Cynthia Marshall: Breaking Barriers and Paving the Way for Future Generations

Written By: Jackie Rae

Working twice as hard to get half that credit is also known as the "Black Tax."  If that were all that was required, I doubt any Black person aspiring to great things would complain. Instead, the tax often has nothing to do with the work.  It often involves tiptoeing around bias, downplaying systemic racism, understating that ambition will frequently be seen as aggression, and dispelling ignorance so that others who come after can not only have a chance but have a better chance than you did.

Dallas Mavericks Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Marshall clearly understands the magnitude of her role. In a 2023 interview with Craig Groeschel, Marshall said, "I need to show people that it's okay to have somebody who looks like me in this job."  That is a heavy weight to bear, but Marshall was more than prepared to shoulder the burden. 

Marshall was born in 1965 and raised by her parents in Richmond, California. At just 11 years old she witnessed her father shoot a man in self-defense.  By 15, her leadership and ability to help others around her was on full display as she would often try to protect her mother from her father's physical abuse.  Her mother, Carolyn Gardener, was a librarian who believed in education. She made sure Marshall was focused on her studies. The dedication paid off. Marshall became a straight-A student. Her commitment to academics meant she could leave Richmond's projects behind and embark on her next chapter with a full-ride scholarship to UC Berkeley.

While focusing on her business administration and human resource management major, Marshall set out to shatter her first glass ceiling and try out for Berkeley's cheerleading squad.  

The school was not ready to break the color barrier, so of course, she didn't make the team. On her second try, she became the university's first Black cheerleader.

Marshall said she turned to her faith and prayer when she encountered racism, but even then, she knew the responsibility she held. In her interview with Craig Groeschel, Marshall said that people who are the "first" are often unaware of the significance because they are simply living their lives and going after something they are passionate about. Still, once she realizes she has one thought, she says, "I'm the first, but I'm not going to be the last." Aside from doing the best job she can, she wants to create a pipeline for the second, the third, and the fourth.  

This mindset is the exact opposite of the "crabs in the barrel" syndrome. This syndrome often comes into play when people realize the powers that be will work to limit the number of seats at the table people from a marginalized community occupy. This typically results in people pulling each other down to ensure their seat is safe. A true leader, however, seizes the opportunity widen the table, create more seats, and pave the way for others.

That is precisely what Marshall has done.  At 21, she graduated from UC Berkeley and began working as a supervisor at AT&T. For 36 years, she held executive roles at the company, focusing on improving diversity and workplace behavior.

When hiring, Marshall says, "I look for competency first."  She adds, "If that person just so happens to be a person of color or different from others around the table—that's a plus." This is a paramount goal for Marshall, who believes diversity is the key to success.

Marshall's commitment to diversity and maintaining a healthy workplace made her a perfect match for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2018, following allegations of 20 years of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct within the Mavericks organization, then-owner Mark Cuban hired Cynthia Marshall. Shortly thereafter, Worth Magazine named Marshall one of the 21 Most Powerful Women in the Business of Sports.

Even more impressive, Marshall's commitment to diversity and paving the way for others never wavered even as she suffered three miscarriages, one of which almost ended her life and her battle with stage three colon cancer.  Marshall won her battle with cancer and adopted four children with her husband Kenneth Marshall. 

The life of Cynthia Marshall is truly awe-inspiring, leading her to write a book called You've Been Chosen: Thriving Through the Unexpected, published in 2022 by Random House. While Marshall says she never planned to write a book, she also never planned to set the standard for Black women in power who pave the way for the next generation. Yet, she does so intentionally and with grace.