With one glance at higher education web pages across the nation, one consistent factor is the absence of African American women in higher education leadership roles. Equally significant to Black women's absence is the lack of advancement for Black females. Even though colleges and universities hiring practices normalized the notion of equity and inclusion, the promise of gender parity for Black women remains unchanged. This qualitative study examines Black women's perceptions of leadership advancement barriers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through analysis and discussion of the responses from four Black women graduates of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation (HELF). The study's intent is to understand Black women's experiences in the chief of staff, vice president, and executive director roles, how barriers impacted their advancement, and strategies used to overcome barriers. This study found that the high expectations of participants' parents served as an educational success imperative. Themes that emerged illustrated that the value of relationships, visibility, voice, and work ethic were factors in the participants' journeys. The Black women's transcendence of racial and gender discrimination became the catalyst for developing a leadership style focused on students' success. This study's ultimate goal is to use the participants' lived experiences to encourage Black women who aspire to be leaders, equipping them with strategies to overcome advancement barriers in higher education. Recommendations based on the findings provide insights into how Black women in higher education suffer from complex circumstances and what institutions can do to overcome barriers for Black women. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]