--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Race and gender definitely came up…" description: "\"Race and gender definitely came up, occasionally, in my life at work. But the bigger challenge that I had was age. I took roles earlier in my career th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ursula-burns-17247_actually_race-and-gender-definitely-came-up-occas_2806896.jpg" --- # Race and gender definitely came up, occasionally, in my… ![“Race and gender definitely came up, occasionally, in my life at work. But the bigger challenge that I had was age. I took roles earlier in my career than people expected, and so a lot of what I got was, 'Do you actually know enough to do this?'” quote by Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ursula-burns-17247_actually_race-and-gender-definitely-came-up-occas_2806896.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ursula-burns-17247_actually_race-and-gender-definitely-came-up-occas_2806896.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/06a/ursula-burns-17247_actually_race-and-gender-definitely-came-up-occas_2806896.jpg) > “Race and gender definitely came up, occasionally, in my life at work. But the bigger challenge that I had was age. I took roles earlier in my career than people expected, and so a lot of what I got was, 'Do you actually know enough to do this?'” [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Age bias can be more challenging than gender or race in professional settings. **In simple terms:** Age bias can be tougher than gender or race. Key Takeaway Address age assumptions directly. Themes age bias career progression Mood determined professional Type interview advice When to use this quote - job interviews - mentoring - performance reviews - networking events Key Concepts ageism stereotypes leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you confront age bias at work? - What strategies help you prove competence? A Different Perspective May understate intersectionality of biases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [The first time I did stand-up I was 17, and I was really a stand-up once I was 19 in New York, and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/the-first-time-i-did-stand-up-i-was-17-and-i-was-really-a-stand-up/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [Earlier in my career I had so much to prove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/earlier-in-my-career-i-had-so-much-to-prove/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [One of the reasons I didn't really want to do TV earlier in my career was because it is so life-consuming, and I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/one-of-the-reasons-i-didn-t-really-want-to-do-tv-earlier-in-my-career/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [Earlier in my career, fans weren't a big consideration for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-marr/earlier-in-my-career-fans-weren-t-a-big-consideration-for-me/) [Johnny Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-marr/) > [To be able to prove my credentials of a dramatic actor, I took up roles which were different and challenging. I've never repeated a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranvir-shorey/to-be-able-to-prove-my-credentials-of-a-dramatic-actor-i-took-up/) [Ranvir Shorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranvir-shorey/) > [I have done performance-based roles earlier, films which revolved around me. 'Kshatriya' was one such solid role. And, at that time, people had written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raveena-tandon/i-have-done-performance-based-roles-earlier-films-which-revolved/) [Raveena Tandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raveena-tandon/) > [I have done some serious roles earlier and there have been some brilliant comedy roles in my career as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-kumar/i-have-done-some-serious-roles-earlier-and-there-have-been-some/) [Salim Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-kumar/) > [I left my home in Massachusetts after college to move to New York City to pursue my dreams of acting. I took roles for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzo-aduba/i-left-my-home-in-massachusetts-after-college-to-move-to-new-york/) [Uzo Aduba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzo-aduba/) > [When I was your age, we took spelling tests, not pregnancy tests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-was-your-age-we-took-spelling-tests-not-pregnancy-tests/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [From a young age, I took an interest in the music and my mom noticed it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-wallen/from-a-young-age-i-took-an-interest-in-the-music-and-my-mom-noticed-it/) [Morgan Wallen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-wallen/) > [And as I got older and played more, people began to forget about my age and took the music more seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-lang/and-as-i-got-older-and-played-more-people-began-to-forget-about-my/) [Jonny Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-lang/) > [I think everyone is bi, right? There's no such thing as sexual orientation, or race, or gender. Those are all obsolete man-made concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/i-think-everyone-is-bi-right-there-s-no-such-thing-as-sexual/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) > [Race and gender quotas, whether in publishing, the media, or scientific research labs, are becoming more extreme and more ineluctable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-mac-donald/race-and-gender-quotas-whether-in-publishing-the-media-or-scientific/) [Heather Mac Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-mac-donald/) > [To focus on what makes us different, whether that's race, gender or religion, rather than what we have in common, has never served