attendees to learn career lessons directly from Black women senior executives who have successfully climbed the corporate ladder that can transform their careers.
#Let'sClimb
“Always keep one oar in the water”
- Nicole White![]()
Global Counsel and Assistant Secretary - Avison Young
It's one thing to be smart and another to know how to be able to articulate what you're doing in a way that other's can receive it.
- D' Andrea Anderson, J.P. Morgan![]()
Executive Director, Asset and Wealth Management
When people say that you’re too impatient, what they mean is that they are not ready for you, so the advice to me is, get them ready.
- Leslie Anderson![]()
SVP U.S. Head of Business Banking, Treasury - BMO Harris Bank
Listening. The idea that you put aside what you’re thinking and actually listen to what people say
- Andrea Zopp![]()
President and CEO, World Business Chicago
Life is not black and white, that there is a lot of gray. Had I known much earlier in my life, I would have been a lot more flexible, I would have been able to negotiate differently and I would have been smarter, stronger, better, much sooner in my career.
- Karen Brown![]()
Founder, Consultant & Managing Director, Bridge Arrow, LLC
Do not be afraid to speak up. Do not be afraid to stop conversations, teach people on how to treat you.
- Judith Harrison![]()
Senior Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion at Weber Shandwick
Never cry at work.
- Nzinga Shaw![]()
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
Contact us
CHEERS TO OUR PARTNERS DOING THE WORK!
