I agree that fitting in is key. It is not just about merit. That being said…true story…picture a Senor HR executive with a major Bay Street Bank telling a group of black employees that the reasons why there are no black employees in the management pipeline is that there are no black MBAs at the bank. Also, picture the faces and absolute disappointment and horror of the black MBAs that were around the table with her. The point is, there is not always an opportunity to move beyond merit to then fit in. How would the black MBAs in this firm get a chance to prove to executives that they fit in if HR (HR!) did not know they exist. Career Advancement  101? It would be great if the opportunity was always there to exercise Career Advancement principles. There are so many other examples that I could cite, however at the end of the day, I am guiding my children to be entrepreneur as I do not want them to have the same unfortunate experiences that so many of us have had in Corp Canada.