Even after majoring in economics, even after grad school with a masters in the field, Pamela E. Davis couldnโt bring herself to write the words โeconomistโ on her vision board.
โIt was pure impostor syndrome,โ Davis remembers. โIt wasnโt about the degrees and the skills; it was all the unwritten rules coming from a background that doesnโt make this very easy to navigate.โ
Now an international economist at the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), she didnโt have a relative or family friend ready to show her the ropes of a job title that most people only think about in the most ethereal of terms.
Davis was born in Queens, New York and lived in Long Island, the daughter of an African-American father and Afro-Colombian mother who worked as a plumber and real estate professional, respectively. The hard work of her parents and the multiple summers she spent in Cali, Colombia with her grandparents helped establish her values, her focus on hard work, and her bicultural identity. But it did little to help her navigate the pursuit of a job sheโs wanted since high school.
โI meet people who tell me that Iโm the first economist theyโve ever met, let alone the first Afro-Colombian or the first black woman economist.โ
Pamela E. Davis
And while Davis says she received incredible support from her professors through her academic careerโmentors who helped show her that women belong in economicsโshe didnโt see herself living a life in academia.
In her current role, Davis says sheโs been blessed to receive mentorship from a Latina economist who has encouraged her development every step of the way. That mentorship has grown Davisโs confidence and helped her learn to navigate spaces that arenโt used to women of color in their ranks.
โThereโs a daily struggle for equity in this space thatโs just never going to be finished,โ Davis explains. โOne of the things Iโm constantly reminded of is that without an active effort to foster diversity, over and over again, we lose the game. I meet people who tell me that Iโm the first economist theyโve ever met, let alone the first Afro-Colombian or the first black woman economist. I donโt derive any value out of being the only one. I want there to be so much representation that itโs not some novel situation.โ
Davis refers to statistics provided by the American Economic Association (AEA) that show that, from 2019 to 2020, less than 11 percent of masterโs degrees and 8 percent of PhDs in economics were awarded to Americans who identified as Hispanic or Latino women, although they make up 18 percent of the total US population.
There are multiple ways Davis seeks to improve these numbers from the side of institutions looking to grow their ranks.
โFor some people, it might be understanding the cultural nuances of a language as youโre translating questionnaires,โ Davis explains. โFor other people, it might mean being able to identify research questions that arenโt prevalent in the field and answer them. And for others, it might be aligning their values with an organization that understands how imperative representation is.โ
But for ambitious professionals like Davis, who know what they want but donโt necessarily know how to get there, the economist says it is imperative to find mentors who invest in your success. Mentors provide encouragement during the hardest times of career navigation and can connect you with people who will help you understand those unwritten rules that often make the space seem so unwelcoming.
โI donโt derive any value out of being the only one. I want there to be so much representation that itโs not some novel situation.โ
Pamela E. Davis
โI didnโt even know what an informational interview was,โ Davis says. โThere are things weโre not exposed to growing up that we have to learn about, and mentors can help you lead with your best foot forward.โ
Additionally, Davis wants those looking at the field to consider internships that can help them figure out where their passions truly lie. Just because you have a skill in one area doesnโt mean itโs something youโre going to want to do daily.
Finally, Davis says that you must find value in yourself and your experiences.
โEverything that you have been through informs who you are and what you can bring to an organization,โ the economist explains. โJust remember, you choose an organization or a job or a role just as much as it chooses you.โ
Recognizing that value is also a key to combating imposter syndrome. Davis says it took her years to learn how to relax, to feel worthy of taking time for herself to rest and recharge. Itโs a common experience of people from underrepresented communities who feel that the only way to find success is to never take their foot off the gas pedal. Itโs draining, unhealthy, and, ultimately, unproductive.
Pamela Davis might be the first economist youโve read about. She might be the first person of color, the first woman, and the first bilingual economist youโve ever encountered. But sheโs going to make sure sheโs not the last.
Note: The views expressed in this interview belong to Pamela E. Davis alone, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US government, the US international Trade Commission, or any of its individual commissioners.