to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslyn-lewis/to-focus-on-what-makes-us-different-whether-that-s-race-gender-or/) [Leslyn Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslyn-lewis/) > [Homosexuality is genetically hardwired but race and gender are only ideas. OK. Just trying to keep up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-goad/homosexuality-is-genetically-hardwired-but-race-and-gender-are-only/) [Jim Goad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-goad/) ## More by Ursula Burns > [Kids are pretty resilient. You don't have to be at every volleyball game. We can't guilt ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/kids-are-pretty-resilient-you-don-t-have-to-be-at-every-volleyball/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Long time ago, people would make the Bible, right? The guy said it, somebody wrote it down. And then if you wanted another copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/long-time-ago-people-would-make-the-bible-right-the-guy-said-it/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [The world is changing. We all know this. And as that world changes, if you don't transform your company, you're stuck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/the-world-is-changing-we-all-know-this-and-as-that-world-changes-if/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As Ive progressed in my career, Ive come to appreciate -- and really value -- the other attributes that define a companys success beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/as-ive-progressed-in-my-career-ive-come-to-appreciate-and-really/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I’m an advocate for change and eager to break a little glass when needed,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-an-advocate-for-change-and-eager-to-break-a-little-glass-when/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [The best way to change it is to do it, right? And then after a while you become it, and it's easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/the-best-way-to-change-it-is-to-do-it-right-and-then-after-a-while/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [My mother was pragmatic, focused and extremely, exceedingly practical, and she was the ultimate self-determining person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/my-mother-was-pragmatic-focused-and-extremely-exceedingly-practical/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [If you go to Norway, Finland, Russia or Australia, youll see Xerox or Fuji-Xerox people, not just the name on the door. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/if-you-go-to-norway-finland-russia-or-australia-youll-see-xerox-or/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [My perspective comes in part from being a New York black lady, in part from being an engineer. I know I'm smart and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/my-perspective-comes-in-part-from-being-a-new-york-black-lady-in-part/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Find something that you love to do, and find a place that you really like to do it in. I found something I loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/find-something-that-you-love-to-do-and-find-a-place-that-you-really/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [My mother was amazing. I guess, in our community, if you wanted to get by you had to work hard. So she cleaned offices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/my-mother-was-amazing-i-guess-in-our-community-if-you-wanted-to-get/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Admiration takes on a whole new level when you appreciate just how complex it is to run a modern business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/admiration-takes-on-a-whole-new-level-when-you-appreciate-just-how/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Fresh out of college, you tend to join a company because it's a job. But, you tend to stay because it becomes a career;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/fresh-out-of-college-you-tend-to-join-a-company-because-it-s-a-job/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I went to an all-girls Catholic high school. The three things that they focused on were reading, writing, and arithmetic. My goodness, this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-went-to-an-all-girls-catholic-high-school-the-three-things-that/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) [Explore all 37 Ursula Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) ## More Actually quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I actually like getting out of my comfort zone. It shakes me up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/i-actually-like-getting-out-of-my-comfort-zone-it-shakes-me-up/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [You have to talk about why things happened the way they did. You can't actually explain my political life except by a series of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/you-have-to-talk-about-why-things-happened-the-way-they-did-you-can-t/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Failure actually makes you strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neha-sharma/failure-actually-makes-you-strong/) [Neha Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neha-sharma/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I actually do sing sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morten-harket/i-actually-do-sing-sometimes/) [Morten Harket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morten-harket/) > [I've actually got quite a good memory. I've good recall. It's often things which other people might not notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/i-ve-actually-got-quite-a-good-memory-i-ve-good-recall-it-s-often/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/) [Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) Browse all 4,248 Actually quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Race and gender definitely came up, occasionally, in my life at work. 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