What We’re Reading: Qualified by Shari Dunn

October is Black History Month in the UK, and this has helped to inspire our reading material this month. Despite huge strides forwards in representation in the workplace, there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that diverse voices are being heard at the very top. That’s why this month we have chosen to read Shari Dunn’s new book, Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work.

Shari Dunn is a lawyer, journalist, nonprofit executive, and equity consultant whose career has consistently bridged advocacy, media, and organizational leadership. A former CEO of Dress for Success Oregon and founder of the consultancy ITBOM, she has long worked to expand opportunity for marginalized groups.

In her debut publication, Shari shines a light on the often invisible but deeply damaging workplace phenomenon she calls ‘competency checking’. This term describes the subtle, persistent questioning of Black professionals’ qualifications and legitimacy, regardless of their actual track record or achievements.

She explains that while many organizations continue to claim a ‘pipeline problem’ – the idea that there aren’t enough skilled Black candidates – the reality is that talent is abundant. The issue lies in biased perceptions of who counts as competent, and who is assumed to require extra scrutiny.

Through interviews, case studies, and historical framing, Shari demonstrates how competency checking manifests: managers double-checking work only when it comes from a Black employee, questioning promotions even after proven success, or using coded language that undermines authority and expertise.

The book traces the roots of this practice to systemic racism and highlights how it continues to erode engagement, limit advancement, and fuel burnout among professionals of color.

This critique is well-balanced with forward-looking solutions; Shari urges organizations to rethink performance evaluation systems, eliminate racially biased hiring tools such as personality tests, and implement regular equity audits. Most importantly, she emphasizes building cultures that genuinely affirm the value, authenticity, and authority of Black employees. By naming the problem and equipping readers with strategies, Qualified provides both a diagnosis of the harm and a roadmap for change.

If you would like to discuss how we can help ensure that your hiring practices are optimized to give you access to the best and widest pool of talent available, please get in touch with us today.

In the meantime, be sure to grab a copy of Qualified – you can purchase it here in the US and here in the UK.