If you aren’t familiar with Minda Harts’ 2019 bestseller, “The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table,” detailing how women can navigate the corporate ladder, you will be this year.
Harts — a workplace consultant who has authored several books on advancing women of color — has transformed her debut work from the page to the screen with a short film adaption of the same name.
Award-winning actress Kyla Pratt (“The Proud Family”) plays Harts in the starring role of this psychological workplace thriller. The story — inspired by Harts’ own experiences — follows the rise and sudden fall of a woman striving for corporate leadership as she navigates bias in a Fortune 500 bro culture.
Harts served as executive producer, teaming up with Obama Administration veteran Valeisha Butterfield and SEED Media — a social impact multimedia company and storytelling platform — to produce the short film.
In 2025, the project proves timely. Despite the gains that women have made in corporate management over the last decade, the progress for women of color in the C-suite still lags behind: from 3 percent in 2017 to just 7 percent today, according to LeanIn.Org and McKinsey’s 2024 Women in the Workplace Report.
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Part the reason stems from the persistent “broken rung” in corporate leadership — where men significantly outnumber women at the manager level — making it incredibly hard for companies to support sustained progress at more senior levels.
According to the report, for every 100 men who received their first promotion to manager in 2018, just 79 women were promoted. Last year, the ratio of women stalled at 81.
Additionally, many women who do reach corporate leadership have left these positions at alarming rates, dubbed the “Great Breakup” in recent years.
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Harts recently shared her inspiration for and experience making the film, as well as her advice for women of color climbing the corporate ladder. Below is the conversation, which has been edited for brevity and clarity:
Know Your Value: What sparked the idea to adapt “The Memo” into a short film?
Minda Harts: When “The Memo” came out, it sparked so many meaningful conversations about workplace belonging and representation. But I realized not everyone picks up a book.
Some people connect more through stories they can see and feel, so adapting it into a short film felt like the perfect way to reach more people. A film brings the message to life in a really visceral way — it makes the lessons real, immediate, and harder to ignore.
Know Your Value: Describe the process of transforming the book for the screen and your experience leading the project as executive producer?
Minda Harts: Transforming “The Memo” into a short film was an exciting and humbling process because it wasn’t just about me — it was about working with a brilliant team who brought their creativity and expertise to make the story come alive.
I’m so grateful to Valeisha Butterfield and Seed Productions for seeing the vision beyond the book and helping to make it happen.
Our writer, Nakia Stephens, crafted a screenplay that stayed true to the heart of the book while giving it new depth and emotion. And our director, Vanna James, brought it to life so beautifully with her vision and leadership on set.
Seeing Kyla Pratt in the starring role was the icing on the cake — she brought so much heart and authenticity to the character. It was a team effort through and through, and I couldn’t have done it without them.
Know Your Value: What was the most challenging part of making this movie? And the most rewarding so far?
Minda Harts: The hardest part was figuring out what to leave out. “The Memo” dives into so many important themes, but for the film, we had to distill it down to the moments that would resonate most on-screen.
That took some tough decision-making. But the reward? Watching people connect with it. Hearing someone say, “That story is my story,” or seeing how it sparks conversation — that’s been the most fulfilling part. It’s the kind of feedback that makes all the work worth it.
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Know Your Value: “The Memo” film was selectively screened across the country last year. What was the reception?
Minda Harts: It’s been incredible. The audiences have been so engaged, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Women have shared how deeply they relate to the themes, and allies have said it’s helped them see things they hadn’t noticed before.
It’s been powerful to see how the story resonates across different backgrounds. The screenings have shown me that this film has the potential to make a real impact.
Know Your Value: What lessons do you hope women take away from the film when it comes to advocating effectively and speaking up for themselves?
Minda Harts: I hope it reminds women that their voice matters. Speaking up for yourself isn’t easy, but it’s necessary — both for you and for the women who come after you. The film is about recognizing your worth, standing in your truth, and not being afraid to ask for what you deserve.
I hope it encourages women to push past fear and take up space unapologetically. Advocacy is a skill, and it’s one we all need to embrace.
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Know Your Value: “The Memo” first came out in 2019. Today, do you feel women of color have come closer to securing a seat at the table in corporate America and other positions of power?
Minda Harts: We’ve made progress, but let’s be honest — it’s been slow. Representation has increased in some areas, but the barriers are still very real. Women of color are still fighting to have their voices heard and their contributions valued.
The hopeful part is that we’re no longer just waiting for change — we’re creating it. The conversations are happening, and there’s more awareness than ever about the importance of making work work for everyone, not just a select few. But we still have a long way to go.
Know Your Value: What can companies or employers do to foster inclusion more systemically and authentically?
Minda Harts: First, companies need to move beyond lip service and really commit to the work. That means creating pathways for advancement, holding leaders accountable, and embedding inclusion into everything they do — not just as a box to check, but as a core value.
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Employers also need to listen to their people, build a trusting work environment, and act on what they hear. It’s about creating safe spaces, fostering mentorship, and doing the hard work of dismantling any inequities. It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely necessary.
Know Your Value: The film’s release comes on the heels of an extraordinarily consequential election. How do you hope it will impact women in 2025?
Minda Harts: The timing is everything. We’re in a moment where so much is at stake, and the choices we make now will shape the future. My hope is that the film reminds women of their power — of how necessary their voices are, not just in the workplace, but in every space where decisions are being made.
Heading into 2025, I want this film to inspire women to take action, to speak up, and to demand better — not just for themselves, but for all of us. It’s about creating a ripple effect that leads to lasting change.
Bianca Brosh